This postseason for the most part has been the great unknown. As I knew it would be. Now we’ve reached the Finals. Two months of grinding for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, and we are finally down to two teams. Before we figure out who’s left, let’s go over the teams that were sentenced to the graveyard of the Basketball Gods.
Golden State Warriors (Death of a Salesman): I knew the Warriors were going to be in for a long offseason but never did I expect it to happen like this. Throughout the 3rd Quarter of their play-in game against the Kings I saw an entire franchise die in real time. All of the flaws that have consumed the organization whole over the last few years undid them again. (Now you see why Bob Myers jumped ship when he did. Guber and Lacob being loyal to the cornerstones will do that) The lack of a prototypical center and having an offensive play style which has them live and die by the sword. They had no answers for DeAaron Fox or anything that the Kings threw at them in the 2nd Half, Kevon Looney once again got outmuscled in the biggest game of the year, as Sacramento gets their revenge for Game 7 last year. (The Beam will not be lit in Gold Blood this time, WOOF!) Prepare yourselves for perhaps the most critical offseason of the Steve Kerr Era. Klay Thompson may have just played his last game in DubNation with how badly he declined this year. (That, he’s a free agent, and Brandin Podziemski looks like the future SG) I would say Draymond as well, but no one is taking on that contract especially in a hard cap situation. The reality is this. The dynasty will fall before us unless Giannis or LaMelo Ball demands a trade. I need to do a document on the current situation in the Bay Area, don’t I?
Atlanta Hawks (YOU DID WHAT?): If you look at this season for the Hawks, this was literally the worst case scenario. Limping through the season, getting their asses kicked by Chicago in the 9-10 game, and Tony Ressler now is going to pretend that everything is fine. The 3rd Quarter of that game literally represents the ATL’s fortunes since 2021. Hyped up to hell and back only to get exposed. I wonder how long Trae Young is going to be able to put up with this. He may be the most decorated player the franchise has had since Dominique Wilkins, and just like Wilkins he’s had nothing to show for besides one year in terms of team success. The worst part is that unless they have a Top 4 selection, they’re giving their 1st Round pick to the Spurs. From how I see it, they’re back in the same situation that they were in during 2017. A dying window with next to no hope. Far for the course. (BOOM!) And as soon as I say this, the Hawks become the luckiest sons of nutcrackers in the world. Not only are they not giving up their pick to San Antonio, they just lucked into the 1st Overall Pick! (The gods really do hate the Detroit Pistons!) Well it looks like Ice Trae or Dejounte Murray isn’t going anywhere. Now don’t ruin whoever you take with that selection. I’M WARNING YOU! (This is a deep draft with no conscientious #1 pick. They better choose the right player, if not, we laugh at Atlanta again)
Sacramento Kings (Trolled): You finally beat big brother in the Warriors. That sounds great but the Basketball Gods made up their minds that your season would end early. The killing blow for the Kings was injuries. Both Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk were sidelined from the beginning of March and honestly they weren’t the same team after that. Once they marched into New Orleans, the juju of Fox and Sabonis ran out. I mean they kept it close for most of the game, but Zion made sure that he wasn’t going to lose back to back home games especially after what happened against LA in the 7-8 game. The question I have now for Sacramento is the same I had for Atlanta. Was their 2023 run legit or was it a result of all the breaks going their way. Next year will be critical for what they do going forward, and as long as Ranadive doesn’t get in the way, they should have the same team coming back. Well at least Keegan Murray looks like a freaking stud. (Maybe they could luck into a free agent that actually wants to go there. Did I just say that?)
Chicago Bulls (GIVE UP ALREADY!): I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The Chicago Bulls are the definition of mediocrity and it’s something that Jerry Reinsdorf is ok with during his final years on this earth. However I think I may have been too nice to them. Let me put it this way. When you lose to a Heat team missing their two best scorers by double digits, the entire organization should be in panic mode. In my opinion this is one of those games that you don’t recover from. The entire starting five was exposed from the moment they hit the court, and it was obvious from the naked eye. If I’m DeRozan and LaVine I want out the first flight out of O’Hare or Midway. Both of these guys are too good to be wasted year after year. Not to mention Lonzo Ball is probably never playing a game in the NBA again with how botched up his knee is. They need to nuke this organization and start from scratch. One more thing, how the hell does Billy Donovan still have a job? The guy was carried to relevance by KD and Westbrook, and he hasn’t done a damn thing without them. But oh he’s buddy’s with Reinsdorf which is all that matters. Just bring out the nukes already!
