Poll: Mavericks vs. Celtics Series Predictions

[SparzWizard]

Media esp espn needs and wants clicks and attention on the series. Their minions have been given their marching orders to hype up the mavs.

Dallas is a good team that also had some good fortune along the way. Missing Leonard for most of the clippers series, getting a very young and inexperienced Thunder team that just wasn’t really ready. And then a slow wolves team that could not space the floor well enough to beat Dallas.

Boston has a top 8 that plays regularly that can hit 3s consistently. Boston has two very good three point shooters in Tatum and Hauser that have yet to find their level from 3. This doesn’t even take into consideration that KP hasn’t played.

The time off will help Luka’s rickety knees but prolonged time off can take you out of rhythm shooting. He was on a heater and probably wanted to keep rolling.

I still am not sure how Dallas can defend the Celtics. They cannot help off anyone and Luka standing in the lane not guarding anyone in particular won’t fly this series.

Celtics in 5 or 6 seems right. Dallas isn’t a team that blows you out. They stay attached, get turnovers and then try to steal it in the end. Minnesota had a lot of opportunities to win games 1-3. Five was really the only blow out.

For Dallas to win this series it’s going to take the Celtics helping them out quite a bit. Boston has been much better this year closing out games. The turnovers aren’t nearly as bad at the worst time. Luka is fantastic offensively and Kyrie is good also…but Kyrie can disappear for long stretches and will have to defend this series.

 

For someone as confident as you in the Celtics and coming up with every reason in the world the mavs don’t stand a chance, everyone knows the second the Celtics fall behind 10 you’ll be on here saying the sky is falling. As I’m sure I will be too, the big difference is I’m giving the mavericks a chance going into the series and not just being a complete blind homer.
Toss up series. Celtics haven’t played a good or healthy team yet in the playoffs. Mavs have beat 3 50 win teams. You can’t be serious talking about there lucky run.

Scaryjerry has a point here too unfortunately. Celtics so far have beaten banged up teams. Dallas will be their first true test with everyone healthy. And a western conference foe, who are much better than any of Cleveland, Miami or Indy as they are a .600 team.

We do have 64-18 going for us but let's see if they can beat the Mavs 4 out of 7 times. I'll be surprised if it's a sweep coming from Boston otherwise this series should be going the limit. Cautious but not too overconfident.

[angryguy77]

Media esp espn needs and wants clicks and attention on the series. Their minions have been given their marching orders to hype up the mavs.

Dallas is a good team that also had some good fortune along the way. Missing Leonard for most of the clippers series, getting a very young and inexperienced Thunder team that just wasn’t really ready. And then a slow wolves team that could not space the floor well enough to beat Dallas.

Boston has a top 8 that plays regularly that can hit 3s consistently. Boston has two very good three point shooters in Tatum and Hauser that have yet to find their level from 3. This doesn’t even take into consideration that KP hasn’t played.

The time off will help Luka’s rickety knees but prolonged time off can take you out of rhythm shooting. He was on a heater and probably wanted to keep rolling.

I still am not sure how Dallas can defend the Celtics. They cannot help off anyone and Luka standing in the lane not guarding anyone in particular won’t fly this series.

Celtics in 5 or 6 seems right. Dallas isn’t a team that blows you out. They stay attached, get turnovers and then try to steal it in the end. Minnesota had a lot of opportunities to win games 1-3. Five was really the only blow out.

For Dallas to win this series it’s going to take the Celtics helping them out quite a bit. Boston has been much better this year closing out games. The turnovers aren’t nearly as bad at the worst time. Luka is fantastic offensively and Kyrie is good also…but Kyrie can disappear for long stretches and will have to defend this series.

 

For someone as confident as you in the Celtics and coming up with every reason in the world the mavs don’t stand a chance, everyone knows the second the Celtics fall behind 10 you’ll be on here saying the sky is falling. As I’m sure I will be too, the big difference is I’m giving the mavericks a chance going into the series and not just being a complete blind homer.
Toss up series. Celtics haven’t played a good or healthy team yet in the playoffs. Mavs have beat 3 50 win teams. You can’t be serious talking about there lucky run.

