Celtics (2-0) at Mavericks (0-2) NBA Finals Game #3 6/12/24

[Roy H.]

[Roy H.]

[cman88]

now would be a good time for both 3pt shooting and tatum to not shoot 25%.

I expect our gameplan to be the same, drive at their poor defenders and move the ball around for open 3's. not sure what Dallas will do to adjust if anything

Luka said he thinks their defense has been amazing and its just their offense. maybe its the celtics fan in me, but i just saw the celtics missing alot of open shots in game 2. but were able to get whatever they wanted off of tatum drives.

[celticinorlando]

Pretty much the series. Win and you are golden.
Lose and it?s a series with game 4 the most important.

No idea really what to expect tonight. Result won?t surprise me at all.

[boscel33]

I liked JB's statement, almost need to treat this like you're down 0-2.  The only issue I have with that comment is that you might press too hard if you are down 0-2.

[Birdman]

Celtics plays better on the road for some strange reason

[Redz]

Celtics plays better on the road for some strange reason

I actually can see them come out loose in this one and get a decent lead early.  What happens when the game settles in a bit is always a mystery.  I just feel like the Celtics have it in their head that they know how to win no matter what now.  Just keep that mindset and do what you need to do when the Mavs make a push.  Just don?t get caught in an avalanche if/when the Mavs go on a run (a Mavalanche?).

[Phantom255x]

This isn't like the Celtics of previous years. They feel locked in and know what the goal is.

2 wins away. Play the best two games of your life and it's Banner 18. Simple as that.

And truth be told, idk if it's tonight, but I feel Dallas is in for a rude awakening. Outside of those two runs in Game 1 (KP first quarter, Jaylen late 3rd), I feel Boston hasn't even played or shot that well. Tatum has done some great things but also has shot badly. If things click for Boston and JT, Dallas could get blown out in a game soon. Idk realistically what adjustments Dallas can make on defense. C's feel due for a game where they are lights out from 3.

[Phantom255x]

This isn't like the Celtics of previous years. They feel locked in and know what the goal is.

2 wins away. Play the best two games of your life and it's Banner 18. Simple as that.

And truth be told, idk if it's tonight, but I feel Dallas is in for a rude awakening. Outside of those two runs in Game 1 (KP first quarter, Jaylen late 3rd), I feel Boston hasn't even played or shot that well. Tatum has done some great things but also has shot badly. If things click for Boston and JT, Dallas could get blown out in a game soon. Idk realistically what adjustments Dallas can make on defense. C's feel due for a game where they are lights out from 3.

Forgot to add but I was also referring to this quote by Luka:

Luka Dončić: ?Our defense, has not been bad. We just can?t really score. That?s our main problem right now. I think we?re getting some great looks & like I said we have confidence everybody can make a shot that?s shooting the ball on our team so we just gotta keep believing it.?

In fairness, he's not wrong at all about the "making shots" part. Dallas can do better especially Kyrie. But if he thinks their defense has been "not bad", then yeah, rude awakening is coming. I feel Boston is also missing a lot of easy shots including Tatum. Once that happens, mail it in.

[celticinorlando]

This isn't like the Celtics of previous years. They feel locked in and know what the goal is.

2 wins away. Play the best two games of your life and it's Banner 18. Simple as that.

And truth be told, idk if it's tonight, but I feel Dallas is in for a rude awakening. Outside of those two runs in Game 1 (KP first quarter, Jaylen late 3rd), I feel Boston hasn't even played or shot that well. Tatum has done some great things but also has shot badly. If things click for Boston and JT, Dallas could get blown out in a game soon. Idk realistically what adjustments Dallas can make on defense. C's feel due for a game where they are lights out from 3.

Forgot to add but I was also referring to this quote by Luka:

Luka Dončić: ?Our defense, has not been bad. We just can?t really score. That?s our main problem right now. I think we?re getting some great looks & like I said we have confidence everybody can make a shot that?s shooting the ball on our team so we just gotta keep believing it.?

In fairness, he's not wrong at all about the "making shots" part. Dallas can do better especially Kyrie. But if he thinks their defense has been "not bad", then yeah, rude awakening is coming. I feel Boston is also missing a lot of easy shots including Tatum. Once that happens, mail it in.

Boston is getting anythingt they want on offense. If their defense isn't bad...not sure what good looks like

[jpotter33]

This isn't like the Celtics of previous years. They feel locked in and know what the goal is.

2 wins away. Play the best two games of your life and it's Banner 18. Simple as that.

And truth be told, idk if it's tonight, but I feel Dallas is in for a rude awakening. Outside of those two runs in Game 1 (KP first quarter, Jaylen late 3rd), I feel Boston hasn't even played or shot that well. Tatum has done some great things but also has shot badly. If things click for Boston and JT, Dallas could get blown out in a game soon. Idk realistically what adjustments Dallas can make on defense. C's feel due for a game where they are lights out from 3.

Forgot to add but I was also referring to this quote by Luka:

Luka Dončić: ?Our defense, has not been bad. We just can?t really score. That?s our main problem right now. I think we?re getting some great looks & like I said we have confidence everybody can make a shot that?s shooting the ball on our team so we just gotta keep believing it.?

In fairness, he's not wrong at all about the "making shots" part. Dallas can do better especially Kyrie. But if he thinks their defense has been "not bad", then yeah, rude awakening is coming. I feel Boston is also missing a lot of easy shots including Tatum. Once that happens, mail it in.