New Orleans Pelicans (Chopped Legs): Let’s be real an unexpected playoff run wasn’t going to happen even if Zion managed to stay healthy for once. Even with the face of the franchise finally at full strength (If you exclude Game 4 of the OKC series) the Pelicans must face the hard truth. That being they were outclassed for four straight games by an up and coming franchise. Other than Game 1, the Thunder did basically whatever they wanted, especially SGA and Holmgren. Here’s what I find fascinating. For how much draft capital they got Anthony Davis, as well as Jrue Holiday, they have still yet to win a playoff series with all that they’ve gained through the draft. I’m not solely putting blame on David Griffin because the lottery is a total mystery box. To me the issue is Willie Green. This guy has gotten exposed every time he’s gone up against elite teams and coaches, and the fact that he still has a job lies directly on the Benson Family. I know they are afraid of change or throwing away draft picks but something has to happen in order for them to get out of this mess. GET IT FIXED!
Los Angeles Clippers (The Red Headed Stepchild): The Clippers with everything lining up for them laid a massive egg. AGAIN! I know we’re going to bring up Kawhi’s legs falling on him again, or the entirety of their bench crapping the bed, or James Harden being invisible as for why they lost. The main reason why they were eliminated this early was behind the bench. Other than Game 1, Ty Lue got massively outcoached by Jason Kidd, and couldn’t put together a proper gameplan to expose Dallas’ weapons. The death blow of this series was Game 5 where they got routed in their final game as the younger sibling in the house that Kobe and Shaq built. The Mavericks took them to the cleaners for 48 minutes. Game 6 was the exact same thing and during those two blowouts it felt like the pain wouldn’t end. Both Olivier Sedra and Steve Balmer have done everything they possibly could to field a championship team, and they still got bounced in the 1st Round. They are locked up in hell yet again. I know they’re moving into that shiny new arena in Inglewood, but what’s that going to do to solve all of the injury and inconsistency concerns? Uh, something I guess.
Phoenix Suns (The Dark Corners of Hell): Everyone and their mother knew that the Suns weren’t going to do anything in the playoffs. But to see them get swept right out of the playoffs was something no one saw coming. I however wasn’t one of them. A superteam in today’s NBA doesn’t work unless every single thing goes your way. What happened in this series? THE EXACT OPPOSITE! Phoenix was exposed for four straight games thanks to the might of Anthony Edwards as well as things that were mostly under their control. Frank Vogel getting tactically spanked all series, what a shocker? (They didn’t learn from LA or Indy didn’t they?) Even KD showed his age as he was unable to put the team on his back. Like I said, when you trade your entire depth and thensome to try and win a ring it usually backfires. (Especially when Durant and Beal are as injury prone as they are) As a result Vogel was given the ax but honestly he should never have been hired in the first place. Hey remember that Mike Budenholzer guy that beat you in the NBA Finals in 2021? Well he’s yours now, and at least he gets to be closer to family. It sounds nice but he’s going to have ownership breathing down his neck early and often. (He’s literally in the same situation that he left Milwaukee and Atlanta) Things have gotten so bad under Mat Ishbia that Suns fans are now starting to wonder if Robert Sarver wasn’t the issue in terms of roster construction. A guy who suffered almost the exact same outcome as Donald Sterling for crying out loud! (When your comparison is Daniel Snyder you’ve accomplished something) You know how you don’t get in this situation? By not firing Monty Williams, and trading away your entire future for two injury prone players on the decline. (How does James Jones still have a job? Just saying)
Los Angeles Lakers (Spanked By Their Daddy, AGAIN!): I honestly can’t believe that people are shocked by this outcome. IN WHAT WAY WERE THE LAKERS CONSIDERED THE BETTER TEAM THAN DENVER!? “Oh but they don’t have LeBron and AD, those two are different beasts in the postseason!” That sounds nice, but neither of them are as good as Jokic is at this moment. Wait, you’re upset about the truth. Don’t tell that to anyone who follows the LakeShow. This series was almost identical to the WCF of a year ago. Even down to how LA fared in the clutch. The only difference was that they didn’t get swept and were knocked out in five games. The Nuggets toyed with their so-called rag doll for the entire series. Wouldn’t you know it the Boys Club got so mad at Darvin Ham for not being able to out-coach Mike Malone that they fired him after the damn series. Is it his fault that nobody besides LeBron and AD showed up in this series? Is it his fault that Rob Pelinka has made so many boneheaded moves over the last half decade. (How does Pelinka still have that GM job? SERIOUSLY, he should have been fired after 2022.) Well to Jeannie Buss and Frank Rambis it is. I would say the only way to go from here is up, but knowing the Lakers as well as LBJ they’ll continue to drink the stupid juice every which way. You wanna know why? Guess who they’re leading candidate is for their next head coach? (DRAMATIC MUSIC!) JJ REDICK! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! (But they at least have two Mickey Mouse Championships to hold onto. WHICH MEANS JACK!)
