The NBA Finals preview: A BOLD prediction for the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics matchup!

After a dominating display against the Minnesota Timberwolves in game five of the Western Conference Finals, the Dallas Mavericks have booked their ticket to face the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, starting June 6th.

The Boston Celtics head into the NBA Finals, having only lost two games in the playoffs and sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics had the best record in the NBA (68-14), guaranteeing home advantage.

According to the NBA website, the Boston Celtics won both games against the Dallas Mavericks in the regular season, winning 119-110 on the road and 138-110 on March 1st at TD Gardens.

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However, the Dallas Mavericks have looked like a different beast these playoffs, beating the heavily loaded LA Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Here are the matchups to look for in the 2024 NBA Finals!

Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic have formed the most formidable backcourt in the NBA, with Irving averaging 22 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds. In comparison, Doncic has averaged a staggering 28.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.8 assists, according to Statmuse.

Doncic averaged 32.4 points against DPOY Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, and Karl Anthony Towns in the last series, but Boston's backcourt of Derrick White and Jrue Holiday will be a tough assignment in the finals.

White and Holiday have made a name for themselves on the defensive end, becoming premier on-ball defenders who can disrupt an offense. Both earned spots on the All-Defensive Second Team, and Dallas' duo scored 112 points against the Celtics this season (51% of points).

The Boston Celtics will be thankful their 7ft2 blocking machine, Kristaps Porzingis, is back for the NBA Finals after missing the last two series with a calf injury. The Lithuanian will have to be at his best to deal with the onslaught of Dereck Lively and Daniel Gafford.

Lively and Gafford have been exceptional for Dallas in the playoffs, offering Doncic and Irving a lethal lob threat and a rebounding presence. Porzingis, who's averaged two blocks a game in the regular season, will make this battle one to watch in the finals.

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According to Bleacher Report, Celtics star Jayson Tatum has averaged a team-high 26 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in the playoffs this season despite only connecting on 29% of his three-point attempts.

Tatum has averaged 35.9% from the three-point range in the playoffs before 2024, and it feels like it's about time his terrible streak ends. The Mavericks have Derrick Jones and PJ Washington to guard him, but if he gets it going, he could lead the Celtics to victory.

Fellow Celtics star Jaylen Brown is coming off winning the Larry Bird MVP trophy for his performances against the Indiana Pacers, and like Tatum, he will be expected to lead the Celtics to their first championship since 2008.

PJ Washington has been imperative to Dallas' run to the finals, hitting series-winning free throws against the Thunder and lighting it up offensively, making 28 of 70 attempts from three (40%). Washington's 28 is the most of any player in the past five postseasons, the NBA website reports.

Despite Dallas' backcourt star power, this is the sixth time in eight years the Boston Celtics have reached at least the Conference Finals. With Brown, Tatum, and coach Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics have enough to finish it in game seven.

With the 2024 NBA Finals tipping off on June 6th, who do you believe will be crowned the NBA champions? Will it be Boston, or will it be Dallas?

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