June 13, 2024 • 23 mins
Sarah and NBA senior writer Shaun Powell react to the Celtics dramatic Game 3 win in Dallas. Mavs make a run in the 4th quarter, but Luka struggles and fouls out at a bad time. Who will be the Finals MVP, and what will these teams look like next year.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome into NBA Polster production of iHeartRadio in the NBA.
I'm Sarah Kustack, NBA analyst for the y S Network,
and today is Thursday, June thirteenth. From our extraordinary core
group with NBA journalists, were joined now by NBA dot
Com senior writer Sean Polp. Sean, you were in the building,
you were in Dallas. The series shifted. It gave Mavericks
(00:25):
an opportunity to really make this finals a series. They
go into it down too oh, but they leave down
three to oh, a scenario that no team has ever
come back from. You look at what this game kind
of did, how it unfolded. No kristaps Porzingis that looked
(00:45):
like that might provide an opening and a little bit
of a window for this Dallas Dallas team. But they
got down by as much as twenty one points and
though go on a twenty two to two run, they
cut it as close as one. But right before that,
a big part of this game was Luka Doncic filing
out with four to twelve left. The MAVs were within
(01:07):
three at that point. After a few possessions, Kyrie Irving
cuts it to one. But that's gonna be a big
talking point we'll get into because it felt like that
changed the opportunity for Dallas to really close this one out.
Jalen Brown once again big in this one, thirty points,
eight rebounds, eight assists. We're going to ask you about
that monster Donkey had at the end of the third quarter,
(01:29):
because I imagine the building was shaking. Jason Tatum showed
up in a big way, twenty points in the first
half of his thirty one points, finishing with thirty one,
six and five. Derek White a huge three down the
stretch of this game, really to close things out. Probably
the dagger for this one, one of four threes that
he hit on the night. Kyrie Irving, he was someone
(01:52):
that we said had to show up, had to be good,
had to contribute and provide some offensive punch for this
Dallas team that we did not seeing those first two
games in Boston. He had thirty five points, was four
to six from three. Those were his first three pointers
he connected on through the course of the series. Luca
twenty seven points, six rebounds, six assists, but he struggled.
(02:13):
I mentioned the foul trouble, but just overall, it was
seemingly a tough night for him, a tough go. But Sean,
take me back to that run to the fourth quarter,
to Dallas making a comeback. What was the energy, the
environment like in this building and what was your perspective
at the time as you were watching the way this
game unfolded, what you anticipated could in would happen.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Well, I think the Celtics basically fletch the way they've
really been flexing all season and throughout the postseason. And
when they got up on the on the on the
Mavericks big, you know, that arena was empty. I mean
the bodies were still there, but it was empty. It
was I think people were just trying to figure out
(02:59):
what just happened. Well, what just happened was Jason Tatum
and Jaylen Brown. Just happened. Jason Tatum in the first half,
Welcome to the NBA Finals, Jason Tatum's jump shot, and
then Jaylen Brown and you know it star third court.
Really about the second half, second half, of course, but
by the time they basically put everything together, you know,
(03:21):
build a big lead, you wondered what if anything the
Ravericks could do. But gradually and then suddenly the Mavericks
came back into it that look, I've never been to
a Dallas Cowboys game, you know, with one hundred thousand
people in the stadium about twenty five to thirty miles
(03:42):
from here, but it seemed like American Airlines Center with
eighteen thousand probably matched or surpassed that. It was. Really
it was like an airplane noise. It was whatever kind
of noise you can. You can kind of the man,
that's really loud and you probably have to protect your ears.
(04:03):
I think it was the sound of desperation, it was
the sound of hope, and it was the sound that
you know, finally we're going to see something happen in
this series that we haven't seen before, and that was
a Dallas Mavericks win. So and then Sarah Suspense entered
the finals. Number one, would they take the lead? The
(04:25):
answer is no. Number two, with the call on Luca
Dantage for a six five, would that get overturned after
a replay review? The answer to that is no. And
now we have Suspense entering the series one more time.
It's when, not if, the Celtics will win the eighteenth
championship in franchise history, because, as we know, teams that
(04:47):
go up three to zero do not blow the series,
and particularly in the NBA Finals, that's where we said, look,
we can unravel a lot of things. What happened in
the fourth quarter, what's happening to this series? To the
Celtics and the Mavericks were down where they are, but
that basically capitalized the entire game. It just didn't work
(05:09):
out for the Mavericks in the fourth quarter like they
had hope. They made the big run, Luca gets dq'ed,
and the Celtics close it out as the way as
the Celtics really didn't all season, they've had trouble finishing games,
finishing close games. They found themselves in the close game
and finally had all the answers. Thank you very much
to Jason Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and in particular guy you
(05:35):
know named Derek White who hits the big shots.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Yeah, and you said it all and explained it so well,
and I think we've just watched the development of how
those two have really beautifully created a synergy with one
another and obviously with the rest of the team and
how they contribute. I had mentioned Tatum had twenty of
his thirty one in the first half. What it was
Jalen Brown that had twenty four of his thirty in
(06:00):
the second half. And he's a tough cover for anyone.
