“I want to put 100% of my effort into what I do.”
In the first two games of the NBA Finals, the Mavericks have been defeated by the Celtics’ consistency on both ends, with the interior being the biggest obstacle, as starting center Daniel Gafford struggled against the Celtics’ alternating lineup of Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis.
The Mavs’ two centers, Gafford and Derek Lively II, are the type that compete with athletic ability rather than height and strength, but they are at a disadvantage not only against the versatile Porzingis and the cunning Horford, but also in the opportunity to match up with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum in the quick rotation. The alley-oop that was their finishing move, which was so powerful from the regular season to winning the conference finals, has been almost completely shut down.
Gafford, who was interviewed before the third game at home, still looked cheerful and said, “It feels completely different just to be able to play in our home arena. I’m fully ready to fight.”
While acknowledging that the Celtics are superior on both offense and defense, he said, “We’ll just have to be patient and deal with it. We don’t need to speed up to match their pace. We’ll just have to stay calm and find the gaps in their defense. We’ll make sure we don’t miss even the little things.”
Gafford moved from the Wizards in the middle of the season. From a rebuilding team that kept losing games, to the Mavericks with NBA top star Luka Doncic, his dynamic play was more effectively brought out and directly linked to the team’s victory. And the team is advancing to the NBA Finals. Even though the situation is bad with 0 wins and 2 losses, Gafford is enjoying the reality of the present.
“I’m happy to be in this situation and feel like I’m at a new stage in my career,” Gafford said. “So I’m enjoying the Finals atmosphere. I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy fight and I’m excited to see how we get through it. And I’m looking forward to the home game. I heard it’s sold out, so it’s going to be a blast. I know the cheers will be heard all the way across Texas.”
PJ Washington is also looking forward to Game 3 at home with the same feeling. He joined the team from the rebuilding Hornets in the middle of the season and is enjoying the reality of being able to play and compete for the championship. “I’ve always felt that I have the ability to compete here, and I’m excited to actually be able to show it here, and I want to win if I’m going to do it. I’ve been dreaming of this moment for a long time and have been preparing for it. I’m in a really good place mentally,” he said.
“It’s been a roller coaster for me,” Washington said, moving from the rebuilding Hornets to the Mavs. Having grown up in Dallas, playing in the NBA Finals here means a lot to him. “It’s exciting to be playing for a championship in my hometown. It makes me realize how blessed I am. I can’t wait to get on the court and see a packed stadium.”
“When tomorrow comes, I won’t have time to be sentimental. I just want to be aggressive and take any open shots I get. I’ll do the best I can. The team needs me, so I want to do my part.”
The Mavs are Doncic’s team, and although they are supporting players, they know that their work will be a great asset to the team. Gafford said, “At the end of the day, it’s all about hard work. I want to put in 100% or more of my effort mentally and physically, and all of that translates into performance in the game. My goal is to give it my all and leave the game feeling happy.”
2024-06-12 15:42:57
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