Poll: Mavericks vs. Celtics Series Predictions

[0003323344]

55 so far have picked the Celtics to win in 5 or 6. I wish you guys were as confident in the game day threads. The minute Dallas gets a 5 point lead in game 1 a lot of you will be saying Dallas in 5 or 6. lol

[SparzWizard]

Might come down to this as the Mavs are a very good road team...

Game 1 - Dallas wins
Game 2 - Dallas wins
Game 3 - Boston wins
Game 4 - Boston wins
Game 5 - Dallas wins
Game 6 - Boston wins
Game 7 - Boston wins

You need to be predicting a Mavs sweep come on bro 

Dallas in 4 

[Goldstar88]

Tillman has experience guarding Luka and Kyrie:

https://www.tiktok.com/@legendz_nba/video/7322663844994764078

https://x.com/CelticsFiles/status/1764086799398302105

If Tillman is guarding either Luka or Kyrie… Boston, we have a problem. 

I like Tillman on Donic. He has the size and strength to hang with Donic. He's an offensive liability but I think he can give you some minutes guarding Luka. I doubt that Joe does it but I would if I was coaching. Tillman in a small ball line up lets us switch everything. That would mean no drop coverage. I can't see Joe being bold enough to go that way.

I’m thinking he will stick with Jrue, Brown, and Tatum when it comes to guarding Luka. Tillman could be the next best option, though. Whites a great defender, but he just doesn’t have the bulk that the other guys do.

[ozgod]

55 so far have picked the Celtics to win in 5 or 6. I wish you guys were as confident in the game day threads. The minute Dallas gets a 5 point lead in game 1 a lot of you will be saying Dallas in 5 or 6. lol

Faith gets tested early in the game threads…we live for the rollercoaster on game day 

[ozgod]

Might come down to this as the Mavs are a very good road team...

Game 1 - Dallas wins
Game 2 - Dallas wins
Game 3 - Boston wins
Game 4 - Boston wins
Game 5 - Dallas wins
Game 6 - Boston wins
Game 7 - Boston wins

You need to be predicting a Mavs sweep come on bro 

Dallas in 4 

Yess! TP for the kiss of death (life) 

[scaryjerry]

I’m genuinely terrified of Luka in this series. Should be the Celtics time but I can’t guarantee or predict that with that cold blooded killer on the other side

[celticinorlando]

I’m genuinely terrified of Luka in this series. Should be the Celtics time but I can’t guarantee or predict that with that cold blooded killer on the other side

Dallas is the best possible match up for the Celtics. You were terrified of Denver also. Enjoy the ride.

[cman88]

from a pure basketball perspective i'm just not sure if Dallas can defend Boston or how they plan to stop Jrue/Tatum/brown/white/KP/Horford....heck hopefully Hauser can break out his 3 pt slump

Brown attacked Luka in the last game, and Luca had no answer. I doubt his defense got better. I expect boston to space the floor with shooters, drive and attack matchups.

For some reason the Wolves let luca stand in the corner and never decided to attack matchups against Kyrie/Luca. just had Ant or Gobert drive at their bigs in the paint. and when they did eventually kick out they really had no 3 point shooters (was an issue in their denver series)

[tazzmaniac]

I’m genuinely terrified of Luka in this series. Should be the Celtics time but I can’t guarantee or predict that with that cold blooded killer on the other side

Don't see why Luka would terrify anyone.  What has he done to be considered a cold blooded killer?  Just thinking about Luka and Kyrie having to play defense against this Celts team ought to put a big grin on any Celtics fan. 

[cman88]

I’m genuinely terrified of Luka in this series. Should be the Celtics time but I can’t guarantee or predict that with that cold blooded killer on the other side

Don't see why Luka would terrify anyone.  What has he done to be considered a cold blooded killer?  Just thinking about Luka and Kyrie having to play defense against this Celts team ought to put a big grin on any Celtics fan.

everyone forgetting there are 2 sides to the ball. Celtics have a lot better chance of slowing down Kyrie/Luca and their roleplayers. than dallas does of stopping Tatum/brown/KP/white/jrue/horford.

bostons ability to space the floor with 5 shooters on the floor at all times will negate alot of the effect Dallas has on defense with gafford/lively. Cant sag on Horford/KP at the 3 point line.

