It is finally here! After one of the longest layoffs in recent memory, Game 1 of the NBA Finals tips off tonight inside TD Garden in Boston at 8:30 PM EST on ABC. My first prediction for this series is that this matchup of the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks will become one of the highest-rated finals in the past decade based on the franchise, fanbases, and the superstars involved. The two teams have earned their way into the final round, and there are plenty of storylines surrounding the matchup. In this article, we will discuss four things you need to know about the series and make a prediction.
1. Irving and Porzingis against former teams- One of the biggest storylines entering the Finals is that Kyrie Irving and Kristaps Porzingis will be playing against their former employers. Irving was traded to Boston in 2017 after requesting to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers, a season after winning a title alongside Lebron James. It felt like Irving desired to move from the shadows of James and lead his team to the title. However, he battled injuries in his first season as the young Celtics went to the Eastern Conference Finals. In the off-season, he promised the city that he would resign, and the goal was to win championships. It never materialized, and Irving struggled to lead a group of talented players. In the off-season, Irving made a swift turn to join Kevin Durant with the Brooklyn Nets, and the acrimony with the fan base grew with every visit. Kyrie has shown more maturity this season, but it will be interesting to see what kind of atmosphere awaits him as he plays on the parquet floor. On the other hand, Porzingis appeared to be the backbone of a rebirth when he was drafted by the New York Knicks in 2015. However, despite his talent, injuries affected his impact on the court. In January 2019, Porzingis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks and spent three seasons in the Lone Star state. The plan was for Porzingis to form a formidable duo with Luka Doncic, but the results were underwhelming. Porzingis had injury issues, but the Mavericks failed to use his versatility as a scorer by asking him to be a volume three-point shooter. Porzingis was shipped out of town in February 2022 to the Washington Wizards where he would average a career-high 28.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in the capital. It led to him attracting interest from the Celtics, and they pulled the trigger in June 2023. It is interesting how these stories will become intertwined as they face off in this series.
2. Battle of the superstar duo- the series will be determined by which superstar duo delivers for their team. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are a formidable backcourt because of their offensive prowess to score the basketball and share the ball with their teammates. In the Western Conference finals against the Timberwolves, they displayed synergy of complementing each other. In Games 1, 3, and 5 of that series, both players scored at least 30 points and scored 201 points combined for an average of 33.5 points. However, the duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum can be the better duo in this series because of their ability to switch and defend at a higher level. Brown won the Eastern Conference MVP after averaging 29.8 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals in the series. Tatum had an equally compelling case because he averaged 30.3 points and 10.3 boards. It will be a fascinating matchup to see who can get their team over the hump and if these games are tight into the fourth quarter.
3. Will Porzingis return healthy?- as detailed, Kristaps has a long injury history in the NBA. Porzingis played in 57 games in a regular season and was fairly healthy as the Celtics racked up 64 wins and the best record in the NBA. However, in the third game of the first-round series against the Heat, Porzingis suffered a right soleus strain to his calf. The Latvian left the game, and there were doubts whether the Celtics could win the East without their big man. The team responded by winning 10 of the next 11 games to make it to the NBA Finals. Porzingis has declared that he will play in Game 1 of the Finals but did not sound confident of how his body will respond. An effective Porzingis will give the Celtics a huge advantage in stretching the floor and allowing the Jays to dominate in the paint. However, a passive and rusty Kristaps can become a liability because Kyrie and Luka will look to attack him on the defensive end.
4. X-Factor- this series contains quality role players who could be the difference in who will come out on top. My x-factor for the Celtics is Jrue Holiday. Holiday has played a supportive role throughout the season and has taken the challenge of guarding the best player. However, Jrue has been more aggressive on the offensive end in the playoffs and averaged 18.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. It feels like Holiday has improved by the rounds, and his defense will be critical in slowing down the dynamic duo. I think P.J. Washington is the X-factor for the Mavericks. Washington may pinch himself because at the start of the season, he was on a struggling Charlotte Hornets team, and in the same year, he is now playing for the championship. Washington had a stellar series against the Oklahoma City Thunder and averaged 17.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 46.9% from three-pointers. However, he struggled a bit in the Conference Finals after averaging 12.2 points and 6.4 rebounds and 25% from three-point range. The Celtics will likely force Washington to make shots if they are to win this series, and the Mavericks will need him to step up.
The Celtics are 4-0 against the Mavericks over the past two seasons. The teams played once after the seismic trades for the Mavericks, and Boston won by over 20 points. The series will be an interesting clash, but it will be determined by the Celtics’ greater depth and versatility to defend. I think Tatum and Brown will attack Doncic and Irving on the defensive end making life tougher for them to have energy on the other end. I think the Celtics will win this series, and Al Horford can finally lift that championship trophy.
Celtics in six.