I will get to whether you think that in some
ways did he seal up the finals MVP, or if
it may still be open for how this continues to
end given the way that Tatum had played throughout the
course of this game. But he's a tough cover for everyone, anyone.
(06:23):
But you saw it against Luca, and I'm interested to
hear what you think about just the feel the watch,
the watch, watching it live. Lucas a player, we know
he talks to the ref He's chattering at the refs,
he shows his frustration, he complains about it all the time.
But he's also not someone that is often in foul trouble.
(06:44):
He's having a tough time staying in front of Jalen Brown,
staying in front of anyone. It's again a problem in
an issue for a lot of players to do, but
him in particular. We know that he was banged up
coming in. He got the painkilling shots. He has carried
this Dallas team through much of the pretty much the
early part in particular the regular season, but throughout the
(07:05):
regular season has been extraordinary. In the postseason, a reason
why they're even sitting in this place. We have seen
those big games. I think the anticipation and thought that
this would be another one of those, especially being back
at home. What did you make of just not only
the fouling out of Luca, but his play, his performance,
(07:28):
and just his disposition in particular in this moment.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
You know, Sarah, I think you've seen enough basketball games
where you might see a player like tweak an ankle
and it's no time out, the game is still going on,
and that the guy who he's guarding doesn't attack him,
and you're screaming at the TV. The guy has happened ankle,
go hard, go hard, go hard, chase him around whatever.
(07:53):
That did not happen here in the NBA Finals in
Game three. The one thing you have to realize is
this Luca, as you said, has been carrying a load,
is not completely healthy, and it's not one of the
league's better defenders anyway. Oh and by the way, he's
playing against Jalon Brown, a guy who is the most
outstanding player in the Eastern Conference Finals, the guy who's hot.
(08:16):
So I think the Celtics basically said, this is a
guy where we want to hunt. Okay, this is a
guy we want to want to make sure if Jalen
Brown has the ball, he needs to always be an
attack mode. That's why Jalen Brown had the second half
he had. You're playing against a guy who's not one
hundred percent, who's not known as a great defender anyway,
(08:38):
who's been playing forty plus minutes throughout this playoff game,
and now this is Game three. It just made all
basketball sense to keep attacking Luca, to keep attacking him
and let the Mavericks try to figure it out. And
that's exactly what happened in the second half. You know, Yeah, Luca,
this is a guy who doesn't file out right, and
all of a sudden, the files are piling up on him.
(09:00):
In the fourth quarter and in the final possession, what
exactly happens. The Celtics go right to Jalon Brown. They
don't go to Jason Tatum, they don't go to Derek,
but they don't go to anybody that when Luca picked
up the fifth fial the very next possession, the Celtics said, Okay,
we need to get this guy out of here. You
know why we need to get this guy out of here,
(09:21):
because even though he didn't have his greatest game. If
there's a tight game in the fourth quarter, who's the
one player who's most likely going to win the game.
It's Luka Dantas. It's Luka Dantach, So we can get
him out of the game and put it all on
Kyrie's shoulder, so the ball goes straight to Jayn Brown
and give Jaylen Brown credit. He tries to find a
(09:43):
way to make contact. He's not even thinking about scoring
a basket, that's secondary. He's thinking about making contact with
Luka Dantach, right because the basket of meaning this getting
Luca out of the game for the final four minutes
basically one of the reasons why the Celtics won the game.
You get him out of the game. And now, of
course you put up to the video replay and things
(10:04):
like that, but even if that call had been overturned,
the very next possession of stuffs have got the ball.
They're going after Luca dantic That was their entire goal
in the fourth quarter of a tight game. Get him out.
Once you get him out, then you can beth a
little bit easier. The chances are you're going to win
this game because you don't have their go to guy
on the floor.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Yeah, I entirely agree, and you said it in such
a excellent and articulate way of give credit to Boston.
I think a lot of piling on could take place
of Luca, of filing out, his complaining his action. And yeah,
he does need to be better. He does need to
(10:46):
better control emotions. This isn't something new that we've seen
out of him. I think we've seen the ebb and
flow of him working on it and proving on it
in moments, but still falling back. It's probably the natural
state of how he reacts to things. But Boston is
tremendous And you said the game plan was excellent. Credit
Joe Miszula, his coaching staff, but Jalen Brown, Jason, they
(11:08):
also have the complimentary pieces to be able to play
in such ways that there's a lot of threats on
the floor. Think about Drew Holliday and how he can
go off Derek White. We said knocking down some dagger threes,
but the way he can play and get downhill as well.
