Mavericks (0-1) at Celtics (1-0) NBA Finals Game #2 6/9/24

[Phantom255x]

I might not really watch much of the road games, too much anxiety especially for a Finals.

Slightly superstitious too, we had our good runs in Game 2 when I wasn't watching. But the poor start + Mavs going on that 9-0 run late (before the DWhite block + Jaylen layup) occurred while I was glued to the TV lol. Even Game 1 I was away for parents' anniversary and they blew them out, but when we turned on the TV after coming back, that's when Dallas cut the lead to 8.

[celticinorlando]

Let Luka have 30 points as long as he?s having to work his ass off for them and he?s having to play defense.

It?s about limiting Kyrie. Keep him under 20 points and they cannot win.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

I might not really watch much of the road games, too much anxiety especially for a Finals.

Slightly superstitious too, we had our good runs in Game 2 when I wasn't watching. But the poor start + Mavs going on that 9-0 run late (before the DWhite block + Jaylen layup) occurred while I was glued to the TV lol. Even Game 1 I was away for parents' anniversary and they blew them out, but when we turned on the TV that's when Dallas cut the lead to 8.

you need to enjoy the finals. hard to get here. no guarantee we ever see another. we have been blessed to see many in my lifetime. enjoy this. but you do you. if you feel you are helping us by you going downtown for ice cream and not watching, then by all means keep doing that! 

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Let Luka have 30 points as long as he?s having to work his ass off for them and he?s having to play defense.

It?s about limiting Kyrie. Keep him under 20 points and they cannot win.

luka will get pounded. pound him hard the the 2nd half. he will run out of gas.

he was a pylon last game late.

[Phantom255x]

I might not really watch much of the road games, too much anxiety especially for a Finals.

Slightly superstitious too, we had our good runs in Game 2 when I wasn't watching. But the poor start + Mavs going on that 9-0 run late (before the DWhite block + Jaylen layup) occurred while I was glued to the TV lol. Even Game 1 I was away for parents' anniversary and they blew them out, but when we turned on the TV that's when Dallas cut the lead to 8.

you need to enjoy the finals. hard to get here. no guarantee we ever see another. we have been blessed to see many in my lifetime. enjoy this. but you do you. if you feel you are helping us by you going downtown for ice cream and not watching, then by all means keep doing that! 

My sister and I are actually attending Game 5 live lol. Pricey but once in a lifetime opportunity maybe 

And speaking of ice cream, let me head to my freezer right now 

[scaryjerry]

Boston needs to just win 2 out of the next 5 games. Mavs need to win 4/5 so there is that.

I feel it would be a disaster even with a hobbled KP for us to lose 4/5.

Agreed.

I'd see it as close to a 50-50 if we were to start and play the whole series without Porzingis. But with a 2-0 advantage and needing to only win 2 out of 5, it would take a collapse of epic proportions to lose the series from here.

Our odds of winning from here have to be above 90%. Maybe above 95%.

I agree but thinking about the suns/bucks finals from a few years ago gives me nightmares. Suns were a  1 seed front running soft team that made it through an injury riddled west and won the first 2 games in the finals and all there fans were ?sUnS iN 4? and then the best player just completely took over and the suns lost in 6.

1- we aren't that soft
2 - we have better defenders for Luka / Kyrie than the Suns had for Greek

How much does Luka have to take over for them to win?  He had +30 points in the first two games.   Do you expect him to drop 40-50 each game for the rest of the series?  I don't.

I think he's due for a 40-burger in the upcoming game. C's tend to make opposing players look like Michael Jordan for some reason.

It?s going to take multiple 40, maybe even a 50 burger to get back in this series but I think he?s capable of it?he?s played pretty terrible but still put up 30

[Phantom255x]

Boston needs to just win 2 out of the next 5 games. Mavs need to win 4/5 so there is that.

I feel it would be a disaster even with a hobbled KP for us to lose 4/5.

Agreed.

I'd see it as close to a 50-50 if we were to start and play the whole series without Porzingis. But with a 2-0 advantage and needing to only win 2 out of 5, it would take a collapse of epic proportions to lose the series from here.

Our odds of winning from here have to be above 90%. Maybe above 95%.

I agree but thinking about the suns/bucks finals from a few years ago gives me nightmares. Suns were a  1 seed front running soft team that made it through an injury riddled west and won the first 2 games in the finals and all there fans were ?sUnS iN 4? and then the best player just completely took over and the suns lost in 6.

1- we aren't that soft
2 - we have better defenders for Luka / Kyrie than the Suns had for Greek

How much does Luka have to take over for them to win?  He had +30 points in the first two games.   Do you expect him to drop 40-50 each game for the rest of the series?  I don't.

I think he's due for a 40-burger in the upcoming game. C's tend to make opposing players look like Michael Jordan for some reason.

It?s going to take multiple 40, maybe even a 50 burger to get back in this series but I think he?s capable of it?he?s played pretty terrible but still put up 30

The biggest issue with him is he gets noticeably gassed by the 2nd half, probably due to having to exert so much because the C's are defending really well and also, the C's are actually attacking him defensively which none of the West teams seemed to do. As great as his Game 2 first half was, he only had 9 points in the 2nd half with 3 made shots, all while getting torched and blown by defensively.

I guess he could go for 40+ in a game, but will it be efficient and also, is he still making others do better in that same game as well?

I think the wild card is Kyrie. If Kyrie starts to shoot efficiently and put up 22+ PPG regularly the next few games, Dallas can absolutely win a game or two. I think we can accept that Doncic is gonna pretty much average 30/6/6+ most nights regardless win or lose.