The NBA Finals are upon us, with the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics battling for the title and the ring. At the center of attention will be two fantastic duos – Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving on one side, and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown on the other. However, there’s always room for new heroes to emerge.
Since joining the NBA, Luka Doncic has been a dominant offensive force. The 25-year-old Slovenian leads the league in scoring with an average of 33.9 points per game and is second in assists with 9.8. He has continued his dominance in the playoffs, averaging 32.4 points per game against Minnesota. Thirty-two-year-old Kyrie Irving, the Texas superstar, had mixed success while wearing Boston’s jersey. During his two seasons in the “TD Garden,” he led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2018. This will be his third playoff season since leaving Boston.
For many, the Celtics are the best-assembled team in the NBA this season. Their offensive rating is the highest in the league and in NBA history. Their defensive rating is also very strong, ranking third in the league. Jayson Tatum has been the catalyst for all the team’s good reactions throughout the season, particularly in the playoffs. He leads the team with an average of 26 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. Jaylen Brown follows closely behind in all statistical parameters.
Regardless of the main assets, the impact of the “X” factor is always crucial. This could be Jrue Holiday, the veteran who came in a trade from Portland and won the title with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. The return of Kristaps Porzingis can also be significant. The Boston center has not played since April 29 due to an ankle injury, and the Celtics had a 9-1 record without him in the lineup. Porzingis remains a great friend of Luka Doncic and stated before the finals:
“We are good, we’ve always been good. He is one of the best players in the league, which means in the world. It will be a serious challenge for all of us to stop him. I’ve been following his career since he joined the NBA and saw the impact it had on us. I had the opportunity to play with him for a few years, so we know each other well. I know what kind of person he is, what kind of player he is, how he thinks. He is a special player and a big challenge lies ahead of us to compete with such an athlete.”
The final series starts soon, with Boston having the home-court advantage. The series is played in a best-of-seven format, and everyone is eagerly awaiting to see who will emerge victorious.