Kyrie Irving heading back to Boston. Luka Doncic’s debut in the championship round. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, eager for another shot at the title. Kristaps Porzingis is facing off against his old team.
There are plenty of storylines in these NBA Finals. The matchup is confirmed: It’s going to be Boston versus Dallas competing for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The series kicks off on June 6th at the Celtics’ home court. Both teams swiftly secured their spots in the finals by winning their conference finals.
Dallas secured their spot by defeating Minnesota 124-103 on Thursday night, sealing a 4-1 victory in the Western Conference finals. Meanwhile, Boston clinched their place on Monday night with a 108-105 win over Indiana, completing a 4-0 series sweep in the East.
“We’re going to the NBA Finals,” exclaimed Doncic during the post-game celebration in Minneapolis. “I still can’t believe it.”
This marks Boston’s second finals appearance in three seasons, following their defeat to Golden State in 2022. For Dallas, it’s their first time in the championship round since their 2011 triumph over Miami.
There’s much anticipation surrounding Irving facing his former team in the finals. When Boston acquired Irving in 2017, they hoped it would lead to him playing in the NBA Finals on their home court.
Now, that’s going to happen, albeit not quite as everyone imagined seven years ago. Irving was an All-Star during his time in Boston before eventually leaving the team.
Irving was chosen as an All-Star during his time with the Boston Celtics for two seasons. However, he decided to leave the team and become a free agent in 2019, joining the Brooklyn Nets. This move surprised many, as he had previously stated that he intended to stay with the Celtics.
When Irving returned to Boston, he faced some challenging situations. He was often greeted with boos from the crowd, and there was even an incident where a water bottle was thrown at him. Additionally, he was fined for making an inappropriate gesture and caused controversy by stepping on the Celtics’ logo after a playoff victory with Brooklyn.
After the Western Conference finals, Irving expressed his determination to overcome the Celtics on the path to achieving their goals.
To the Mavericks, Irving offered words of encouragement, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the moment. He reminded them that reaching the finals is not guaranteed in the NBA and requires teamwork, dedication, and hard work.
Porzingis, who previously played for the Dallas Mavericks after being traded from the New York Knicks in 2019, is now a key player for the Boston Celtics. Unfortunately, he sustained an injury during the first round against Miami and has been sidelined since then. However, there is hope that he may recover in time for the NBA Finals.
Despite the Celtics winning both regular-season games against the Mavericks, the Finals promise to be an exciting matchup between the two teams.
The Mavericks couldn’t contain Tatum, who scored 39 points in one game and 32 in another against them. Similarly, the Celtics struggled to stop Doncic, who recorded triple-doubles in both matchups, including 33 points, 18 rebounds, and 13 assists in one game, and 37 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists in another.
However, those past games won’t have much impact now. Coach Jason Kidd expressed confidence in his Mavericks team, emphasizing their belief in each other and calling them a special group.
The Celtics have their eyes set on their 18th NBA title, which would make them the team with the most championships in league history, surpassing the Los Angeles Lakers. Their last championship was in 2008.
Reflecting on their previous loss to the Warriors in the finals, the Celtics have learned from that experience and are determined to approach this season’s finals differently.
With over a week of rest before the finals, Celtics coach Mazzulla stressed the importance of using this time wisely. He emphasized the need to learn from past experiences and ensure they are in the best possible position to win.