So in your opinion, did JT/JB/DW/JH all lose their playoff experience? I keeps seeing this "they haven't been tested" line thrown around and the only way that makes sense is if players have their exp levels started over at the beginning of a new season. The 2022 playoff road they took was much harder than what dallas had to take this year.

I wish people would stop overrating this run the mavs had. They faces a gimpy Kawhi, baby OKC team, and a not ready yet Ant. Yes it was still tougher road than we had, but it's not like they beat prime Jordan 3 times in a row.


Yes mavs have a chance,  but these teams are not even by any stretch. We should win, and if not, it will be colossal failure on the part of our core guys.

[celticinorlando]

Media esp espn needs and wants clicks and attention on the series. Their minions have been given their marching orders to hype up the mavs.

Dallas is a good team that also had some good fortune along the way. Missing Leonard for most of the clippers series, getting a very young and inexperienced Thunder team that just wasn’t really ready. And then a slow wolves team that could not space the floor well enough to beat Dallas.

Boston has a top 8 that plays regularly that can hit 3s consistently. Boston has two very good three point shooters in Tatum and Hauser that have yet to find their level from 3. This doesn’t even take into consideration that KP hasn’t played.

The time off will help Luka’s rickety knees but prolonged time off can take you out of rhythm shooting. He was on a heater and probably wanted to keep rolling.

I still am not sure how Dallas can defend the Celtics. They cannot help off anyone and Luka standing in the lane not guarding anyone in particular won’t fly this series.

Celtics in 5 or 6 seems right. Dallas isn’t a team that blows you out. They stay attached, get turnovers and then try to steal it in the end. Minnesota had a lot of opportunities to win games 1-3. Five was really the only blow out.

For Dallas to win this series it’s going to take the Celtics helping them out quite a bit. Boston has been much better this year closing out games. The turnovers aren’t nearly as bad at the worst time. Luka is fantastic offensively and Kyrie is good also…but Kyrie can disappear for long stretches and will have to defend this series.

 

For someone as confident as you in the Celtics and coming up with every reason in the world the mavs don’t stand a chance, everyone knows the second the Celtics fall behind 10 you’ll be on here saying the sky is falling. As I’m sure I will be too, the big difference is I’m giving the mavericks a chance going into the series and not just being a complete blind homer.
Toss up series. Celtics haven’t played a good or healthy team yet in the playoffs. Mavs have beat 3 50 win teams. You can’t be serious talking about there lucky run.

I picked Boston in 6 games...how is that not giving the Mavs a chance? Blind homer? I am pretty hard on the Celtics if they are playing poorly. Sure, game threads are an exercise in fandom in real time. Over blow things at times? Sure. But no way do I think this will be a roll out the balls and Boston wins series.

Let's be honest, all season you preached Denver, Denver Denver out of the West as the one team that would give Boston trouble. If we would have been told Dallas was coming out we all would have been pretty happy with that.

I hope if the Celtics win the title you can find some enjoyment in it. All season it has been mostly why they can't win it instead of why they can from you.

I'm not going to get in a back and forth with you on this. I respect your opinion and you have the right to feel the way you want. I think it will be a tough series. I think Boston is the better team. I'm not taking anything for granted. I am hopeful they can seal the deal. If Dallas wins, so be it. I will be disappointed like everyone else but it would not be some seismic upset. But yes, I do think the Celtics are better than Dallas and I do think they should win the title.

I also felt the Warriors in 2022 had a much easier path to the finals than the Celtics did. This plus experience, seemed like they were a fresher team physically. Al even mentioned this after they beat the Pacers in game 4. Said they had been three really tough series before the finals in 2022 and they were mentally and physically exhausted. Tatum even said he was worn out. I do not think the Mavs path this season has been as tough as that one the Celtics had but maybe some of that fatigue creeps in the longer the series goes.

