(Los Angeles) The Boston Celtics and their impressive collective begin the NBA Finals at home on Thursday which could allow them to win a record 18th title, facing the Dallas Mavericks and the flamboyant Luka Doncic.
Historic franchise of the NBA, Boston has the opportunity to get back in front of its great rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, co-holders of the league title record (17).
The Celtics are hoping to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the first time since 2008 and the success of the trio Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. All the planets seem aligned.
Best team in the regular season (64 wins – 18 losses), which gave it home field advantage in the final, Boston rushed into the playoffs with two 4-1 wins against Miami then Cleveland, before a sweep 4 -0 against Indiana. Even stronger, the “C’s” remained undefeated away in six games.
Armed with a terrifying major five (Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis), Boston can also rely on its experience, after a defeat in the final in 2022 against the Golden State Warriors, then a heartbreak in the association final last year against Miami.
“People think that we are continuing from previous years. But we are a different team… We have had three coaches in five years. And time has passed, we have gained experience, I think we are ready to give the best of ourselves,” assured Jaylen Brown, named best player of the Eastern Conference final .
After the Brad Stevens period (2013-2021), Ime Udoka only lasted one season before his replacement by the young Joe Mazzulla (35 years old) in the fall of 2022.
Mazzulla is tasked with leading the duo of Jaylen Brown (27) and Jayson Tatum (26), who have grown up with the team since their drafts in 2016 and 2017, to the title.
The only question in Boston is whether the team is ready for a tough clash in the final, after an “easy” course, which did not see them play against a single big star, between injuries and poor performances.
“The Eastern Association was weaker than the Western Association this year. This is perhaps their last chance [for the title], I think they are reaching the end of their window,” said Ryan Rupert, French player for the Portland Trail Blazers, on BeIN Sports.
In the final, the “C’s” will move on to revealing the incandescent Luka Doncic, boss of the Mavericks.
The Slovenian magician, top scorer of the regular season (33.9 points on average), is hovering above this final phase for the moment (28.3 points, 9.1 assists, 9.6 rebounds), during which Dallas, 5th in the regular season in the West, eliminated three higher-ranked teams: the Los Angeles Clippers (4-2), the Oklahoma City Thunder (4-2) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (4- 1).
“Each series helped us with the next one. Boston knows the final, they have the experience, they shoot very well from three points. It’s another big test,” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd, a player for the Texas franchise during its only title in 2011.
Doncic’s teammate, the experienced point guard Kyrie Irving (32 years old, winner of the title with Cleveland in 2016), also displays an exceptional level (22.8 points on average).
He will be expected by the heated public of Boston, after having left the franchise on bad terms in 2019, then having seen the situation worsen by returning to play at TD Garden in the jersey of the Brooklyn Nets (bottle thrown in his direction, finger of honor to the public, logo trampled…).
“I wasn’t at my best during that time” in Boston, Irving said this week. “Of course I’m expecting a chaotic atmosphere, but I’m looking forward to it. I see it as a healthy relationship with the fans. I think of the gladiators who must win over the crowd. I like the silence of TD Garden when we play well. They still respect very good basketball. »
Which should be the case from Thursday.