Sam Hauser comes in and he's just automatic from the
(11:29):
three point line. There are so many aspects of how
Boston plays that make it difficult that's why they are
likely headed to their eighteenth championship in franchise history. And
I think with Luca, and that's all a part of
the process, I think you cannot overlook how much wear
and tear that it's taken out of him and out
of his body to get to this point, how much
responsibility that he also has on the offensive end. So
(11:51):
what that ends up looking like on the defensive end,
and I think just an opportunity to learn and continue
to grow. But I think when you look at the
way that Kyrie Irving had not shown up in those
first two games, the way that the reserves and complimentary
players just haven't been enough and haven't been enough help
throughout the course of the series, unlike what we saw
against Minnesota, I think a lot of that has fallen
(12:14):
on Luca and I think he's probably just at a
point and you saw it there manifest on the floor
of frustration and how he was kind of looking at
a team across from him that quite frankly, just has
clearly been better and has more weapons and more options, Sean,
Which leads me to your thoughts. What I was thinking
(12:35):
about and actually asked some our great producer Peter Cawder
had asked this, and we must be thinking alike because
I had asked a couple of people when this game
was closing out and it was over, was there another
Western Conference team that you think would be a better
matchup in this scenario? Do you think the Denver Nuggets,
do you think the Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder? Is
there someone that you thought would have been a better
(12:56):
matchup for and against this Boston team?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Well, by virtue of Dallas haven't hasn't won a game.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
You could probably one of them talking about Paul George
des Bay being on that that set for ESPN.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Yeah, yeah, well look, first of all, that's a great question.
But let mean, before I even answer the question, are
you know any team that we would bring out of
the West other than Dallas? Are they going to be
completely healthy? Like Corey Jamal Murray? Is he gonna limp
around the court? Is he going to be completely healthy
against you know, the Boston Celtics. But I would say,
(13:38):
I would say the easy answer would be the Denver Nuggets,
only because they won the championship last year, only because
they have the best player in the world world uh
in theo and only because they have, you know, players
who have been together for a long time, like the Celtics,
Like the Celtics, Savan Brown, the core that team has
been together a long time. So this is nothing new
(13:59):
to them. They wouldn't getting rattled. They won't like Oklahoma
City might be rattled by the situation because they're the
Boston Celtics up five years ago right now, right They've
never been here and you see how the Celtics had
to learn how to not only get here but now
as just really shaping up to win an NBA championship.
So Oklahoma City would be new to them. Other than Denver, Minnesota,
(14:23):
I wouldn't think would have the offensive firepower to deal
with Jaylen Brown, Jason Tatum, keep up with those guys.
So I would say the Denver Nuggets. I'm not so
sure Denver would win because this was not the same
Denver Nuggets team that won the championship. You lost some
key pieces off the bench, and so all of a sudden,
you put a lot of pressure on the starters. Michael
(14:45):
Porter Junior did not play well in their last series,
so all of a sudden, you know there's an urgency
on you know, Nicolaogas to do everything. I think. However,
to answer your question, what could we find a team
that would have played better than Dallas? Yes? Could we
have found a team that would beat the Celtics.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
No.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
The Celtics have been dominant all season. They've now won
seventy nine of ninety nine games this year, lost only
eighteen times in the regular season, only twice in this postseason.
I think this was destined to happen to this team. Finally,
a team that's constantly in the Eastern Conference Final, a
team that went to the NBA Finals two years ago
(15:25):
and was up to one on the Golden State Warriors.
They finally figured it out. Tason Tatum's finally figured it out.
Jayden Brown, after signing the largest contract in the NBA history,
he's been force full. And then look at Derek White,
Drew Holliday, at you, adju. So I think this was
descined for the Celtics.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
I co signed, co sign all of that. I mentioned
it earlier. I'm going to ask you now, who do
you anticipate will be the MVP of this finals?
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Well, that depends what do we mean by MVP? Is
it most valuable president? Then that's Brad Stevens, you know,
bring Christas. Yeah, you know, Hey, I'm bringing it today, Sarah.
I'm bringing it because.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
You like it.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Well, you look at what he's done. You know Derek White,
you know Drew Holiday, Chris STAPs were saying, is I
mean look, I mean he's put this team together. And
a lot of general manuals struggle, struggle to find the
right pieces around their core franchise players or franchise player.
But Brad Stevens has pushed all the right buttons to
(16:28):
give Jaln Brown and Jason Tatum the support they need.
Not only veterans support, right, but role players were role
players like Derek White's not free. He ain't scared, Sarah.
He ain't scared to take that shot in the fourth quarter. Okay,
so you need a player like that, But if we're
talking about most valuable player, then I would say, as
of right now, I mean Jylen Brown, look at the
(16:50):
run this guy. First of all, what a life Since
last summer you signed the richest contract in the NBA history.
During the regular season, you know you play well. Now,
look you didn't make all in. He didn't crack the
Olympic team or anything like that like your two teammates,
Jason Tatum and Drew Holiday. But it's okay because by
the time the Eastern Conference Final rules around, you're on
(17:12):
a roll. You're the MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals,
and it continues through the NBA Finals where rebounding, steals,
offense assists you getting your teammates and ball. This guy
has really done it all. Oh and the biggest thing
he did he got that six file on Luka doncig Yes,
stateum Brown right now. Unless he has a complete collapse
(17:34):
from here, as long as the series lasts maybe one
game to who knows, I think you can go ahead
and start putting that trophy to the Engravers and give
it to Jaln Brown.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
I'm with you, playing the best basketball of his life
and doing it on all ends, impacting the little things.
