With the NBA trying to conserve these players for the final stretch of this Finals we had two days off to analyze the Celtics vs Mavs in game 1. I will say NBA media has gotten a lot more like football in that now we have a bevy of guys who can break down what’s happening on a possession by possession basis and it isn’t just “MAN THE CELTICS WERE ALWAYS UNSTOPPABLE” heel turns.
In fact a lot of the people who took the Mavs still think they’re going to win the series. Mainly because Luka is that great, the Mavs are normally ass in Game 1, and Kyrie struggled. But fuck predictions and on the court reads something else is quietly bubbling under the surface IF this series doesn’t pick up.
This playoffs has been lacking. We have a severe lack of great playoff moments this postseason. Now I already hear you screaming about Luka hitting a step back over Rudy Gobert, yelling, “YOU CANT FUCKING GUARD ME.” Complete with Draymond right after lighting the torch on Inside the NBA. Yeah that was great.
But we need more sorry.
Now a big part of this is that only one conference has really been competitive and again not the Celtics fault. Everyone interesting they could have played got hurt like Giannis for the Bucks before the offs, Jimmy for the Heat in round one, and Haliburton in the ECF.
This led to a common phrase that I’m sure y’all have heard over these few days, “Man when they cut the lead to 8, it was TROUBLE.” Yes that’s right all of NBA media has been fawning over the Mavs getting the Celtics lead to 8 in the 3rd quarter like some kind of fever dream. And yeah I was one of those clowns.
https://stonedsports.com/dank-diary-so-this-is-why-the-celtics-were-favorites/
But still it felt like Game 1 was one that got away. Because in that moment when it was 8, I was running around the house. It was so exciting that I was jumping up and down proclaiming, “Oh man, HE’S ABOUT TO DO IT,” Of course he is Luka and that’s the hope that everyone has heading into Sunday night. Kyrie and Luka have a certain amount of magic that can really push the Celtics to either finishing this off and become gear or fold. Either way that stands the chance to truly make this series memorable like 2022 with the Warriors.
Or maybe I’m just dreaming.