The Celtics are favored to win the Finals, first time in almost 40 years

[Jrgum3]

it sounds like the wrong team is favored?

if so, ya'all have tons of value on the Mavs.

GL !!!

CELTICS CELTICS CELTICS !!!

No I think the right team is favored here even though I like the Mavs to win. The Celtics were the best team all year long so they should win but everything I have seen from these two teams in the playoffs has me liking Dallas to win. Dallas had to get through a much tougher path to get to the Finals and I think that'll prepare them for the Celtics. The C's haven't been tested so we're going to find out just how good they really are in this series.

 

[stormtrooper8]

No I think the right team is favored here even though I like the Mavs to win. The Celtics were the best team all year long so they should win but everything I have seen from these two teams in the playoffs has me liking Dallas to win. Dallas had to get through a much tougher path to get to the Finals and I think that'll prepare them for the Celtics. The C's haven't been tested so we're going to find out just how good they really are in this series.

Could intepret the path as two ways: Mavs are beaten up or more battle tested

They will win this series because they have the best player (they may end up having the two best players in this series)

They're better coached and have the better defensive team

And home court means nothing

 

[stormtrooper8]

The Celtics were the best team all year long

Regular season is very different

 

[Jrgum3]

Could intepret the path as two ways: Mavs are beaten up or more battle tested

They will win this series because they have the best player (they may end up having the two best players in this series)

They're better coached and have the better defensive team

And home court means nothing

Home court doesn't mean anything to Dallas but imo it's why Boston is favored in this series. They would have been favored against anybody from the West because they had the best record. Yes the regular season doesn't mean much which is why Dallas was the five seed but there are a lot of people that are saying it's Boston's time because Boston has better role players than Dallas.

 

[stormtrooper8]

Home court doesn't mean anything to Dallas but imo it's why Boston is favored in this series. They would have been favored against anybody from the West because they had the best record. Yes the regular season doesn't mean much which is why Dallas was the five seed but there are a lot of people that are saying it's Boston's time because Boston has better role players than Dallas.

Boston is just not a good home playoff team

They haven't played a real team in these playoffs yet

Boston has a great starting 5, but they are actually pretty thin/not very deep.

The jury is still out on Porzingis. He is skilled, but not very tough and a liability on defense. Dallas will be physical with him

And in the clutch.........Luke/Kyrie are LIGHT YEARS ahead of Tatum/Brown.

Historically clutch players vs. historically chokey players

 

[homie1975]

a couple of things I like:

Celtics have multiple players on their roster incl their top two guys have been to the finals before just 2 years ago.

Mavs only have Kyrie who fits that bill.

Celtics have home court and if they get out 2-0 in the series, then psychologically Dallas could be in some trouble after dominating the Tee Wolves the way they did.

kind of like a bully getting hit in the mouth and tasting some blood.

I believe destiny says it is Jayson and Jaylen's time now.

Luka's time next year.

 

[stormtrooper8]

Celtics have multiple players on their roster incl their top two guys have been to the finals before just 2 years ago.

Mavs only have Kyrie who fits that bill.

Yeah, but Kyrie has gotten that job done. Outplayed the unanimous MVP over a 7 game series. And he was a #2 option in both cases.

Luka has been an excellent playoff player in his career and is clutch as hell.

Boston duo has had their struggles in big moments, especially Tatum.

Celtics have home court and if they get out 2-0 in the series, then psychologically Dallas could be in some trouble after dominating the Tee Wolves the way they did..

Their home court is worthless. They've been mediocre in that building, and I think odds of them leading this series 2-0 are pretty slim

But even if they did pull that off, Mavs will not be phased by that. Kyrie has been in that exact situation against a MUCH better team than this Celtics squad

Honestly if this goes the distance, I prefer the game be in Boston if I'm a Mavs supporter

I believe destiny says it is Jayson and Jaylen's time now.

Luka's time next year.

Those guys aren't on the same level as Luka. There may not be a "time" for them

 

[homie1975]

Yeah, but Kyrie has gotten that job done. Outplayed the unanimous MVP over a 7 game series. And he was a #2 option in both cases.

Luka has been an excellent playoff player in his career and is clutch as hell.

Boston duo has had their struggles in big moments, especially Tatum.


Their home court is worthless. They've been mediocre in that building, and I think odds of them leading this series 2-0 are pretty slim

But even if they did pull that off, Mavs will not be phased by that. Kyrie has been in that exact situation against a MUCH better team than this Celtics squad

Honestly if this goes the distance, I prefer the game be in Boston if I'm a Mavs supporter


Those guys aren't on the same level as Luka. There may not be a "time" for them

2016 finals vs GS?
I would not say he completely outplayed Steph. He played very well and hit a great shot to win a game late but it was not just Steph vs Kyrie. LeBron and other supporting players helped out tremendously and the #1 reason was LeBron. Dray Green suspension in game 4 changed the trajectory of that series.

Stephen Curry averaged 22.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 7 games against the Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals.

Kyrie Irving averaged 27.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 7 games in the 2016 NBA Finals.

 

[Jrgum3]

People forget that Luka won a Euroleague championship. Yes that isn't the same as winning the NBA Finals but a lack of Finals experience doesn't really apply to him as he's been doing this since he was 16. Dallas as a team lacks experience in the Finals but their leaders don't and that won't be a factor in my opinion.

 

[stormtrooper8]

2016 finals vs GS?
I would not say he completely outplayed Steph. He played very well and hit a great shot to win a game late but it was not just Steph vs Kyrie. LeBron and other supporting players helped out tremendously and the #1 reason was LeBron. Dray Green suspension in game 4 changed the trajectory of that series.

