2022 Finals gave Celtics a lesson in efficiency

Some of that is Boston's tough defense, which has consciously denied corner three opportunities for the Mavericks, but it's also due to its team philosophy.

After Joe Mazzulla took over as head coach before the 2022-23 season, the Celtics began taking 5.5 more threes per game. It helps that their personnel has gotten more three-point-oriented, with the additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White and replacing Marcus Smart with Jrue Holiday.

It's also a team-wide commitment to the outside shot. Boston has three bench players who shoot four or more threes per game at a rate of 38% or higher in Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard and Al Hoford. 

With Horford and Porzingis manning the center position, the Celtics essentially neutralize teams like the Mavericks with shot-blocking centers by making them guard out at the arc.

The Celtics' relentless defense has a lot to do with this, but it's shocking to realize that through three NBA Finals games, Kyrie Irving has taken just one more three-pointer (14) than Horford (13), and he's made one fewer. 

Only Luka Doncic has made as many as five threes for the Mavericks with nine. The Celtics have six different players who have hit five or more.

If it is going to have any chance at all moving forward, Dallas is going to need to put up more outside shots, specifically from P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. If the Mavericks don't turn up the volume, Boston is going to sweep them out of the Finals.