The Boston Celtics are back in the NBA Finals and looking for their 18th NBA Championship. As we approach Game 1 of the Finals, the Celtics dropped a hype video for their fans narrated by NFL and Massachusets legend, Tom Brady. The video poked fun at opposing fans who chanted 'We want Boston' en route to being eliminated,
"Really? You want Boston? Take it from me, that's a bad idea. The (Heat culture? History. Cleveland? Done for. And Indy? Over with. But us? We're still here. Right now, you're going to want anyone but Boston."
Be careful what you wish for. pic.twitter.com/q7bvdKgl1U
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 6, 2024
The Celtics are entering the NBA Finals as favorites after having put together a season with 64 regular season wins and a 12-2 Playoff record. Their Playoff success has also come without starting center Kristaps Porzingis, who will be returning to action in Game 1 of the Finals.
The Celtics are facing the Dallas Mavericks, who haven't been juggernauts all season like the Celtics have. They won just 50 games, dramatically changing their fortunes after a mid-season trade, and became the best defense in the NBA for the final quarter of the season. They are 12-5 in the Playoffs but possess arguably the best player in the series, Luka Doncic.
The Celtics didn't include a video of Mavericks fans chanting 'We want Boston,' probably because fans in Dallas haven't been engaging in that trash talk yet. But by the time the series comes to Texas in Game 3, fans might be fired up enough to talk trash against a fanbase most didn't think they'd get to face in the Finals.
With the road both teams have had to the NBA Finals, many are picking the Celtics to win the series and lift the title. The Mavericks have had a more bruising time through the West and have overperformed on expectations, whereas the Celtics have been title favorites all season long and have a net rating (11.6) which is among the highest in NBA history over a season.
Despite the apparent mismatch, Lakers legend Magic Johnson doesn't want the Celtics to make the mistake the 2004 Lakers did with the Pistons and underestimate their opponents.
"The Celtics are supposed to win the Series, but I’ve seen the team with the most talent lose before. Remember the 2004 Finals between the Lakers and Pistons? Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, and Ben Wallace upset my Lakers with 4 Hall of Fame players: Kobe Bryant, Shaq, Gary Payton, and Karl Malone. They even had Horace Grant!""
Through his analysis, Magic made it clear he thinks the Celtics have a larger roster advantage, backing the Celtics to win.
"The Mavericks definitely have an opportunity to win the championship as the team that’s hot right now and playing with a lot of confidence and swagger! Luka and Kyrie won’t have the same luxury of resting on defense like they did against the Timberwolves, because every starter on the Celtics team is a scoring threat."
"Another big difference in this series is Dallas can’t afford for Luka and Kyrie to get into foul trouble, but on the other side, the Celtics can handle Jaylen or Jayson getting in foul trouble and having to sit out because they have depth on their bench!"
The Mavericks will tip off Game 1 of the Finals against the Celtics in Boston's TD Garden. It'll be a fierce environment, especially with Kyrie Irving returning to the arena to play against the Celtics in the Finals.
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