Miami Heat (Why?): “WE WANT BOSTON! (CLAP! CLAP! CLAP CLAP CLAP!) “WE WANT BOSTON! (CLAP! CLAP! CLAP CLAP CLAP!)” Well well well, it looks like you’ve learned nothing from Bandwagon World a couple of years ago. You want Boston? You’ll get Boston gentlemen sweeping you in a revenge match for last year. They’ll give you one game just to be nice, and then they’ll call out the hunting dogs to consume the 305 whole for Games 3 and 4. To be fair the Heat were already doomed once Jimmy Butler, and Terry Rozier went down in the play-in tournament. The reality is that even if those two were healthy, they weren’t going to have the guns to keep up with the Celtics in a seven game series. (Plus Boston wasn’t toying around this time) Tatum and Brown were men possessed and the Celtics would have been trolled for years if they had lost. I know Miami is still in good hands, but Butler is starting to get a little impatient. Recently he threw Pat Riley under the bus for some of the moves they’ve made, but if I were him I’d do the same thing. Especially when you’re this close to winning it all. Just like in 2022 they were undone by injuries. As I’ve said, if they’re healthy, they can make the Finals. Now cut off the heads in the conditioning room alright.
Orlando Magic (No Glass Slippers Here): This segment should be encouragement for the strides that the Magic have made in terms of building a contending team for years to come. However their biggest flaw all season hurt them in the end. That being their inability to win crucial games on the road. Against the Cavs they went 0-4 on the road and in most of those losses it wasn’t even close. I mean they did make a huge statement in Game 6 at home, and had a 17 point lead in Game 7. (BOOM!) Then the clock struck midnight. Which is ironic since this franchise is run by the Walt Disney Company. Deus ex machina landing in Cleveland’s hands over the last 24 minutes was a brutal sight for Orlando but I will give them credit for making this a series. Their time will come especially with how well Banchero and the Wagner Brothers played this season. All they need is for Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs to take that next step and they’ll have a shot at getting the 1st Round monkey off their backs. I expect big things in 2025, get to work as soon as you can! (Once again, getting rid of John Hammond last year was the best thing that could have happened for this organization)
Milwaukee Bucks (Coach Bud Wasn’t The Issue!): I feel like I’ve just seen the beginning of the end. I don’t say this to be over-reactive or impatient, but this series against Indiana was the culmination of two years of Jimmy Haslam and company ruining every single aspect that made this team great under Marc Lasry. Defense was abandoned for a high flying offense, yet the offense went ice cold especially in Indianapolis in Games 4-6. I know Giannis didn’t play all series, and Dame was not 100% either, but they still would have lost regardless. Why? Because the entirety of the core has aged badly since the Miami series last year, and they got exposed by a team that has one thing they lack. Speed, and defense, and a high flying offense that can score in bunches. I expected the Bucks to lose this series, but I didn’t expect them to look this bad during some of those games. Other than the 1st Half of Game 1, the Pacers literally ran circles around them and they made it look easy in the process. The worst part is that they are locked up in hell for the next three years at minimum. They can’t get rid of Doc Rivers, Dame has the worst contract in sports not named Deshaun Watson, Giannis hasn’t been the same since Lasry left (Plus MA and Paschke), and he’s possibly on the verge of demanding his way out. (If he gets traded, Haslam officially passes David Tepper as the worst owner in all of sports) Kids this is why you don’t fire the best head coach in franchise history, as well as trading away your defensive cornerstone. Because these are the results you’ll get. (Have fun dealing with Jrue Holiday, Ben Sullivan, Charles Lee, and Chad Forcier making the Finals in Boston as well as your old head coach Jason Kidd in Dallas. 2008 all over again!)