And I think too, because there's been such a balance
of Drew Holliday with the big game, Kristaps porzingis how
he's been. Obviously, this is a complete team and that's
where your credit to Brad Stevens. You got to give
a lot of that too, Tatum with a big game,
(18:04):
but I think Brown has been the one player each
in every night who has brought it in a big
way for this Boston teams that looks to be on
the cusp of winning another NBA title, the first with
this group though, and will be the sixth different if
they do win. Six different team to win each year
(18:25):
in the past year. So it'll be interesting to continue
to continue to watch how this closes out. We're gonna
take a quick break, Sean, and do what we do
what's next for both of these teams. Welcome back to
NBA Pulse, Saracoustak, joined by the great Sean Paal. Okay, Sean,
(18:48):
this is not over. The finals is not over, but
it looks like the writing is on the wall for
this Boston team. When you look into next year, we
start to look ahead the shape and the land escape
of how teams will look. There's obviously a lot we
don't know with the draft up and coming free agency
movement that can be made. But what do you think
(19:10):
this Dallas team, this Boston team will look like next
season and the shot that they have to return back
to the stage.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
That's a great question, Sarah. We can start with the Celtics.
The beauty of this team formed by Brass Seems and
by the way, you got to give a shout out
to Danny Ainge as well. I mean he's a guy
who brought new drafted Jayden Brown to Jason Tatum. The
beauty of this Boston Celtics team is at the core
pieces aren't even thirty years old. Everybody signed at least
(19:39):
due next season. You know Joe Mazula, by the way,
give it a little shout out to Joe Mizula who's
grown as a coach, saw the mistakes he made last year,
come back as a wiser coach, pushing more of the
right buttons. So to be of this team is it's
built last. It's not a team that's sort of like
one and done well. You know, you have some aging
important pieces, or like last year we saw with the
(20:02):
Denver Nuggets, you have some players who want to get
paid and you can't afford to pay them, and so
they leave and then hurt your team. No, this team
is going to be back intact. So the Celtics right
now will go into next season as a heavy favorite
to repeat. Of course, basketball is a funny game. You
never know what's going to happen. But on paper they
(20:23):
would go as a favorite to repeat or at least
return to the NBA Finals. The Dallas Mavericks, well, they
made all their changes last season, the trade deadline, Daniel
Gafford and PJ. Washington putting them in place, and the
only real question they have is with Tim Hardaway Jr.
It's really weird. This guy was one of the better
(20:45):
six men in the league just a few years ago
bringing them off the Vans. For the Dallas Mavericks, he's
a third leading scorer, and all of a sudden he
can't even get a sniff, I would say, after the
trade deadline, falls completely out of rotation, and it's kind
of sad to see what Jason Kidd kind of dusted
them off and threw them in Game three out of
desperation because he couldn't find nobody else was doing anything
and a guy couldn't hit a shot. So he's going
(21:05):
to be a free agent, so he will most likely
not be back. And then I think it comes down
to oh, Derrick Jones Junior, by the way, who's also
going to be a free agent. You got to figure
out figure out a way to either resign him if
you feel that he's going to be worth the money,
potential luxury tax and all that stuff, or you're going
to have to find his replacement, you know, and in
(21:26):
the draft, maybe free agency. I'm not sure where the
Dallas Mavericks fit cap wise, but otherwise, you know, you
just have to let some of these young players grow,
just as we saw, you know, the Celtics grow Daniel Gafford,
PJ Washington. These guys four months ago, we're in a
losing locker rooms and Charlotte and Washington. These guys are
(21:46):
not used to this atmosphere. And I have to give
him credit for basically playing well up until this point.
Being thrown into the mix. All of a sudden, these
games have meaning, you know, can you imagine, you know,
after a game at the Washington Wizards, they're like, oh, okay,
another loss. The game with the Charlotte Horns, Oh okay,
it's none of us. All of a sudden, trade deadline happens.
Oh there's urgency. Oh we got to play it well.
(22:07):
Oh my god. So that had to be a little
bit of a shock to the system. And now that
they've gotten the taste of that, Sarah, maybe they come
back as better players next year. If you're the Dallas Maverick,
that's all you can bank on Luke and Kyrie or
obviously your core pieces, they're all sign and everything like that,
but maybe you might have to add maybe one or
two more players if you can, just as you did
(22:27):
at the trade deadline, and it made all the difference
in the rule for the Dallas Mavericks.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Yeah, it's interesting to even start thinking about all that
because we know a lot can happen in the West
is just an absolute beast and will continue to be.
And there was some more added news that I think
a lot of us had anticipated that came this morning
from Adrian Warden Schenarowski saying that JJ Reddick will formally
(22:53):
interview for the Los Angeles Lakers coaching job this weekend.
I think there may be a expectation that this series
and him the finals maybe coming close to an end,
and a strong performance is expected to move him to
the forefront of the franchises search. So a lot of
things still waiting to happen and moving parts for all
of these teams. But in the meantime, we are still
(23:14):
one one went away for the Boston Celtics from a
finals and as Oway sean, we appreciate you, We appreciate
your time enjoy Dallas. I hope you're getting some good food,
some good some good weather down there, and until next time,
we will continue to read and watch all of your
stuff on NBA TV and NBA dot Com.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
I appreciate you, Sarah.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
NBA Paul's with Sarahustack as a production the NBA and
iHeart Radio. Please rate, review, and subscribe on the iHeart
Radio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Welcome into NBA Polster production of iHeartRadio in the NBA.
