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The Boston Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers to advance to the NBA Finals, their second in three seasons. Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks knocked off the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 in five games to secure their spot in the NBA Finals, their first appearance since 2011. Both teams will be ready to play. Likewise, both will have star players vying for NBA Finals MVP. Jayson Tatum will look to get the elusive ring he failed to do against the Warriors, while Luka Doncic hopes to seal his ticket in history.
Tatum has entered elite territory recently and continues to shine as the NBA Playoffs continue. After the Celtics rallied back from a significant deficit in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Tatum accomplished something else. He became the fifth player in NBA history to lead his team in points, rebounds, and assists while also engineering a trip to the Finals, according to numbers compiled by StatMamba.
Jayson Tatum's Odds Revealed
Doncic is no slouch. Substantially, he carried the Mavs to great new heights as he led them to three victories over the Timberwolves at the Target Center. FanDuel predicts an exciting race between the two, with Tatum having the better odds at -120 while Doncic sits at -210.
Why Tatum is the Favorite to Win NBA Finals MVP
It's no secret that Tatum has had an incredible postseason. Just look at what he did in Game 4 to help the Celtics seal the win. Tatum went off for 26 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists while shooting 11 for 26 from the floor. While there were some struggles at times, he managed to press through and lead his team to a series-clinching victory.
Tatum also led the Celtics to a monster comeback in Game 3, scoring 36 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists while shooting 12 for 23 from the floor. He did not shoot well from the triples in Game 2, going 1 for 7. But he still managed 23 points. Ultimately, he did his part and stayed patient.
But what makes Tatum so efficient and dangerous on offense is his ability to read the floor and see what's open. If he is driving to the hoop and notices too much traffic down low, he will find a way to spread the ball to open teammates. Usually, when the defense converges on Tatum, they leave at least one guy open, such as Al Horford or Derrick White. It makes defenses think twice about double-teaming Tatum because other deadly options are all over the floor.
But while many want to talk about his offensive numbers, few seem to remember all he did on defense. Remarkably, he had one steal and two blocks in Game 2. Tatum went off in Game 1 for three steals. This followed an Eastern Conference Semifinals series-clinching victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he garnered four steals. This was not long after he blocked three shots in Game 1 of that same series. Ultimately, he is a force on that end of the floor.
Doncic, Among Others Right Behind Him
Doncic also carried the Mavericks on his back, delivering them to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2011. What's remarkable about him is his continued playing at a high level despite injuries to his back and knees. When the Mavs were faced with the prospect of losing Game 5 and having to return home for Game 6, Doncic did not allow it to become a possibility. Amazingly, he went off for 36 points while shooting 14 for 22 from the floor, including 6 for 10 from the triples. Doncic also brought down 10 rebounds and had five assists.
But Doncic even had a triple-double in the Game 4 loss, where he had 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. While they did not win that game, they were in it because of him. Doncic has gone off for at least 30 points in four of the previous five games and five of seven. Therefore, he is the next-best favorite to win the NBA Finals award.
His defense has also been stellar. Significantly, he had two steals in Game 5 to clinch it. But his best defensive performance came in Game 3 when he managed five steals and one block.
But one other player for consideration is Tatum's teammate Jaylen Brown. Substantially, he had 29 points while shooting 11 for 22 in the series-clinching victory over the Pacers. Brown turned it up a notch in the Eastern Conference Finals. Currently, he is currently at +600 odds to win NBA Finals MVP.
Doncic is the one everyone believes is the biggest threat to Tatum. Yet, Kyrie Irving also enters the conversation based on his ability to carry the team at times. He finished with 36 points in Game 5 to lead the Mavs to victory. But his inconsistency, such as his performance in Game 2, puts him in deep doubt. FanDuel currently has him at +2000.
But Tatum has been to the dance before. Unfortunately, the experience of losing in the NBA Finals may push him even further. Brown is also equally capable of leading the Celtics. However, Tatum has always been the de facto leader. It is his time to showcase what he can and prove to the world that the loss to the Warriors two seasons ago is behind him.
The Mavericks and Celtics will play Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.
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