Philadelphia 76ers (IT’S NOT FAIR!): CONGRATULATIONS! YOUR TEAM ONCE AGAIN CAN’T MAKE IT PAST THE 2ND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS! This time I won’t go super hard because their best laid plans were shot down long before the playoffs began. Once Joel Embiid got injured in January it was going to be an uphill climb from that point on. They did try their best to keep up with a banged up Knicks team, but in the end the Sixers just ran out of gas. I will say this to Josh Harris and the entire organization. Why are you throwing your own fan base under the bus for no reason. You do realize that the Knicks have the biggest fanbase in the league not named the Lakers, and Wells Fargo is 90 minutes south of MSG. (Well Harris has to deal with this exact same problem as owner of the Commanders thanks to Eagles and Ravens fans) To no one’s surprise, New Yorkers consumed Philadelphia yet again, especially in Games 4 and 6. What about Game 2 where it looked like you had a sure win in your grasp only to let the guy you could have drafted in 2018 burn you. I will give them a pass this year since they had injuries to Embiid and Maxey, plus Nick Nurse was in a no-win situation. But if they fall short again next year, I would consider blowing it up. You better not even think about it right now.
Oklahoma City Thunder (Tough Luck!): I’m honestly bummed. I thought the Thunder had the momentum and the young talent to make a deep playoff run. Especially with how they embarrassed New Orleans. They almost did the same against Dallas. And then they just went flat. Other than Game 4, the final five games of the series proved that OKC wasn’t ready for the big time. It showed when they got routed at home in Game 5 as they had no answers for Luka nor Kyrie. Luckily for this organization their time may be coming. They still have a boatload of picks in the next few years, and now that SGA and Chet Holmgren have emerged into the cornerstones of the team, the future is bright. Even though they lost in the 2nd Round as the #1 seed, it’s still the learning experience year and there will be plenty of chances to win it all going forward. However they can’t get too comfortable. They must recognize their flaws that were exposed, especially a lack of scoring off the bench. If they can fix that quickly, the West should be trembling in fear. Just repeat the previous championship window of yours ok!
Denver Nuggets (Anything Is Possible): For the 5th straight year the defending champion has been eliminated prior to the Conference Finals. Crazy I know. To me there are two things that killed the Nuggets in this series. Not being able to protect their home court despite the altitude being in their favor as well as getting exposed by a team built by their old GM Tim Connelly. Now you see why he brought in Rudy Gobert to pair with Karl Anthony Towns. He saw that the only way to beat Nikola Jokic was to have two big men defend him instead of one. Which they did. Games 6 and 7 saw a defensive masterpiece from the Timberwolves. Jokic and Jamal Murray could do nothing come the 2nd Half of each game, and unlike last year, their depth came up small. It also doesn’t help that they got torched by Anthony Edwards during those two games as well. Yes it sucked that the title defense ended the way it did, but as long as Denver can fix their depth situation they should be able to make a deep run again. One more thing, how do you blow a 20 point halftime lead in Game 7 at home? (Giving Alex Rodriguez insufferable hope. THE LAST THING YOU SHOULD DO!)