I'm Sarah Kustack, NBA analyst for the y S Network,
and today is Thursday, June thirteenth. From our extraordinary core
group with NBA journalists, were joined now by NBA dot
Com senior writer Sean Polp. Sean, you were in the building,
you were in Dallas. The series shifted. It gave Mavericks
(00:25):
an opportunity to really make this finals a series. They
go into it down too oh, but they leave down
three to oh, a scenario that no team has ever
come back from. You look at what this game kind
of did, how it unfolded. No kristaps Porzingis that looked
(00:45):
like that might provide an opening and a little bit
of a window for this Dallas Dallas team. But they
got down by as much as twenty one points and
though go on a twenty two to two run, they
cut it as close as one. But right before that,
a big part of this game was Luka Doncic filing
out with four to twelve left. The MAVs were within
(01:07):
three at that point. After a few possessions, Kyrie Irving
cuts it to one. But that's gonna be a big
talking point we'll get into because it felt like that
changed the opportunity for Dallas to really close this one out.
Jalen Brown once again big in this one, thirty points,
eight rebounds, eight assists. We're going to ask you about
that monster Donkey had at the end of the third quarter,
(01:29):
because I imagine the building was shaking. Jason Tatum showed
up in a big way, twenty points in the first
half of his thirty one points, finishing with thirty one,
six and five. Derek White a huge three down the
stretch of this game, really to close things out. Probably
the dagger for this one, one of four threes that
he hit on the night. Kyrie Irving, he was someone
(01:52):
that we said had to show up, had to be good,
had to contribute and provide some offensive punch for this
Dallas team that we did not seeing those first two
games in Boston. He had thirty five points, was four
to six from three. Those were his first three pointers
he connected on through the course of the series. Luca
twenty seven points, six rebounds, six assists, but he struggled.
(02:13):
I mentioned the foul trouble, but just overall, it was
seemingly a tough night for him, a tough go. But Sean,
take me back to that run to the fourth quarter,
to Dallas making a comeback. What was the energy, the
environment like in this building and what was your perspective
at the time as you were watching the way this
game unfolded, what you anticipated could in would happen.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Well, I think the Celtics basically fletch the way they've
really been flexing all season and throughout the postseason. And
when they got up on the on the on the
Mavericks big, you know, that arena was empty. I mean
the bodies were still there, but it was empty. It
was I think people were just trying to figure out
(02:59):
what just happened. Well, what just happened was Jason Tatum
and Jaylen Brown. Just happened. Jason Tatum in the first half,
Welcome to the NBA Finals, Jason Tatum's jump shot, and
then Jaylen Brown and you know it star third court.
Really about the second half, second half, of course, but
by the time they basically put everything together, you know,
(03:21):
build a big lead, you wondered what if anything the
Ravericks could do. But gradually and then suddenly the Mavericks
came back into it that look, I've never been to
a Dallas Cowboys game, you know, with one hundred thousand
people in the stadium about twenty five to thirty miles
(03:42):
from here, but it seemed like American Airlines Center with
eighteen thousand probably matched or surpassed that. It was. Really
it was like an airplane noise. It was whatever kind
of noise you can. You can kind of the man,
that's really loud and you probably have to protect your ears.
(04:03):
I think it was the sound of desperation, it was
the sound of hope, and it was the sound that
you know, finally we're going to see something happen in
this series that we haven't seen before, and that was
a Dallas Mavericks win. So and then Sarah Suspense entered
the finals. Number one, would they take the lead? The
(04:25):
answer is no. Number two, with the call on Luca
Dantage for a six five, would that get overturned after
a replay review? The answer to that is no. And
now we have Suspense entering the series one more time.
It's when, not if, the Celtics will win the eighteenth
championship in franchise history, because, as we know, teams that
(04:47):
go up three to zero do not blow the series,
and particularly in the NBA Finals, that's where we said, look,
we can unravel a lot of things. What happened in
the fourth quarter, what's happening to this series? To the
Celtics and the Mavericks were down where they are, but
that basically capitalized the entire game. It just didn't work
(05:09):
out for the Mavericks in the fourth quarter like they
had hope. They made the big run, Luca gets dq'ed,
and the Celtics close it out as the way as
the Celtics really didn't all season, they've had trouble finishing games,
finishing close games. They found themselves in the close game
and finally had all the answers. Thank you very much
to Jason Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and in particular guy you
(05:35):
know named Derek White who hits the big shots.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Yeah, and you said it all and explained it so well,
and I think we've just watched the development of how
those two have really beautifully created a synergy with one
another and obviously with the rest of the team and
how they contribute. I had mentioned Tatum had twenty of
his thirty one in the first half. What it was
Jalen Brown that had twenty four of his thirty in
(06:00):
the second half. And he's a tough cover for anyone.
I will get to whether you think that in some
ways did he seal up the finals MVP, or if
it may still be open for how this continues to
end given the way that Tatum had played throughout the
course of this game. But he's a tough cover for everyone, anyone.
