The Dallas Mavericks are headed to the NBA Finals! After a pretty intense play off run, Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and the rest of the Mavs are one series away from claiming the championship. It's been a while since Dallas has been in this position, with their last Finals run happening back in 2011 against the LeBron James-led Miami Heat.
Mavericks fans may want to look into the year prior to their last championship for some inspiration. This year, Dallas faced plenty of tough teams in the playoffs. The Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Minnesota Timberwolves were all top-5 teams that won at least 50 games. OKC and Minnesota had 57 and 56, respectively.
How often does a team beat three 50-win teams to make it to the Finals? Not that many, apparently. In fact, the last team to do so before the 2024 Mavericks are the 2010 Lakers, per SportsCenter. As you know by now, the Lakers ended up winning that title… against none other than the Boston Celtics, too.
“The Dallas Mavericks are the first team since the 2010 Lakers to beat three 50+ win teams on the way to the finals. Clippers: 51 Wins. Thunder: 57 Wins. Timberwolves: 56 Wins The Lakers also ended up winning the title that season AGAINST the Boston Celtics 👀”
It's rare for this to happen. Typically, teams that are the highest seed face the “easiest” schedules in terms of team standings. The Mavericks, on the other hand, finished the season as the fifth seed. As a result, they've had to scratch and claw their way against the best teams in the West. Now, they're up against the best team in the Eastern Conference in the Celtics.
Mavericks' quest for a ring
Coming into the playoffs, the Mavericks were always seen as the dark horse of the Western Conference race. They had the potential, yes: they routinely beat all of the great teams in the regular season. However, they were just edged out by the Big 3 of the Timberwolves, Thunder, and the defending champions Denver Nuggets.
Once the playoffs started, though, the Mavericks' superior experience started to shine through. They went blow for blow with the Thunder and the Timberwolves, the first and third seeds respectively. Many of their games went down to the wire. In the end, though, Irving and Doncic were able to make the winning plays and keep their composure in the face of adversity.
It's not just a two-man show for the Mavericks, though. Dereck Lively has been a revelation for the Mavericks this postseason. His rim-running, defensive prowess, and energy on the boards is something that Dallas has clearly lacked. Joining the rookie in the frontcourt are two veterans that the Mavs acquired during the deadline. PJ Washington's clutch shooting and Daniel Gafford's length has saved Dallas on more than a few occasions in the playoffs.
The Celtics are going to be a much, much different beast than any of the teams they've faced. The Mavericks' advantage in their last two series is their experience. That advantage is negated by the Celtics' own experience. How well can the Mavs deal with the Celtics' two-pronged attack?
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