Cleveland Cavaliers (We’re Safe, For Now): THANK GOD! We don’t have to deal with the Kelce Brothers nor the Swifties taking over the NBA Finals. Even if it’s the Celtics who took them out in the process. (But they’ll just run over to the Mavs bandwagon) Despite Boston playing down to their competition for most of the series, the Cavs just kept crumbling at the worst times. Did I mention that the injury bug came back to haunt them again. Jarrett Allen, Dean Wade, and Donovan Mitchell were struck down for most of the series. Even with Darius Garland and Max Strus putting up excellent numbers, Cleveland was always one step behind the Killer Jays or anything Boston threw at them. Even with winning their first playoff series in the Post-LeBron Era, it won’t stop Dan Gilbert from letting JB Bickerstaff who’s boss. JB GET THE HECK OUTTA HERE AND DON’T YOU DARE COME BACK! (And Bickerstaff was doing a good job and was in the Coach of the Year conversation the past 2 seasons) I know you were the least of our issues, but we need a much different approach to how we do things. (Him and Haslam really are alike aren’t they?) This is why bad organizations stay bad. And if Donovan Mitchell wants out of the City by the Lake I wouldn’t blame him because these same clowns got LeBron to leave town not once but twice. Cleveland doing Cleveland things even if it doesn’t involve the Browns. Music to my ears eh?
New York Knicks (2021 Brooklyn Nets): The Knicks couldn’t have dreamed of a better start to the playoffs. They took down their longtime rival in the Sixers, their fans raided South Philly and won, Jalen Brunson has been the savior that this franchise hasn’t seen since Patrick Ewing, the best team they’ve had in 30 years, and now hold a 2-0 series lead against another longtime rival in the Pacers. The fans at MSG even mocked Reggie Miller after Game 2 for crying out loud. (They still hate him even if he’s been retired for almost 20 years) It looks like nothing can stop the relentless wave of Orange and Blue skies consuming the sports world whole! (DRAMATIC MUSIC!) OH BUT THE BASKETBALL GODS HAVE PLANS FOR YOU KNICKS FANS! (They love trolling James Dolan don’t they?) Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakum were injected with skills that both Reggie and Jalen Rose once possessed and went ham for the final five games of the series. The Pacers came storming back in no time thanks to an epic shot by Andrew Nembhard in Game 3 as well as The Mothers Day Massacre in Game 4. (The Knicks were down by 45 at one point. OUCH!) Even with a blowout win in Game 5, OG Anunoby must suffer a season ending injury to go along with Julius Randle who had been out since February. Once Game 7 arrived all of MSG got flashbacks to Reggie giving Spike Lee the choking meme in 1995. It wasn’t even a contest for most of the game, Indiana did whatever the hell they wanted to. A Tom Thibodeau team running out of gas in the playoffs? SHOCKING! Just like Miami, this team’s fate will be determined by how much health is on their side. That and they need an elite center to take the heat off of Brunson, DiVincenzo, and Randle. Well at least you have the Rangers I guess. (BUZZER!) That city sold their souls to beat Tom Brady in two Super Bowls didn’t they?
Minnesota Timberwolves (Sorry A-Rod!): This should be a segment praising the organization for finally making a deep playoff run after a 20 year wait, and how Anthony Edwards has become a prime candidate to be the future face of the NBA. However this is the part where all optimism must die. Even when everything is lining up for Minnesota to finally get the monkey off of their backs, fate must always have different plans. Remember when the Wolves beat the Nuggets at their own game by dominating them in crunchtime. Dallas one-upped you in that department. In the first three games, the Mavericks forced Minnesota to crumble under pressure, while Jason Kidd coached circles around Chris Finch. (You can’t even blame Finch, Kidd made some gutsy calls that went in his favor) Even when the Wolves avoided a sweep in Game 4, they got straight up blasted on their home floor in Game 5. Not even a Whiteout Atmosphere could save them against Kyrie, and Luka. I know the fans in Minnesota are going to say it was a great season, and I agree with them, but who knows if this was their best chance with the current window. They’ll probably be back again, but something tells me that this will be a lost cause. Considering that city’s reputation for underachieving it wouldn’t surprise if they came back down to earth in 2025. (And that has nothing to do with anything on the roster, or coaching staff, just the fate of the state itself) The Wolves year can best be described by one term. Close, BUT NEVER CLOSE ENOUGH!
