NBA Finals 2024 - Why Game 1 showed Celtics' title blueprint - ESPN

The Boston Celtics may have took Game 1 of the NBA Finals over the Dallas Mavericks, but tonight is a brand new game and don’t expect the same exact series of events to unravel.

Although Luka Doncic scored 30 points, he only had one assist, don’t expect that to stay the same. Kyrie Irving only had 12 points, don’t expect that to change. Jayson Tatum only scored 16 points, don’t expect that to change. Long list less long, Game 2 will likely be a war that comes down to the wire. Here’s what the Celtics need to do to win.

Stay strong through Mavericks runs and making tough shots

Whether Jason Kidd finally gets his guys to share the ball more or not, one thing is for sure, they’ll find a way to get more offense. The Celtics have great defense as a team, and with Porzingis protecting the rim, Dallas will have to work for most of their baskets. The talent of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic can only be contained for so long before they start get going and making tough shots. Irving can score over any player, finish around the rim on anyone, and just be a menace–Luka is the same. However, the Celtics will have to stay calm and poised through runs like they did in Game 1 because runs are going to happen.

Jayson Tatum has to get going

Whether people believe that Jaylen Brown is the best Celtics player doesn’t matter right now, it’s time for Tatum to come alive. So far in these playoffs he’s been playing an all-around game with great rebounding, defending, while also getting to the basket when needed. In Game 2 he needs to get going early, not by just shooting, but getting to the foul line will be important. He’s the only player on the Celtics team that has the elusiveness of a guard but has the size of a big. He’s the only Celtic that is a mismatch for anyone on the Dallas roster. Jaylen Brown will be more heavily guarded now, Porzingis will be up against physical bigs, so now it’s up to Tatum to be the aggressor on offense. If he gets going, they’ll have to rely even more on Luka and Kyrie on offense to score, which means more tough shots for them, which raises the C’s chance of winning.

Stay out of foul trouble

In Game 1, Jrue Holiday picked up his second foul in the first half, a few moments later Luka went after Holiday but the ref didn’t call a foul. Luckily for Boston, Holiday didn’t get another foul until the fourth quarter. The Celtics aggression on defense is what won them Game 1, and they’ll have to make sure they stay out of foul trouble tonight.

Brown stripping defenders and going for blocks, Porzingis going up for blocks, White attacking the ball handlers blindside is what happened when the C’s didn’t have to worry about getting in foul trouble. If the Celtics do get in foul trouble, it’ll be like a shark and blood in the water for Doncic. Luka will start to get in pick and roll actions, get defenders on his hip, pump fake, lean into guys and flail his arms in hopes for a foul–and might still get an And-1. The Celtics have to stay out of foul trouble, especially Holiday and Porzingis.

Don’t get Mavericks bigs going

After Game 1, Tatum said that the point of emphasis was to not let the role players of Dallas to get going. Let Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic dribble the ball 10 times every possession. Don’t give P.J. Washington open corner three’s, instead give him the top of the key shots. Don’t allow Daniel Gafford, Maxi Kleber, or Derrick Jones Jr. to get easy lobe on the roll or give Dallas second chances. Leave it all to Irving and Doncic to carry the offensive load and by the time the fourth quarter comes around, those forced tough shots will likely stop going in. That’s all you can hope for.

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QUOTE TO LIVE BY

“I’ve got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end”

~ Larry Bird