(06:23):
But you saw it against Luca, and I'm interested to
hear what you think about just the feel the watch,
the watch, watching it live. Lucas a player, we know
he talks to the ref He's chattering at the refs,
he shows his frustration, he complains about it all the time.
But he's also not someone that is often in foul trouble.
(06:44):
He's having a tough time staying in front of Jalen Brown,
staying in front of anyone. It's again a problem in
an issue for a lot of players to do, but
him in particular. We know that he was banged up
coming in. He got the painkilling shots. He has carried
this Dallas team through much of the pretty much the
early part in particular the regular season, but throughout the
(07:05):
regular season has been extraordinary. In the postseason, a reason
why they're even sitting in this place. We have seen
those big games. I think the anticipation and thought that
this would be another one of those, especially being back
at home. What did you make of just not only
the fouling out of Luca, but his play, his performance,
(07:28):
and just his disposition in particular in this moment.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
You know, Sarah, I think you've seen enough basketball games
where you might see a player like tweak an ankle
and it's no time out, the game is still going on,
and that the guy who he's guarding doesn't attack him,
and you're screaming at the TV. The guy has happened ankle,
go hard, go hard, go hard, chase him around whatever.
(07:53):
That did not happen here in the NBA Finals in
Game three. The one thing you have to realize is
this Luca, as you said, has been carrying a load,
is not completely healthy, and it's not one of the
league's better defenders anyway. Oh and by the way, he's
playing against Jalon Brown, a guy who is the most
outstanding player in the Eastern Conference Finals, the guy who's hot.
(08:16):
So I think the Celtics basically said, this is a
guy where we want to hunt. Okay, this is a
guy we want to want to make sure if Jalen
Brown has the ball, he needs to always be an
attack mode. That's why Jalen Brown had the second half
he had. You're playing against a guy who's not one
hundred percent, who's not known as a great defender anyway,
(08:38):
who's been playing forty plus minutes throughout this playoff game,
and now this is Game three. It just made all
basketball sense to keep attacking Luca, to keep attacking him
and let the Mavericks try to figure it out. And
that's exactly what happened in the second half. You know, Yeah, Luca,
this is a guy who doesn't file out right, and
all of a sudden, the files are piling up on him.
(09:00):
In the fourth quarter and in the final possession, what
exactly happens. The Celtics go right to Jalon Brown. They
don't go to Jason Tatum, they don't go to Derek,
but they don't go to anybody that when Luca picked
up the fifth fial the very next possession, the Celtics said, Okay,
we need to get this guy out of here. You
know why we need to get this guy out of here,
(09:21):
because even though he didn't have his greatest game. If
there's a tight game in the fourth quarter, who's the
one player who's most likely going to win the game.
It's Luka Dantas. It's Luka Dantach, So we can get
him out of the game and put it all on
Kyrie's shoulder, so the ball goes straight to Jayn Brown
and give Jaylen Brown credit. He tries to find a
(09:43):
way to make contact. He's not even thinking about scoring
a basket, that's secondary. He's thinking about making contact with
Luka Dantach, right because the basket of meaning this getting
Luca out of the game for the final four minutes
basically one of the reasons why the Celtics won the game.
You get him out of the game. And now, of
course you put up to the video replay and things
(10:04):
like that, but even if that call had been overturned,
the very next possession of stuffs have got the ball.
They're going after Luca dantic That was their entire goal
in the fourth quarter of a tight game. Get him out.
Once you get him out, then you can beth a
little bit easier. The chances are you're going to win
this game because you don't have their go to guy
on the floor.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Yeah, I entirely agree, and you said it in such
a excellent and articulate way of give credit to Boston.
I think a lot of piling on could take place
of Luca, of filing out, his complaining his action. And yeah,
he does need to be better. He does need to
(10:46):
better control emotions. This isn't something new that we've seen
out of him. I think we've seen the ebb and
flow of him working on it and proving on it
in moments, but still falling back. It's probably the natural
state of how he reacts to things. But Boston is
tremendous And you said the game plan was excellent. Credit
Joe Miszula, his coaching staff, but Jalen Brown, Jason, they
(11:08):
also have the complimentary pieces to be able to play
in such ways that there's a lot of threats on
the floor. Think about Drew Holliday and how he can
go off Derek White. We said knocking down some dagger threes,
but the way he can play and get downhill as well.