Indiana Pacers (The Inevitable): There is something to be said about giving an entire state and fanbase hope only to rip it away from them at the worst possible time. Even if this was a four game sweep I must make this statement very clear. YOU HAD THEM! Seriously, the Pacers had the Celtics on the ropes for most of the series only for Boston to be bailed out by High End Talent and Deus Ex Machina. It started when Andrew Nembhard botched the inbound pass in Game 1, which led to Jaylen Brown showing Pascal Siakum who’s boss. They had an 18 point lead in Game 3, only for them to be outclassed by Al Horford and Jrue Holiday. What about Game 4? NO POINTS IN THE LAST FOUR MINUTES! And they’ll blow a 10 point lead during that stretch as well. Yes I get that Boston stopped playing around, but Indiana had a chance to pull off a monumental upset. Without Tyrese Haliburton I might add. However I shouldn’t go too hard on these guys. They had a damn good run for what it was worth, especially with so many questions on them going into the season. The Pacers will be back here again, and if that happens, it might be when they get over the hump. All they need is for the majority of their roster to prove that this season wasn’t a fluke. That and if they can lock up Pascal for the long run they’ll be set. (It’s just too bad that their underdog run ended in heartbreaking fashion. FOR SHAME!) PAUSE.
It sounds bizarre to me that the NBA is becoming more unpredictable than the NFL. Well considering that one conference was wide open and the other had unknown quantities. Enough talk for now, which team made it out of the Chaosland known as the Wild West?
Dallas Mavericks: (Danger Zone playing) Everything’s bigger in Texas especially in Big D. They have the Cowboys who need zero introductions for how much of an impact they have on the sports world despite not making it past the 2nd Round since 1995 (Thank Jerry Jones and the amount of financial capital he’s invested into that team), the Rangers broke their Legacy of Failure and won the World Series in 2023, the Stars have been a Stanley Cup Contender on the verge of greatness, and the Mavericks after 13 years of grinding and retooling the roster have made it back to the NBA Finals. Considering where this team was a year ago to where they are now is hard to imagine. This was a team that collapsed and missed the playoffs in 2023, Jason Kidd’s future was up for grabs, and we had no idea if Kyrie Irving would be around long term. (Plus Mark Cuban demoted himself from ownership despite still having strong ties to the team) Not only did they answer those questions they were answered convincingly. Not only making it back to the playoffs but pulling off a run that would make Bruce Bochy proud. Dismantling a Clippers team in an all-in run, taking down an up and comer in OKC, and reinforcing the tortured past of Minnesota Sports. This team may not have the veteran influence that they had in 2011 when they won it all against Miami, but this is still a talented team nonetheless. Even if Dirk Nowitzki has been retired for five years, they didn’t kill the idea. That idea is the Mavs having an international sensation leading them to glory. Luka Doncic has usurped the powers of Dirk and has become one of the most electrifying players in the league. A man who can beat you any which way. On both offense and defense. His buzzer beater against Rudy Gobert in Game 2 of the WCF is evidence. A man who has carried this franchise from the moment he was drafted, and has developed the leadership skills to make everyone buy in to accomplishing their goals. Then we get to Kyrie. A man who has had a controversial past follow him everywhere he has gone, and many thought he wouldn’t get this chance without LeBron. Especially after how much of a disaster he was in both Boston and Brooklyn. Not only is Irving getting the chance to win a 2nd ring, but he’s reinvented his game in ways we thought he never could. This man is still a great offensive player who can score anytime he touches the ball, but on defense he’s become a thief in a big way. Just ask SGA about how that worked out for him. The issue for Dallas all season was how much depth would they have behind their two stars. Especially since that’s how they collapsed last year. I’m here to tell you that they have a bunch of it. Daniel Gafford has become one of the most underrated big men in the league. Especially with how he makes team’s extra prepare for defending the pick-and-roll. (Boy did they get a steal at the deadline from the Wizards) PJ Washington free from the hell of Charlotte has become a deadly corner three specialist and solid defender. Maxi Kleber has always been one of the more unsung heroes on the roster, and getting him back just in time for the Finals is massive, especially on defense. Derrick Jones and Dereck Lively have enjoyed their coming out parties this postseason thanks to being lockdown defenders, and experts at throwing down alley-oops. And even if Dante Exum, Dwight Powell and Tim Haraway Jr have rarely played this postseason, they can still make a few shots from here and there. I was very critical towards Jason Kidd for a number of years and rightfully so. My intention was that he was a Mike Keenan-type coach. One who was good for the short term, and then demanded power, got exposed, and eventually was let go from everywhere he went. In Dallas that hasn’t been the case. Other than last year, Kidd has found ways to not only adapt to other team’s playstyles, but find ways to expose them. He made a bunch of gutsy calls throughout these playoffs in terms of challenges, and they’ve mostly worked out. He is four wins away from being a Dallas Sports Icon, on the same level as Stabauch, Ryan, Madano, Dirk, and Aikman, among many others. Especially since he’d have a ring as both a player and coach. Which in the NBA is a very tough task and not many have been able to do it. This year the Mavericks have overcome every narrative and stereotype of seasons past to get to the Finals. Something that screams championship based on past history. However the team they will be going up against is an opponent that both Kidd, and Kyrie know very well from years past. And like Dallas they’ve had years of Unfinished Business on the verge of being completed despite numerous attempts to succeed.
