The 2024 NBA Finals begin tonight, with the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks facing each other. Mazzulla’s men come from a rather clear path in the playoffs, where they eliminated first the Miami Heat and then the Cleveland Cavaliers, with two consecutive 4-1s. For the Mavs a more tortuous path, also due to the worst position in the regular season. Kidd’s boys first eliminated the Clippers 4-2, and then defeated Edwards and his Timberwolves 4-2. Final that sees the Celtics as favourites, but Dallas has already shown that it can overturn the predictions. The paths and tactical keys that led the two teams to the finals were different, but both had the same objective: the ring.
BOSTON CELTICS: AFTER 6 YEARS WILL IT BE THE RIGHT TIME?
6 years, this is the duration of the Brad Stevens project at the Celtics. First as coach, then as GM, with Udoka and Mazzulla in command. This year seems to be a good year for Boston, after a literally dominated regular season and another year of experience on the shoulders of Tatum and Brown. In addition to the various Whites and Horfords who were also present last season, this year Jrue Holiday was also of fundamental importance, sacrificed by the Bucks to get to Damian Lillard. Those who thought that Holiday couldn’t replace Marcus Smart’s defense and leadership soon had to change their minds, with the number 4 becoming essential on Mazzulla’s board. This year the Celtics are producing an exemplary season, with the profile stats of some of the strongest teams in history: the Warriors at 73-9, the Bulls at 72-10 so to speak. This perhaps doesn’t mean that they will be remembered as one of the best teams of every era, but their statistics bring them closer to the Olympus of basketball. Unlike these teams however, the Celtics do not yet give that idea of unbeatability, with above all some limitations that have arisen in the final stages of the game where, despite the numerous offensive choices they can offer, their attack appears to be a little stagnant. Precisely the way of playing in attack, however, is one of the most interesting themes of these Finals: Boston is the team that created the most isolations in all the playoffs, most obviously played by Tatum and Brown. There are many occasions in which the two target the defender considered the weakest of the opposing team to play a pick and roll or bring him with his back to the basket (especially Tatum). The former Duke player played 177 isolations in these playoffs, with 0.91 points per play. Brown, on the other hand, stops at 122, but with a better conversion (1.14). The numbers are also different in terms of isolations ending with a shot: Tatum 124, Brown 77, with the latter preferring to pass the ball off more than his teammate (31 isolations ending with a pass compared to 27 for number 0). Surely therefore, this type of offensive solution will be replicated by Mazzulla’s men, especially to try to attack the worst opponent defender (Doncic?). Boston will also most certainly rely on 3-point shooting, where it is first for shots scored and attempted both in the playoffs and in RS, and also in the top places for percentages. However, the entire attack will certainly pass through the expert hands of Jayson Tatum, the team’s leader in points, rebounds and assists: only 4 others in history have managed to reach the Finals with these statistics, namely James, Jokic, Duncan and Kidd. Boston therefore has what it takes to aim for the big shot, a more experienced team and a tested attack. How can he lose her? Thinking they had already won, making the attack sterile and exposing themselves to the counterattacks led by Doncic and Irving.
DALLAS MAVERICKS, DAL PRE TRADE DEADLINE ALLE FINALS
This year, few predicted Dallas as one of the title contenders: Bucks, Nuggets, OKC, Clippers were considered better equipped and ready to compete. Then Anthony’s Timberwolves, who had shouted out the new favorite in the West. None of this: at the end of an incredible season the Dallas Mavericks are there, in the Finals, 4 victories away from what could be their first title in 12 years. How did they get here? To think that until the trade deadline they were considered by many to be a dangerous team, but not as a contender. They floated between sixth and seventh place, without giving the impression of being able to do more. But in the end they did more. After February another season began, which made the Mavs one of the best teams in the league (and consequently the best defense in the league). Doncic and Irving have shown that they can coexist and do so very well, increasing their bond on and off the field. And when you have two superstars like that, ready to make themselves available for each other, well, it gets tough. Also making the difference in these playoffs is a supporting cast that has proven to be of a high standard, with Gafford, Lively, PJ Washington and Derrick Jones JR each ready to play their part. On the other side there is the strongest team in the league but, as mentioned, it was the defense that turned the Mavs’ season around. And so Washington and Jones JR are ready to give Brown and Tatum a hard time, while Gafford and Lively will find themselves faced with two atypical big men like Horford and Porzingis (his condition still needs to be assessed). As for the attack, most of it certainly passes through the hands of Doncic and Irving, with many isolations and step-back shots (209 between the two in these playoffs). The Slovenian prefers the classic stepback shot, going towards the left, while Kyrie also doesn’t disdain the side step. In the OPs we are at 167 step backs attempted by Luka and 42 by Irving, with an impact of +0.8 and +11 respectively. A very interesting theme of the finals is also Kyrie’s relationship with the Celtics: after not having parted very well 5 years ago, in the direct clashes the number 11 started very well. In the Nets jersey he had a 7-1 record in his first 8 games. Then, the bad thing: Irving decides to trample on the Celtics logo at the end of a game and from there begins an open series of ZERO victories and 9 defeats in the last 3 seasons. Not a good presentation card, with Irving having to prove that he is stronger even than curses. On the other hand Doncic who, like Tatum, leads his team in points, rebounds and assists. The Mavs start out as underdogs on paper, but they know very well that these Celtics are not unbeatable. We therefore expect a final that promises to be spectacular, which will certainly see many other themes emerge during the ongoing series. Now, as they say, there’s only one thing left to say: let the best win.
THE SCHEDULE OF THE FINALS
Game 1, Boston – Dallas: Friday 7 June at 2.30am Game 2, Boston – Dallas: Monday 10 June at 2am Game 3, Dallas – Boston: Thursday 13 June at 2.30am Game 4, Dallas – Boston: Saturday 15 June at 2.30 Possible Game 5, Boston – Dallas: Tuesday 18 June at 2.30 Possible Game 6, Dallas – Boston: Friday 21 June at 2.30 Possible Game 7, Boston – Dallas: Monday 24 June at 2
Diego Loretelli
2024-06-06 14:24:04
#NBA #BOSTON #GOOD #TIME #DALLAS #READY #TRIP #DIEGO #LORETELLI
