Boston vs. Dallas, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving vs. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The NBA championship series should be more competitive than the East (a Celtics sweep) or the West (Mavs in five) championship series.

Timberwolves Dismissed

When Luka Doncic dropped 20 points before the first quarter ended Thursday, the Timberwolves could not prevent the inevitable. After building a 3-0 series lead followed by a loss at home, the Mavericks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games to reach the NBA finals for the first time since 2011.

The Mavericks Improbable Run

The fifth seeded Dallas Mavericks have made a stunning return to the NBA Finals, marking their first appearance since Head coach Jason Kidd was the team’s starting point guard (2011) and they won the title over LeBron James and the Miami Heat. This year’s journey to the Finals has been a showcase of resilience, with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving leading the way. Doncic, the team’s leader and MVP candidate, has been instrumental in the Mavericks’ success. Doncic leads the team with an average of 28.8 points per game in the playoffs. Alongside him, Irving has brought experience and offensive firepower, averaging 26.0 points per game in the playoffs, making the duo hard to contain for any defense.

Mavericks’ Path to the Finals

The Mavericks’ path to the Finals has been paved with victories over the oldest team in the NBA, the Clippers, the youngest team that made the playoffs, the Thunder, and the league’s best defensive team, the Timberwolves. Their ability to overcome these obstacles speaks volumes about the team’s versatility and adaptability to their opponents’ playing style. Now facing another offensive juggernaut in the Celtics, the Mavericks will look to adapt again.

Defense in Dallas

A significant factor in the Mavericks’ resurgence has been their transformation into an elite defensive team. They had the best defensive rating in the NBA over the final 15 games of the regular season (106.1), a trend that has continued into the playoffs. This defensive intensity has allowed them to contain some of the league’s most potent offenses, setting the stage for their finals run. They will have their hands full with Boston’s scoring ability.

Role Players Step-up

The Mavericks’ roster, beyond Doncic and Irving, is a blend of youth and experience. Players like P.J. Washington Jr., Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford, have made significant contributions. The rookie, Lively bounced back from a neck injury to energize the Mavs in game 5 in Minnesota. Gafford stepped up on the defensive end, tallying five blocks in one game, averaging 2 blocks per game overall this season.

The Boston Celtics Firepower

The Boston Celtics are a team that finished the regular season with the best record and the best offensive rating in the NBA. The Celtics are led by Jayson Tatum (26.9 ppg), Jaylen Brown (23 ppg), and Kristaps Porzingis (20.1 ppg). Porzingis has been sidelined recently with injury but looks to return in the finals.

Kyrie’s Boston Reunion

Kyrie Irving, a former Celtic, returns to face his former team once again. His two-year stay in Boston had a sour ending in 2019. Irving played with the Celtics for two seasons, proclaimed he would resign, but then signed with the Brooklyn Nets as a free agent. Later he would stomp on the Celtics’ center-court logo and flip off fans when he returned for the first time, as a member of the Nets. In 2023 Irving became a Maverick and quickly found a home playing for Jason Kidd. Returning to Boston with everything on the line should be full of intensity and drama.

First Final for Luka

At 25, Doncic is in his first NBA Championship. “It means a lot,” Donic said to the press after closing out Minnesota. “It’s a hard road. But this is where we are. We’re here because we deserve to be here.” Now almost six years after they drafted him, the Mavericks finally found the right combination of talent around him to make a run.

Finals Schedule

The NBA Finals tips off Thursday June 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET in Boston. ABC will be covering the series. Games 1-2 will be in Boston, games 3-4 in Dallas, with games 5-7 alternating venues if necessary.

Photo Credit; ESPN, Dallas Morning News, Sports Illustrated,

Reggie Sanderson – Dallas sports writer for “We Like Sportz”. Co-host of the “Sons of the Star” Podcast. 

Follow him on X @Cowboy_Regg