Boston Celtics: (Shipping Up To Boston playing) Good. I was worried that you would blow it when push came to shove. Well luckily that wasn’t the case. I know the Eastern Conference was an absolute trainwreck this year, but we had to have someone make it out of there. The Celtics have done just that. They are back in the Finals and looking to finally raise Banner #18 after a decade and a half of grinding. For the last several years, Boston has been putting every single detail and effort into chasing that championship. They’ve come close, really close. Making the ECF in 6 out of 8 seasons, with this being their 2nd trip to the Big Dance in that span. It has been known that they have been a long standing machine. But not just any big market super power. One who relies on player development, the front office being dedicated to building a winner, and finding players who fit their scheme. A deadly combination in the Basketball World. Unlike most teams they haven’t invested much in outside superstars. Most of their talent has been developed either from within, or in terms of getting players on the open market who fit their style of play. And they have some damn good players to show for. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been the cornerstones of this franchise for nearly a decade. Both of them have taken turns as the best player on the team throughout this timeframe, and even though the Boston Media as well as many other media pundits have tried to make Tatum the next Larry Bird in terms of fame, neither of them have a problem with it. From how I see it, it depends on who they are playing and how team’s prepare for them. But even with the most decorated duo that Boston Sports has seen since Brady and Gronk, there are many others who can take over a game at any time. This year the Celtics poached a 7’3 Unicorn from Washington by the name of Kristaps Porzingus. And he has rewarded them by playing up to his once great potential that he had as a Knick. Even though he’s been injured since the end of the 1st Round, he should be able to make it back in time for the Finals. Jrue Holiday may not be the offensive dynamo that he was in Milwaukee, but he’s still one of the best two way guards in the league. It was he who struck the deadly blows which placed victory far beyond the Pacers reach. Thank you Jimmy Haslam for drinking the stupid juice for Damian Lillard so that Boston could take advantage of it. (Plus they got two 1sts from the Bucks, and they have three former Bucks assistants on their staff) Derrick White is another blessing to an organization full of elite two-way players. Not only is he the best shot blocking guard in the league, he can also drop 25 when you least expect it. Plus Al Horford, one of the most beloved players in recent franchise history, is still kicking ass even at Age 38. (Cleveland, and Indiana learned this lesson the hard way) What about their depth you say? A phase that was gutted in the offseason, one that lost the reigning 6th Man of the Year plus a former Defensive Player of the Year. Yet it’s still a major strength for the Celtics. Sam Houser, Payton Pritchard, Luke Kornet, and Xavier Tillman have made key contributions whenever the big guns have been contained. Despite several instances of where they’ve played down to their competition this postseason, Boston has still blown out every opponent in their path. Miami, Cleveland, and Indiana. Let me put it this way. This run doesn’t happen if their bench doesn’t take that next step regardless of what their Starting 5 does. This doesn’t happen if they don’t go out and get Holiday and the Unicorn. This doesn’t happen if Joe Mazzulla doesn’t rise like a phoenix from the ashes as a head coach. He may not be the most popular coach in basketball, but he has matured in a big way, and allowed the players to executive their system at a high level. He has carried out the scheme that both Brad Stevens and Ime Udoka created, and has taken it to new heights. (I never thought Stevens would be better as a GM than as a head coach) It stinks for most of America that it’s a Boston team that’s getting rewarded for their efforts but hey I don’t have a problem with it. Especially considering that they have proven so far that they can win in any type of game. Close games, blowouts, defensive struggles, high scoring affairs, you name it. There are a lot of comparisons to their 1986 championship team and rightfully so. Especially with how much star power they have in their Top 6. However they remind more of the 2019 Raptors. A team that had come up close so many times over the years, was cut down by a franchise they could never beat, and had to make controversial moves to try and get over the hump. Then the moment came where everything broke their way, and the long drought was finally over. Even though the Celtics unlike Toronto that year have dominated every opponent in their path regardless of injuries or not, it is a valid comparison. The last time this band of leprechauns made the Finals, they ran into the same dynasty which that 2019 Raptors team had beaten three years earlier. There the Celtics learned the same lesson that the Cavs did from 2015-2018 which was never count out Steph Curry. This time they want a much better result. PAUSE.