Sam Hauser comes in and he's just automatic from the
(11:29):
three point line. There are so many aspects of how
Boston plays that make it difficult that's why they are
likely headed to their eighteenth championship in franchise history. And
I think with Luca, and that's all a part of
the process, I think you cannot overlook how much wear
and tear that it's taken out of him and out
of his body to get to this point, how much
responsibility that he also has on the offensive end. So
(11:51):
what that ends up looking like on the defensive end,
and I think just an opportunity to learn and continue
to grow. But I think when you look at the
way that Kyrie Irving had not shown up in those
first two games, the way that the reserves and complimentary
players just haven't been enough and haven't been enough help
throughout the course of the series, unlike what we saw
against Minnesota, I think a lot of that has fallen
(12:14):
on Luca and I think he's probably just at a
point and you saw it there manifest on the floor
of frustration and how he was kind of looking at
a team across from him that quite frankly, just has
clearly been better and has more weapons and more options, Sean,
Which leads me to your thoughts. What I was thinking
(12:35):
about and actually asked some our great producer Peter Cawder
had asked this, and we must be thinking alike because
I had asked a couple of people when this game
was closing out and it was over, was there another
Western Conference team that you think would be a better
matchup in this scenario? Do you think the Denver Nuggets,
do you think the Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder? Is
there someone that you thought would have been a better
(12:56):
matchup for and against this Boston team?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Well, by virtue of Dallas haven't hasn't won a game.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
You could probably one of them talking about Paul George
des Bay being on that that set for ESPN.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Yeah, yeah, well look, first of all, that's a great question.
But let mean, before I even answer the question, are
you know any team that we would bring out of
the West other than Dallas? Are they going to be
completely healthy? Like Corey Jamal Murray? Is he gonna limp
around the court? Is he going to be completely healthy
against you know, the Boston Celtics. But I would say,
(13:38):
I would say the easy answer would be the Denver Nuggets,
only because they won the championship last year, only because
they have the best player in the world world uh
in theo and only because they have, you know, players
who have been together for a long time, like the Celtics,
Like the Celtics, Savan Brown, the core that team has
been together a long time. So this is nothing new
(13:59):
to them. They wouldn't getting rattled. They won't like Oklahoma
City might be rattled by the situation because they're the
Boston Celtics up five years ago right now, right They've
never been here and you see how the Celtics had
to learn how to not only get here but now
as just really shaping up to win an NBA championship.
So Oklahoma City would be new to them. Other than Denver, Minnesota,
(14:23):
I wouldn't think would have the offensive firepower to deal
with Jaylen Brown, Jason Tatum, keep up with those guys.
So I would say the Denver Nuggets. I'm not so
sure Denver would win because this was not the same
Denver Nuggets team that won the championship. You lost some
key pieces off the bench, and so all of a sudden,
you put a lot of pressure on the starters. Michael
(14:45):
Porter Junior did not play well in their last series,
so all of a sudden, you know there's an urgency
on you know, Nicolaogas to do everything. I think. However,
to answer your question, what could we find a team
that would have played better than Dallas? Yes? Could we
have found a team that would beat the Celtics.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
No.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
The Celtics have been dominant all season. They've now won
seventy nine of ninety nine games this year, lost only
eighteen times in the regular season, only twice in this postseason.
I think this was destined to happen to this team. Finally,
a team that's constantly in the Eastern Conference Final, a
team that went to the NBA Finals two years ago
(15:25):
and was up to one on the Golden State Warriors.
They finally figured it out. Tason Tatum's finally figured it out.
Jayden Brown, after signing the largest contract in the NBA history,
he's been force full. And then look at Derek White,
Drew Holliday, at you, adju. So I think this was
descined for the Celtics.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
I co signed, co sign all of that. I mentioned
it earlier. I'm going to ask you now, who do
you anticipate will be the MVP of this finals?
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Well, that depends what do we mean by MVP? Is
it most valuable president? Then that's Brad Stevens, you know,
bring Christas. Yeah, you know, Hey, I'm bringing it today, Sarah.
I'm bringing it because.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
You like it.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Well, you look at what he's done. You know Derek White,
you know Drew Holiday, Chris STAPs were saying, is I
mean look, I mean he's put this team together. And
a lot of general manuals struggle, struggle to find the
right pieces around their core franchise players or franchise player.
But Brad Stevens has pushed all the right buttons to
(16:28):
give Jaln Brown and Jason Tatum the support they need.
Not only veterans support, right, but role players were role
players like Derek White's not free. He ain't scared, Sarah.
He ain't scared to take that shot in the fourth quarter. Okay,
so you need a player like that, But if we're
talking about most valuable player, then I would say, as
of right now, I mean Jylen Brown, look at the
(16:50):
run this guy. First of all, what a life Since
last summer you signed the richest contract in the NBA history.
During the regular season, you know you play well. Now,
look you didn't make all in. He didn't crack the
Olympic team or anything like that like your two teammates,
Jason Tatum and Drew Holiday. But it's okay because by
the time the Eastern Conference Final rules around, you're on
(17:12):
a roll. You're the MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals,
and it continues through the NBA Finals where rebounding, steals,
offense assists you getting your teammates and ball. This guy
has really done it all. Oh and the biggest thing
he did he got that six file on Luka doncig Yes,
stateum Brown right now. Unless he has a complete collapse
(17:34):
from here, as long as the series lasts maybe one
game to who knows, I think you can go ahead
and start putting that trophy to the Engravers and give
it to Jaln Brown.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
I'm with you, playing the best basketball of his life
and doing it on all ends, impacting the little things.
