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The NBA Finals commences this week, and many are excited about the upcoming clashes between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. One of them is Magic Johnson, who posted a long analysis that could also be viewed as a serious reminder for Boston.
“The Celtics are supposed to win the series, but I’ve seen the team with the most talent lose before,” Johnson said. “Remember the 2004 Finals between the Lakers and Pistons? Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton and Ben Wallace upset my Lakers with four Hall of Fame players: Kobe Bryant, Shaq, Gary Payton, and Karl Malone. They even had Horace Grant!”
“The Mavericks definitely have an opportunity to win the championship as the team that’s hot right now, and (are) playing with a lot of confidence and swagger! Luka and Kyrie won’t have the same luxury of resting on defense like they did against the Timberwolves, because every starter on the Celtics team is a scoring threat. Another big difference in this series is Dallas can’t afford for Luka and Kyrie to get into foul trouble, but on the other side, the Celtics can handle Jaylen or Jayson getting in foul trouble and having to sit out because they have depth on their bench!” Johnson added.
The Celtics' deep lineup
The Celtics are indeed favored by many analysts to take home the crown. Alongside the dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Boston boasts starters such as Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.
The Jays are superstars, there's no questioning that. Their scoring prowess is known throughout the NBA world. Porzingis and Holiday may be playing behind Tatum and Brown, but when called upon, the former All-Stars can still make game-changing plays. Then there's White, a two-way sensation who's also proven himself time and time again.
From the bench, Boston regularly puts in veteran Al Horford, alongside names such as Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet.
To put into perspective the depth of this Celtics team, Porzingis has been out throughout the second round (of the playoffs) and the Eastern Conference Finals, but the green and white have only lost one game in that entire span. Replacing Porzingis was Horford, who seamlessly fit into the starting unit due to his familiarity with the role.
A challenging foe awaits
But as Magic Johnson stated, past scenarios have proven that the team with the most talent doesn't win all the time. The Celtics have a tough task ahead of them, and it involves going against the formidable tandem of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Like Tatum and Brown, Doncic himself hasn't won a chip yet. He's hungry, and he's been unstoppable so far. As for Kyrie, he has a score to settle with Boston fans, and he's expected to show out on the big stage once again. Furthermore, the Mavericks' mid-season trades for PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford have solidified their frontline, making them fully-fledged contenders.
Nevertheless, the Celtics are motivated as well. Back in 2022, Tatum, Brown and several others on the current roster made it to the Finals, where they fell to the Golden State Warriors in six games. Now, a second chance has sprouted up, and the squad is looking to make sure that they take full advantage this time around.