Stephen Curry averaged 22.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 7 games against the Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals.

Kyrie Irving averaged 27.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 7 games in the 2016 NBA Finals.

Kyrie outplayed Steph pretty badly. If you watched that series it was clear who the better player way. The stats don’t do it justice

Kyrie isn’t a point guard so the fact that his floor stats were that close to Steph’s speaks volumes

 

[stormtrooper8]

2016 finals vs GS?
I would not say he completely outplayed Steph. He played very well and hit a great shot to win a game late but it was not just Steph vs Kyrie. LeBron and other supporting players helped out tremendously and the #1 reason was LeBron. Dray Green suspension in game 4 changed the trajectory of that series.

Stephen Curry averaged 22.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 7 games against the Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals.

Kyrie Irving averaged 27.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 7 games in the 2016 NBA Finals.

Draymond suspension didn’t help

But it’s irresponsible to suggest that is what decided the series

LeBron/Kyrie were simply unstoppable in Game 5, and damn near it in Games 6-7 as well

Greatest tandem performance in NBA playoff history

 

[Jrgum3]

Draymond suspension didn’t help

But it’s irresponsible to suggest that is what decided the series

LeBron/Kyrie were simply unstoppable in Game 5, and damn near it in Games 6-7 as well

Greatest tandem performance in NBA playoff history

Lebron knew what he was doing though. I may come off as biased as a Warriors fan but Lebron 100% imo knew he could bait Draymond into getting suspended and that's exactly what happened and it turned the momentum. Yes Lebron and Kyrie were unstoppable in games 6 and 7 but they wouldn't have had the chance to pull it off if Draymond played game 5.

 

[Archie]

larry bird is no walking through that door

 

[stormtrooper8]

Lebron knew what he was doing though. I may come off as biased as a Warriors fan but Lebron 100% imo knew he could bait Draymond into getting suspended and that's exactly what happened and it turned the momentum. Yes Lebron and Kyrie were unstoppable in games 6 and 7 but they wouldn't have had the chance to pull it off if Draymond played game 5.

I don't think anyone was stopping the Cavs in Game 5

LeBron and Kyrie were iconic

That's on Draymond, unfortunately. He lost his cool

That Warriors team was great but they simply ran into arguably the GOAT on a heater and a pretty incredible sidekick as well

The Cavs were simply the better team by the end of it

 

[Jrgum3]

I don't think anyone was stopping the Cavs in Game 5

LeBron and Kyrie were iconic

That's on Draymond, unfortunately. He lost his cool

That Warriors team was great but they simply ran into arguably the GOAT on a heater and a pretty incredible sidekick as well

The Cavs were simply the better team by the end of it

I disagree because the Warriors clearly missed Draymond in game 5. Where it wouldn't have mattered was game 6 and game 7 where Lebron and Kyrie were legendary. I think it would have made a difference in game 5 because the Warriors with Draymond were the better team through 4 games. I think they would have closed that game 5 out at home against the Cavs but unfortunately Draymond lost his cool when Lebron stood over him and got himself suspended. That's on Draymond but I don't think the Cavs beat the Warriors if Draymond played game 5.

 

[stormtrooper8]

I disagree because the Warriors clearly missed Draymond in game 5. Where it wouldn't have mattered was game 6 and game 7 where Lebron and Kyrie were legendary. I think it would have made a difference in game 5 because the Warriors with Draymond were the better team through 4 games. I think they would have closed that game 5 out at home against the Cavs but unfortunately Draymond lost his cool when Lebron stood over him and got himself suspended. That's on Draymond but I don't think the Cavs beat the Warriors if Draymond played game 5.

Lebron/Kyrie were most legendary in Game 5. They won that game by 15 and had a bad whistle that night.

They each scored 41 points. Kyrie was 17/24 from the field, 5/7 from 3 and just roasting Golden State's backcourt. Draymond couldn't stop that.

LeBron had 16 boards and 7 assists, along with 3 blocks and 3 steals. How is Draymond Green stopping that?

There's no way Warriors lost just because of Draymond's absence. LeBron and Kyrie were simply not going to be denied that night

Cavs were just the better team by the end of the series, and they had the 2 best players on the court in the series. Plain and simple

 

[patsfanatic]

Boston in 6....some of the posts in this thread are puzzling.

But I get it, I'm a homer.

 

[homie1975]

Boston in 6....some of the posts in this thread are puzzling.

But I get it, I'm a homer.

I am not a homer. I live on the Best I mean West Coast.

I just call it like I see it.

The destiny ie historical playbook is for The CELTICS to win this year as they made it in 2022 and will be much better for it.

The destiny ie historical playbook is for LUKA to win it the next time he gets here.

CELTICS in a tough, grueling, long series............7 Games.

 

[stormtrooper8]

I am not a homer. I live on the Best I mean West Coast.

I just call it like I see it.

The destiny ie historical playbook is for The CELTICS to win this year as they made it in 2022 and will be much better for it.

The destiny ie historical playbook is for LUKA to win it the next time he gets here.

CELTICS in a tough, grueling, long series............7 Games.

No such thing as destiny

Unless it's the Buffalo Bills losing to the Chiefs or Bengals in the playoffs every year


I do hope for a great series

Good luck

 

[homie1975]

No such thing as destiny

Unless it's the Buffalo Bills losing to the Chiefs or Bengals in the playoffs every year


I do hope for a great series

Good luck

Soon the Bills will overcome both of them.

Don't forget that your Bengals overcame KC one year.

The Bills with Allen and the Ravens with Lamar, will get their day to go to the Super Bowl.

It is coming.