And I think too, because there's been such a balance
of Drew Holliday with the big game, Kristaps porzingis how
he's been. Obviously, this is a complete team and that's
where your credit to Brad Stevens. You got to give
a lot of that too, Tatum with a big game,
(18:04):
but I think Brown has been the one player each
in every night who has brought it in a big
way for this Boston teams that looks to be on
the cusp of winning another NBA title, the first with
this group though, and will be the sixth different if
they do win. Six different team to win each year
(18:25):
in the past year. So it'll be interesting to continue
to continue to watch how this closes out. We're gonna
take a quick break, Sean, and do what we do
what's next for both of these teams. Welcome back to
NBA Pulse, Saracoustak, joined by the great Sean Paal. Okay, Sean,
(18:48):
this is not over. The finals is not over, but
it looks like the writing is on the wall for
this Boston team. When you look into next year, we
start to look ahead the shape and the land escape
of how teams will look. There's obviously a lot we
don't know with the draft up and coming free agency
movement that can be made. But what do you think
(19:10):
this Dallas team, this Boston team will look like next
season and the shot that they have to return back
to the stage.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
That's a great question, Sarah. We can start with the Celtics.
The beauty of this team formed by Brass Seems and
by the way, you got to give a shout out
to Danny Ainge as well. I mean he's a guy
who brought new drafted Jayden Brown to Jason Tatum. The
beauty of this Boston Celtics team is at the core
pieces aren't even thirty years old. Everybody signed at least
(19:39):
due next season. You know Joe Mazula, by the way,
give it a little shout out to Joe Mizula who's
grown as a coach, saw the mistakes he made last year,
come back as a wiser coach, pushing more of the
right buttons. So to be of this team is it's
built last. It's not a team that's sort of like
one and done well. You know, you have some aging
important pieces, or like last year we saw with the
(20:02):
Denver Nuggets, you have some players who want to get
paid and you can't afford to pay them, and so
they leave and then hurt your team. No, this team
is going to be back intact. So the Celtics right
now will go into next season as a heavy favorite
to repeat. Of course, basketball is a funny game. You
never know what's going to happen. But on paper they
(20:23):
would go as a favorite to repeat or at least
return to the NBA Finals. The Dallas Mavericks, well, they
made all their changes last season, the trade deadline, Daniel
Gafford and PJ. Washington putting them in place, and the
only real question they have is with Tim Hardaway Jr.
It's really weird. This guy was one of the better
(20:45):
six men in the league just a few years ago
bringing them off the Vans. For the Dallas Mavericks, he's
a third leading scorer, and all of a sudden he
can't even get a sniff, I would say, after the
trade deadline, falls completely out of rotation, and it's kind
of sad to see what Jason Kidd kind of dusted
them off and threw them in Game three out of
desperation because he couldn't find nobody else was doing anything
and a guy couldn't hit a shot. So he's going
(21:05):
to be a free agent, so he will most likely
not be back. And then I think it comes down
to oh, Derrick Jones Junior, by the way, who's also
going to be a free agent. You got to figure
out figure out a way to either resign him if
you feel that he's going to be worth the money,
potential luxury tax and all that stuff, or you're going
to have to find his replacement, you know, and in
(21:26):
the draft, maybe free agency. I'm not sure where the
Dallas Mavericks fit cap wise, but otherwise, you know, you
just have to let some of these young players grow,
just as we saw, you know, the Celtics grow Daniel Gafford,
PJ Washington. These guys four months ago, we're in a
losing locker rooms and Charlotte and Washington. These guys are
(21:46):
not used to this atmosphere. And I have to give
him credit for basically playing well up until this point.
Being thrown into the mix. All of a sudden, these
games have meaning, you know, can you imagine, you know,
after a game at the Washington Wizards, they're like, oh, okay,
another loss. The game with the Charlotte Horns, Oh okay,
it's none of us. All of a sudden, trade deadline happens.
Oh there's urgency. Oh we got to play it well.
(22:07):
Oh my god. So that had to be a little
bit of a shock to the system. And now that
they've gotten the taste of that, Sarah, maybe they come
back as better players next year. If you're the Dallas Maverick,
that's all you can bank on Luke and Kyrie or
obviously your core pieces, they're all sign and everything like that,
but maybe you might have to add maybe one or
two more players if you can, just as you did
(22:27):
at the trade deadline, and it made all the difference
in the rule for the Dallas Mavericks.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
Yeah, it's interesting to even start thinking about all that
because we know a lot can happen in the West
is just an absolute beast and will continue to be.
And there was some more added news that I think
a lot of us had anticipated that came this morning
from Adrian Warden Schenarowski saying that JJ Reddick will formally
(22:53):
interview for the Los Angeles Lakers coaching job this weekend.
I think there may be a expectation that this series
and him the finals maybe coming close to an end,
and a strong performance is expected to move him to
the forefront of the franchises search. So a lot of
things still waiting to happen and moving parts for all
of these teams. But in the meantime, we are still
(23:14):
one one went away for the Boston Celtics from a
finals and as Oway sean, we appreciate you, We appreciate
your time enjoy Dallas. I hope you're getting some good food,
some good some good weather down there, and until next time,
we will continue to read and watch all of your
stuff on NBA TV and NBA dot Com.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
I appreciate you, Sarah.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
NBA Paul's with Sarahustack as a production the NBA and
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