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Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving lead Mavs to NBA title
NBA scoring champion Luka Doncic (25) and sharpshooter Kyrie Irving (32) are set to lead the Dallas Mavericks against the favoured Boston Celtics as the NBA Finals tip-off on Thursday. The series promises to be an intense battle, with the upstart Mavericks facing the Celtics, who have been the league’s top team this season.
Kyrie Irving, a former Celtics standout, is preparing for what is expected to be a hostile reception in Boston. It has been five years since Irving left the Celtics for the Brooklyn Nets, leaving behind a team that has since evolved into a powerhouse under the leadership of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The Celtics have recorded an NBA-best 64 wins this season, underscoring their dominance.
“They’re the best team in the NBA,” said Doncic. “They have by far the best record, some incredible weapons on offense and defense, so we’re going to have to play really hard and amazing basketball to beat them.”
Tatum, who was instrumental in leading the Celtics to the 2022 finals where they lost to the Golden State Warriors, sees this as an opportunity for redemption. “There’s a lot myself, and we, can learn from the experience of being in the finals, and this go-around is a lot different,” Tatum explained. “I’m really just looking at it as a second chance and trying to simplify things as much as we can.”
The Celtics are chasing their 18th all-time NBA title, which would set them apart from the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom they currently share the record. Boston’s last championship came in 2008, and they are eager to add another to their storied history. On the other hand, the Mavericks are seeking their second title, having won their only NBA championship in 2011 after losing in the finals in 2006 to the Miami Heat.
Kyrie Irving is expected to be a focal point of the series, not only for his gameplay but also due to his previous tenure with the Celtics and a less-than-stellar playoff return with Brooklyn. “I’m better at consolidating the emotions now,” Irving said. “You call it animosity. We call it hate. We call it, ‘It’s going to be hell in Boston.'”
Reflecting on a previous encounter in Boston where he faced significant fan hostility, Irving noted, “The last time in Boston (in the playoffs with Brooklyn), I don’t think that was the best… everyone saw me flip off the birds and kind of lose my [cool] a little bit. I wasn’t my best self at that time. I’ve been able to grow since then… I’m looking forward to it. I’ll take the brunt of it, all the yells and all the remarks.”
Despite the expected tension, Irving is averaging 22.8 points in the playoffs, complementing Doncic, who has been stellar with an average of 28.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.8 assists in the postseason. Doncic, who averaged 33 points in the regular season, has been a pivotal figure for the Mavericks.
The Celtics, known for their robust defense, will counter with two of the NBA’s top defensive guards in Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. “There’s really no stopping them. You just try to make it difficult for them,” White said. “They’re going to take tough shots and they’re going to make tough shots. Just trust that over 48 minutes what we’re doing is going to work.”
Boston’s offense is equally formidable, with Tatum averaging 26.0 points and 10.4 rebounds in the playoffs, and Brown contributing an average of 25.0 points. The team’s proficiency in three-point shooting has been a significant factor, leading the NBA in both attempts and successful baskets from beyond the arc. The Celtics have maintained an unbeaten record when hitting 14 or more three-pointers in a game during this postseason.
“Boston shoots the three at a high rate,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd remarked. “They have a lot of talented players. They’ve been here before, they have the experience. They’re well-coached. This is another great test.”
Dallas center Dereck Lively is undeterred by Boston’s experience and tradition. “They have a lot of tradition, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is who’s going to go harder on the court,” Lively stated. “It’s going to be a dogfight out there, but we’re going to keep swinging and see what happens.”
Adding to the intrigue, the Celtics expect to have Latvian center Kristaps Porzingis back in action after he missed 10 games due to a right calf strain suffered in the first round against Miami. “He has been working extremely hard just to get back and to help us in any way he can,” White commented.
“When KP is at his best, he has been tremendous for us,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla added. “We expect that from him.”
The stage is set for a thrilling NBA Finals, with the Mavericks and Celtics both bringing unique strengths and storylines to the court. As the series begins, all eyes will be on the performances of Doncic, Irving, Tatum, and Brown, and how each team navigates the intense competition and pressure of championship basketball.
