2024 NBA Finals Should Be More Exciting And Competitive
The 2024 NBA Finals are here and I must first make this perfectly clear. I am not a Celtics or Mavericks fan at all. It’s team Lakers all day. Now that’s out of the way, let’s get into this year’s finals and my predictions and match-ups. I am going to give my professional opinion on the grounds of being a bigger fan of the sport.
The 2024 NBA Finals Match-Ups
According to Stamuse.com, the Boston Celtics have 22 appearances in the NBA Finals. The Dallas Mavericks are making their third NBA Finals appearance, their first since 2011, and their first against a team other than the Miami Heat.
However, a Celtics-Mavericks Finals matchup should be exciting and highly competitive. Let’s take a look at the storylines.
• Luka vs. Tatum: The young superstars are going head-to-head, showcasing their offensive prowess and clutch performances.
• Defensive Battle: Both teams have defensive tenacity. The Celtics, led by Tatum and Brown are focusing on trying to shut down Luka and Kyrie while the Mavericks would aim to contain Tatum and Brown.
It appears to me, that whoever succeeds in shutting down the other will have the edge at winning the 2024 NBA Finals.
• Coaching Chess Match: Joe Mazzulla and Jason Kidd are both astute tacticians. And for the second time in history, two black head coaches will face off in the NBA Finals. Expect adjustments and counter-adjustments throughout the series. According to Former NBA player Darius Rice, the Mavericks have a stronger bench with seven-foot-one former Duke Blue Devil Dereck Lively and former Arkansas Razorback Daniel Gafford. These two big men are dangerous coming off the bench controlling the paint.
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2024 NBA Finals Predictions
Even though I am an active Celtics hater, I’d give them a slight edge in a hard-fought seven-game series. Boston’s depth, defensive versatility, and championship experience would be crucial in overcoming Luka’s brilliance. Here are a few key factors.
• Celtics’ Supporting Cast: Players like Al Horford, Derrick White, and Kristap Porzingis would need to step up and provide consistent scoring.
• Mavericks’ Role Players: Dallas would rely on contributions from Kyrie Irving, Lively, and PJ Washington to support Luka.
• Home-Court Advantage: The energy of TD Garden in Boston could be a significant factor.
While this matchup is offensively fueled, expect the team to win who can contain at least one of the opponent’s big 2 Superstars. My prediction is the Celtics win and Tatum gets MVP in game 7. You can take that to the sportsbook, just don’t tell them I sent you!