[liam]

Tillman has experience guarding Luka and Kyrie:

https://www.tiktok.com/@legendz_nba/video/7322663844994764078

https://x.com/CelticsFiles/status/1764086799398302105

If Tillman is guarding either Luka or Kyrie… Boston, we have a problem. 

I like Tillman on Donic. He has the size and strength to hang with Donic. He's an offensive liability but I think he can give you some minutes guarding Luka. I doubt that Joe does it but I would if I was coaching. Tillman in a small ball line up lets us switch everything. That would mean no drop coverage. I can't see Joe being bold enough to go that way.

I’m thinking he will stick with Jrue, Brown, and Tatum when it comes to guarding Luka. Tillman could be the next best option, though. Whites a great defender, but he just doesn’t have the bulk that the other guys do.

Tillman has some experience guarding Luka. He could at least help slow him down...

[Who]

I'll go BOS in 6 out of respect for Luka's brilliance. It could be shorter but I think Luka will find a way to make it awkward at times. So I'll say 6 game series BOS win.

[cman88]

Tillman has experience guarding Luka and Kyrie:

https://www.tiktok.com/@legendz_nba/video/7322663844994764078

https://x.com/CelticsFiles/status/1764086799398302105

If Tillman is guarding either Luka or Kyrie… Boston, we have a problem. 

I like Tillman on Donic. He has the size and strength to hang with Donic. He's an offensive liability but I think he can give you some minutes guarding Luka. I doubt that Joe does it but I would if I was coaching. Tillman in a small ball line up lets us switch everything. That would mean no drop coverage. I can't see Joe being bold enough to go that way.

I’m thinking he will stick with Jrue, Brown, and Tatum when it comes to guarding Luka. Tillman could be the next best option, though. Whites a great defender, but he just doesn’t have the bulk that the other guys do.

Tillman has some experience guarding Luka. He could at least help slow him down...

luka and kyrie are also poor defenders. you need to attack them early. make them defend, expend effort. or best case scenario pick up quick fouls.

even SVG was sitting there screaming at minnesota at how they let Luka/kyrie just kind of sit there in the corner standing around while Ant/kat drove at gafford/lively.

I fully expect boston to have Brown go at Luka as he did in the last matchup. and Jrue go at kyrie with his size mismatch.

[tazzmaniac]

I’m genuinely terrified of Luka in this series. Should be the Celtics time but I can’t guarantee or predict that with that cold blooded killer on the other side

Don't see why Luka would terrify anyone.  What has he done to be considered a cold blooded killer?  Just thinking about Luka and Kyrie having to play defense against this Celts team ought to put a big grin on any Celtics fan.

everyone forgetting there are 2 sides to the ball. Celtics have a lot better chance of slowing down Kyrie/Luca and their roleplayers. than dallas does of stopping Tatum/brown/KP/white/jrue/horford.

bostons ability to space the floor with 5 shooters on the floor at all times will negate alot of the effect Dallas has on defense with gafford/lively. Cant sag on Horford/KP at the 3 point line.

Even if you just consider the offensive side, the Mavs don't compare well.  After Luka and Kyrie, what do they have left on offense?  After JT and JB, the Celts have KP, White, Jrue and even Al. 

If you consider both sides, there's no comparison.  People always talk about clutch offense but there is also clutch defense.  The Celts can make the clutch shots but they can also make the clutch stops on defense to win close games. 

[celticinorlando]

Luka against Minnesota game 5 had like 24 points at the half and then 10 points the rest of the game.

If he scores, he scores. Make him work defensively. Wear him down. Shut off the water to the other players.

Luka will whine and cry. He’s not even an average defender.

Boston is so much better equipped to guard Luka than Minnesota was.

Luka is going to get his 30 points just because how much he shoots.

The key is not allowing Luka to go for 30 plus AND have Kyrie go for 30 plus. This is the only way Dallas can win this series.

Boston has to make Kyrie and Luka accountable on defense. And you need to get brown on Luka as much as possible.