This is a matchup that’s going to tick a lot of sports fans off. No not in terms of the teams themselves but based on the cities they play in and the celebrities that support them. Boston is looking to regain its claim at the City of Champions, while Dallas is looking for its 2nd Championship in less than a year. Two of the most unlikable sports cities in the country according to a lot of outsiders. I’m obviously not one of them. Not to mention this is a matchup between the two best QBs in the NFL over this generation even though they are relegated to being fans sitting courtside. Tom Brady vs Patrick Mahomes. The reasoning is because Mahomes is from Dallas, and is a diehard Mavs fan, while Brady even though he hasn’t been spotted at TD Garden in a number of years is still beloved by fans in New England. (It wouldn’t surprise me if TB12 showed up there for Game 1 or 2) As long as we don’t get a Taylor Swift sighting I’m ok with Travis Kelce going to a Finals game with Mahomes. Anyways, this is a revenge match for two reasons. And both of these reasons involve a player that was supposed to be a cornerstone in one city and now is thriving with the other. Kyrie Irving was considered the final piece to the Celtics championship puzzle when they acquired him in 2017. However in two seasons in Beantown he was either injured or frustrated the living hell out of the Boston Sports Media. He was run out of town after they lost to Milwaukee in 2019 during the Paul Pierce Series and Celtic fans laughed as he was also a disaster in Brooklyn. (I still can’t believe Pierce thought that series was over after one game) Now in Dallas, Irving has become an instant fan favorite, and has had no off the court issues as well. (Something about being in the south can calm down a diva eh?) On the other hand Kristaps Porzingus was supposed to be the running mate for Luka Doncic when the Mavericks acquired him back in 2018. However, like Kyrie, injuries and inconsistency plagued him and after shooting blanks in the 2021 playoffs against the Clippers he was told to leave and never come back. Since arriving in Boston, he’s regained his once great form as a Knick. In my opinion the real loser of this series is the Milwaukee Bucks. Not only do they have to deal with Jrue Holiday, plus former assistants Chad Forcier, Charles Lee, and Ben Sullivan have a chance to win it all with their most hated rival, they also get to watch their old head coach Jason Kidd get his chance at glory as well. Somewhere Giannis, Khris Middleton, and Jon Horst are all jealous of this matchup with how much Bucks Nation has ensued since the start of the playoffs. (If Marc Lasry doesn’t leave, they aren’t in the situation they are in now) It sucks, but hey at least you aren’t Chicago or Detroit. The Redemption Tour of Big D vs the Redemption Tour of Beantown. Whoever wins this series will see its two superstars get the giant gorilla off of their backs. COME ON DOWN AND FEEL THE ELECTRICITY!
Prediction: The Celtics on paper should dominate this series right from the start. With how much talent they have on their roster, with the most efficiently dominant team the NBA has seen on both sides of the ball in over 20 years, should be a done deal. However Dallas has never heard of the word no. As proven all postseason, if Jason Kidd is going down, he’s going down swinging. That’s exactly what I think happens here. Even with that being the case, Boston wins their 18th Championship in 6 games. That is if they don’t play down to their competition and let Luka and Kyrie off the hook. As long as there isn’t a Swiftie Takeover in Dallas, I’m ok with either outcome. (If you couldn’t tell, I’m still jealous of you know who thanks to a certain AFC Championship Game, even if it didn’t take me long to get over it)
Bragging Rights Sports 