Can't apologize for the Celtics path. They did exactly what they had to do and really did not mess around with any team.

[GreenEnvy]

I think Denver took a lot out of Minnesota for the WCF. Much like Miami did to us in 2022 leading into the Finals. And even Philly last year before the ECF and the 3-0 hole we created.

7-game series are no joke, especially when you need to win on the road. They take a lot out of you. You can only go to that well so many times.

[jbpats]

I like Celtics in 6.

I think the Celtics should win, I think they are the better team and feel they WILL win in 6 or less.

That said, for some reason, I fear it going to 7. If it goes to 7 I'd bet on Dallas.. I just feel like Luka would be more ready and rise for that moment over Tatum/Brown.

[cman88]

So was there practice yesterday? Today? Or just no media allowed

[celticinorlando]

So was there practice yesterday? Today? Or just no media allowed

Yesterday but no media allowed.
Not sure about today.

[Phantom255x]

At the end of the day, Tatum simply has to outplay PJ Washington. It sounds like Washington will primarily be the guy tasked on Tatum while Doncic/Kyrie are on the guards and Lively/Gafford/Kleber deal with our frontcourt and maybe only a little bit of Tatum.

The 2022 Finals to me was won by Golden State because Tatum was bad AND Wiggins outplayed him. That was the key. That was a pivotal matchup. Yes, Curry was fantastic especially in Game 4, but Jaylen was also great in the series. The problem was, while our depth wasn't as good as this season, Tatum also played poorly. And that made a difference, especially in the pivotal Game 5 where Wiggins was excellent.

I'm still of the belief that Tatum should be going beast mode this series. The only way I see otherwise is if Dallas actually decides to double him and force him to pass, but if they do that it just means Jaylen/White/Holiday/Porzingis can absolutely feast. But if Tatum has an attack mindset, he can absolutely take on Dallas anyways.

[cman88]

At the end of the day, Tatum simply has to outplay PJ Washington. It sounds like Washington will primarily be the guy tasked on Tatum while Doncic/Kyrie are on the guards and Lively/Gafford/Kleber deal with our frontcourt and maybe only a little bit of Tatum.

The 2022 Finals to me was won by Golden State because Tatum was bad AND Wiggins outplayed him. That was the key. That was a pivotal matchup. Yes, Curry was fantastic especially in Game 4, but Jaylen was also great in the series. The problem was, while our depth wasn't as good as this season, Tatum also played poorly. And that made a difference, especially in the pivotal Game 5 where Wiggins was excellent.

I'm still of the belief that Tatum should be going beast mode this series. The only way I see otherwise is if Dallas actually decides to double him and force him to pass, but if they do that it just means Jaylen/White/Holiday/Porzingis can absolutely feast. But if Tatum has an attack mindset, he can absolutely take on Dallas anyways.

so just looked this up how tatum did vs. pj washington:

"Jayson Tatum has averaged 31.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 14 games versus P.J. Washington Jr. in his career."
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/tatum-vs-pj-washington

honestly alot of talk goes on about how "boston will stop luka/kyrie" but how is dallas going to stop tatum/brown? SGA cooked vs. dallas averaging 32.2 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists.

[ozgod]

Media esp espn needs and wants clicks and attention on the series. Their minions have been given their marching orders to hype up the mavs.

Dallas is a good team that also had some good fortune along the way. Missing Leonard for most of the clippers series, getting a very young and inexperienced Thunder team that just wasn’t really ready. And then a slow wolves team that could not space the floor well enough to beat Dallas.

Boston has a top 8 that plays regularly that can hit 3s consistently. Boston has two very good three point shooters in Tatum and Hauser that have yet to find their level from 3. This doesn’t even take into consideration that KP hasn’t played.

The time off will help Luka’s rickety knees but prolonged time off can take you out of rhythm shooting. He was on a heater and probably wanted to keep rolling.

