NBA Finals Boston vs Dallas (poll)

[AzStevenCal]

I'd feel different if he'd play well in a single playoff game this past season.

Injuries. He didn't play well down the stretch or in the postseason. We only saw glimpses of what Beal can do but it was impressive though obviously forgotten once he wore down and struggled late.

 

[Cheesebeef]

You're exaggerating his struggles last season. The only guard that played better defense on our roster last year was Okogie. Booker went from being very good to very average... but a lot of that was him being tasked with guarding the oppositions best guard (again, unless Okogie happened to be on the court). He also was doing far far more ball handling than had been asked of him before.

Furthermore, Ayton was about 10 times better than Nurkic at dealing with penetration and cutting guys off before they get to the rim. Once one of our guys got best last season it was either a layup or we had to collapse the defense, leading to wide open threes. Ayton's ability to defend all the way out to the perimiter gave our guards more leway to play aggressive on D. Nurk has no ability to defend away from the hoop so our guys have to sag off and try to keep dudes from getting by them.

This isn't not a denial of Ayton being an inconsistent, gutless, headcase... but he did do somethings very well, and that was one of them.

All of the above may be factors for why he was terrible last season, but none of them change the fact that he was in fact terrible last season.

Also, really good perimeter defenders are good defenders on their own and aren’t dependent on having the kind of versatility an Ayton brings behind them.

That’s not to say Booker’s definitely a terrible defender. Just that after such a terrible season, the jury is out whether or not the two seasons previous seasons were due having people behind/surrounding him.

 

[AzStevenCal]

All of the above may be factors for why he was terrible last season, but none of them change the fact that he was in fact terrible last season.

Also, really good perimeter defenders are good defenders on their own and aren’t dependent on having the kind of versatility an Ayton brings behind them.

Most point guards struggle with the quicker PGs unless they get help. Booker struggles with average speed PGs so obviously the quicker ones really eat him up. It's just one more reason that it was incredibly shortsighted to make him the starting point guard.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Most point guards struggle with the quicker PGs unless they get help. Booker struggles with average speed PGs so obviously the quicker ones really eat him up. It's just one more reason that it was incredibly shortsighted to make him the starting point guard.

And if you want to use that as a reason why he was terrible last season, I think that has credence. But that doesn’t mean he was average. And it doesn’t mean that the two previous seasons where he played well, set him in stone as a good defensive player, considering the six previous years where he wasn’t a good defender.

Hence why I said the jury is still out on his defense.

 

[AzStevenCal]

And if you want to use that as a reason why he was terrible last season, I think that has credence. But that doesn’t mean he was average. And it doesn’t mean that the two previous seasons where he played well, set him in stone as a good defensive player, considering the six previous years where he wasn’t a good defender.

Hence why I said the jury is still out on his defense.

I have no idea where his defense ranks but the combination of Booker with Nurkic backing him up was about as weak as they come. Nurkic needs a prime Chris Paul or maybe an SGA or Fox to pair with him on defense, he does not need an average speed shooting guard trying (and failing) to slow down much quicker players.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I have no idea where his defense ranks but the combination of Booker with Nurkic backing him up was about as weak as they come. Nurkic needs a prime Chris Paul or maybe an SGA or Fox to pair with him on defense, he does not need an average speed shooting guard trying (and failing) to slow down much quicker players.

No doubt, a Nurk-Book combo is a killer for any defense.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Kleber’s shots haven’t looked good from the moment he winds for them.

 

[nashman]

Boston looking like Boston today so that’s good let’s end this thing already lol…

 

[nashman]

Wow what a way to end the half…

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

This game is over

 

[nashman]

Longest shot made in the finals in 25 years lol. I hope they just continue the onslaught in the second half and blow them Mava out the building!

 

[Lorenzo]

disappointed with the way dallas closed out the first quarter.. dallas could make a run, but doubtful they can win. Boston are too good. I would be surprised if this lead shrinks at all.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

At least it wasn't a sweep, but Dallas is just way over-matched. Kind of a lackluster finals.

 

[TJ]

Dallas may go down as one of the worst finals teams ever. Top player is a
Major defensive liability. Second best is an uncoachable lunatic. Celtics commanding this series was always going to be the result

 

[Lorenzo]

Dallas may go down as one of the worst finals teams ever. Top player is a
Major defensive liability. Second best is an uncoachable lunatic. Celtics commanding this series was always going to be the result

I'm proud of this dallas team. even if they are a bad finals team. they are still a finals team and moving in the right direction. I picked Boston in 6. Boston are better than I thought they were and I knew that they were really good. they are a great team.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Who gets Finals MVP?

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

Who gets Finals MVP?

Probably Tatum

 

[Lorenzo]

Who gets Finals MVP?

Probably Brown, but Tatum was great tonight.

 

[Lorenzo]

At least it wasn't a sweep, but Dallas is just way over-matched. Kind of a lackluster finals.

yeah I'm disappointed with games 2 and 3. If dallas scores over 100 in those games they might win one of those. as maligned as doncic is for his defense, I think it was dallas inability to score in the 100's in this series that did them in. the one game that they broke 100, they won. dallas was an elite scoring team all the way up until this series. Boston's incredible team defense and ability to spread the ball on offense that made the difference in this series.

 

[Covert Rain]

Down go the Mavs and Luka!!!!!!!

 

[Hoop Head]

Dallas may go down as one of the worst finals teams ever. Top player is a
Major defensive liability. Second best is an uncoachable lunatic. Celtics commanding this series was always going to be the result

They didn't get swept so I think that kills any discussion of weakest finals teams. They were in the WCF just 2 years ago as well. They deliberately tanked last year so they'd get their own pick, which got them Lively, and they are likely to be a fringe contender for the next 2-3 years. Dallas took out the #4 seed, #1 seed, and #3 seed in the West en route to the finals. They had a tough path and pulled off upset after upset.

Boston is just that much better.

 

[Covert Rain]

Sucks for the NBA. 4-1 is a whooping in the NBA.

 

[Hoop Head]

Glad to see Horford get a ring, finally. Always was a solid pro. Wonder if he runs it back or retires on top.

This also gives the Celtics one more banner than the Lakers, which is good in my book.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Glad to see Horford get a ring, finally. Always was a solid pro. Wonder if he runs it back or retires on top.

This also gives the Celtics one more banner than the Lakers, which is good in my book.

Same on both.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

Sucks for the NBA. 4-1 is a whooping in the NBA.

Can't imagine the ratings will be very good. Not too many good games this series