The mental gymnastics I?ve seen both this Mavs team and fan base use to try and justify Luka?s defense is astounding. I mean, he literally had 13 blow boys in game 2 alone, which is the most in a playoffs game in a decade. He?s absolutely the primary reason their defense is awful, because he couldn?t keep a sloth in front of him out on the perimeter.

[Phantom255x]

This isn't like the Celtics of previous years. They feel locked in and know what the goal is.

2 wins away. Play the best two games of your life and it's Banner 18. Simple as that.

And truth be told, idk if it's tonight, but I feel Dallas is in for a rude awakening. Outside of those two runs in Game 1 (KP first quarter, Jaylen late 3rd), I feel Boston hasn't even played or shot that well. Tatum has done some great things but also has shot badly. If things click for Boston and JT, Dallas could get blown out in a game soon. Idk realistically what adjustments Dallas can make on defense. C's feel due for a game where they are lights out from 3.

Forgot to add but I was also referring to this quote by Luka:

Luka Dončić: ?Our defense, has not been bad. We just can?t really score. That?s our main problem right now. I think we?re getting some great looks & like I said we have confidence everybody can make a shot that?s shooting the ball on our team so we just gotta keep believing it.?

In fairness, he's not wrong at all about the "making shots" part. Dallas can do better especially Kyrie. But if he thinks their defense has been "not bad", then yeah, rude awakening is coming. I feel Boston is also missing a lot of easy shots including Tatum. Once that happens, mail it in.

The mental gymnastics I?ve seen both this Mavs team and fan base use to try and justify Luka?s defense is astounding. I mean, he literally had 13 blow boys in game 2 alone, which is the most in a playoffs game in a decade. He?s absolutely the primary reason their defense is awful, because he couldn?t keep a sloth in front of him out on the perimeter.

To me, Luka is probably a slightly better version of prime Harden. And btw, prime Harden still has made multiple conference Finals and a Finals, so it's not like he's always a first round exit/disappointment. But yeah, Doncic might be an even worse defender than Harden. Overall a better/skilled scorer than him but by a small margin.

People hate that comparison because they think of Harden as the playoff choker, but if Dallas loses this Finals and then don't get back for a few years after that may be what Doncic is seen as. And FWIW, there have been some years where Harden is seen as "slightly out of shape" and "not game ready" as we've seen with Doncic when he's gassed in the 2nd half of these games.

[angryguy77]

This isn't like the Celtics of previous years. They feel locked in and know what the goal is.

2 wins away. Play the best two games of your life and it's Banner 18. Simple as that.

And truth be told, idk if it's tonight, but I feel Dallas is in for a rude awakening. Outside of those two runs in Game 1 (KP first quarter, Jaylen late 3rd), I feel Boston hasn't even played or shot that well. Tatum has done some great things but also has shot badly. If things click for Boston and JT, Dallas could get blown out in a game soon. Idk realistically what adjustments Dallas can make on defense. C's feel due for a game where they are lights out from 3.

Forgot to add but I was also referring to this quote by Luka:

Luka Dončić: ?Our defense, has not been bad. We just can?t really score. That?s our main problem right now. I think we?re getting some great looks & like I said we have confidence everybody can make a shot that?s shooting the ball on our team so we just gotta keep believing it.?

In fairness, he's not wrong at all about the "making shots" part. Dallas can do better especially Kyrie. But if he thinks their defense has been "not bad", then yeah, rude awakening is coming. I feel Boston is also missing a lot of easy shots including Tatum. Once that happens, mail it in.

The mental gymnastics I?ve seen both this Mavs team and fan base use to try and justify Luka?s defense is astounding. I mean, he literally had 13 blow boys in game 2 alone, which is the most in a playoffs game in a decade. He?s absolutely the primary reason their defense is awful, because he couldn?t keep a sloth in front of him out on the perimeter.

[hpantazo]

Interesting how suddenly the media are saying the Celtics are in trouble with Porzingis? injury but ignored Porzingis? absence all throughout the playoffs and pretended the Celtics were fully healthy and considered them lucky to face injured teams.

Newsflash. We?ve been without Porzingis for practically the entire playoffs and when he did play in games 1&2 he played short minutes off the bench

[Kernewek]

This isn't like the Celtics of previous years. They feel locked in and know what the goal is.

2 wins away. Play the best two games of your life and it's Banner 18. Simple as that.

And truth be told, idk if it's tonight, but I feel Dallas is in for a rude awakening. Outside of those two runs in Game 1 (KP first quarter, Jaylen late 3rd), I feel Boston hasn't even played or shot that well. Tatum has done some great things but also has shot badly. If things click for Boston and JT, Dallas could get blown out in a game soon. Idk realistically what adjustments Dallas can make on defense. C's feel due for a game where they are lights out from 3.

Forgot to add but I was also referring to this quote by Luka:

Luka Dončić: ?Our defense, has not been bad. We just can?t really score. That?s our main problem right now. I think we?re getting some great looks & like I said we have confidence everybody can make a shot that?s shooting the ball on our team so we just gotta keep believing it.?

In fairness, he's not wrong at all about the "making shots" part. Dallas can do better especially Kyrie. But if he thinks their defense has been "not bad", then yeah, rude awakening is coming. I feel Boston is also missing a lot of easy shots including Tatum. Once that happens, mail it in.

Kyrie and Tatum are both shooting terribly. The difference is that Boston's offense can absorb that, while Dallas very clearly cannot.

I think there's something to be said for holding the C's to 105/107 points. The bigger problem for Dallas is not being able to crack 100 at the same time.