I still am not sure how Dallas can defend the Celtics. They cannot help off anyone and Luka standing in the lane not guarding anyone in particular won’t fly this series.

Celtics in 5 or 6 seems right. Dallas isn’t a team that blows you out. They stay attached, get turnovers and then try to steal it in the end. Minnesota had a lot of opportunities to win games 1-3. Five was really the only blow out.

For Dallas to win this series it’s going to take the Celtics helping them out quite a bit. Boston has been much better this year closing out games. The turnovers aren’t nearly as bad at the worst time. Luka is fantastic offensively and Kyrie is good also…but Kyrie can disappear for long stretches and will have to defend this series.

 

For someone as confident as you in the Celtics and coming up with every reason in the world the mavs don’t stand a chance, everyone knows the second the Celtics fall behind 10 you’ll be on here saying the sky is falling. As I’m sure I will be too, the big difference is I’m giving the mavericks a chance going into the series and not just being a complete blind homer.
Toss up series. Celtics haven’t played a good or healthy team yet in the playoffs. Mavs have beat 3 50 win teams. You can’t be serious talking about there lucky run.

Honestly I feel like that's most people...confidence goes out the window once tip off happens and the game starts, then it's the white knuckle ride 

[celticinorlando]

I wonder which average Dallas Mav will turn into Michael Jordan this round...

Last year was Caleb Martin
Two years ago it was Andrew Wiggins
vs Indiana it was Nembhard

My guess is Jones junior morphs into the second coming of MJ.

[mobilija]

I wonder which average Dallas Mav will turn into Michael Jordan this round...

Last year was Caleb Martin
Two years ago it was Andrew Wiggins
vs Indiana it was Nembhard

My guess is Jones junior morphs into the second coming of MJ.

Josh Green

[michigan adam]

To me the deciding factors are like this.  Can the C's force KI and more importantly LD to play defense for the entire game.  This is the C's key.  For Dallas, can they force the switches they want to get KI and LD versus KP and/or AH.  C's in 5

[aefgogreen]

So in your opinion, did JT/JB/DW/JH all lose their playoff experience? I keeps seeing this "they haven't been tested" line thrown around and the only way that makes sense is if players have their exp levels started over at the beginning of a new season. The 2022 playoff road they took was much harder than what dallas had to take this year.

I wish people would stop overrating this run the mavs had. They faces a gimpy Kawhi, baby OKC team, and a not ready yet Ant. Yes it was still tougher road than we had, but it's not like they beat prime Jordan 3 times in a row.
Yes mavs have a chance, but these teams are not even by any stretch. We should win, and if not, it will be colossal failure on the part of our core guys.
[/quote]



The T-Wolves beat the defending champs.  And Dallas beat them handily.  I still think the Celtics will win, but Dallas has had a tougher path, and Dallas will be our strongest playoff opponent by quite a margin.

[celticinorlando]

So in your opinion, did JT/JB/DW/JH all lose their playoff experience? I keeps seeing this "they haven't been tested" line thrown around and the only way that makes sense is if players have their exp levels started over at the beginning of a new season. The 2022 playoff road they took was much harder than what dallas had to take this year.

I wish people would stop overrating this run the mavs had. They faces a gimpy Kawhi, baby OKC team, and a not ready yet Ant. Yes it was still tougher road than we had, but it's not like they beat prime Jordan 3 times in a row.
Yes mavs have a chance, but these teams are not even by any stretch. We should win, and if not, it will be colossal failure on the part of our core guys.

The T-Wolves beat the defending champs.  And Dallas beat them handily.  I still think the Celtics will win, but Dallas has had a tougher path, and Dallas will be our strongest playoff opponent by quite a margin.
[/quote]

Boston had a tougher path in 2022 than the Warriors. That worked against the Cs as they were mentally and physically drained. Not saying that is the case here but I think the Cs being fresh mentally and physically will play an important role.