Maybe I’m overly influenced by what we’ve witnessed the last six weeks. But if I were a gambling man, which I’m not, I would find it hard to bet against Luka and the cast in his reality play that has left them waiting to be the stars who take the final curtain call, the maestros who receive the fans adulation, called out again and again as the crowd’s applause demands one more bow.
I am not a basketball expert, even though I played in high school and have watched generations of great college and professional players come and go. I’ve seen more talented teams, including the one the Mavericks will face starting this week. But the 2011 Dallas squad that won the team’s only championship trophy, was not the most talented bunch on the floor most nights of their playoffs. Talent alone is not enough.
The little I’ve seen of the Boston Celtics suggests they are a team that plays down to the level of their competition, a trait that has derailed more than one seemingly inevitable “champion,” in more sports than just basketball. They tend to live by the three-point shot and are very good at it. But the three-pointer can become a double-edged sword. Miss a few shots, and the doubts start creeping in, then spread as a Covid-like plague through the rest of the players. Because they are so talented, these Celtics carry the burden of expectation, a weight exponentially multiplied by the multiple runs of championship teams in their storied history. Can they stand the pressure? Lose one game at home, let the crowd turn on them, and they will have their mettle tested in a way most can only imagine.
These Mavericks, after three rounds of playoffs where they were never favored, do seem like a team of destiny. With arguably the best player in the world and another trusted star, a team full of role players willing to do what it takes to complement their superstars and a defensive mindset that throttles the best team offenses, they possess the ingredients needed to succeed as an underdog again.
Maybe this is all just a mirage. But three Western Conference playoff opponents will tell you these Mavericks are for real. Get ready Boston! Dallas is coming for you!!!
If I’m not mistaken, the Mavs were the top three point team in the league early in the season, but were in the bottom of the defensive rankings. That changed after the midseason trade when they figured out who to start and their player rotations.
There is a school of thought that teams should shoot anything but threes or layups, no midrange shots. Most teams, in any sport, that rely on only one element of the game get countered when they come up on a team with a smart coach and talented players,eg, Dan Quinn’s over reliance on his dime defense last year.
Whatever the outcome, I can not wait for this Finals to begin. I can’t watch any sport on TV right now that has the same flavor as this upcoming series, it’s as if all the others have dimmed in brightness and color and this sentence right here says all their is to say about why:
“When he goes into a hostile setting—and what could be more hostile than Boston waiting for a team with Kyrie?—he cannot wait to turn 20,000 voices against him, only to then systematically silence them with fear and anguish.”
Good grief,Bob! This read and this series has me ready to don the sword and face the Bolton’s head on like Jon Snow!
No doubt, I was ready to put up a double-double at LA Fitness after reading this. Bob's great at what he does, but there's another universe out there where Coach Sturm is at the top of his profession.
Very excited! Am glad the teams got some time off so they're both about as healthy as can be. I think Luka's shooting pct as the playoffs have gone on show he was really hurting early, and it was affecting his play, especially long range shooting. (The fact he adjusted and still managed to dominate those series despite clearly not being at his best shows how truly dominant he is).
Bob does a great job, not only in this piece but in many ways, of illustrating the journey is where all the hard work / maturation / challenges / setbacks occur. It's why I lose my mind when people talk about "championships are all that matter". When I think of the great chapionship teams that I rooted for, I rarely think about the final games, it's usually about something that happened in the middle of the journey, not where their final destination ended.
It's why I still love the 2010-2013 Texas Rangers, even though they didn't reach the mountaintop. The journey those teams took us on after DECADES of mostly futility was fun, exciting, and a joy right up until the end.
Now we're seeing another team on a journey and the mountaintop is in sight. They might make it, they might not. But regardless, what we've learned and experienced on the journey has been a wonder and I'll always value it.
Also, Luka is a bad bad man. An absolutely cold blooded assassin playing the game at the very highest level but also in a completely unique way - literally no one has played basketball the way he plays and also be the very best. It's unprecedented.
Let's enjoy this. I'll hope for the best. And I wouldn't at all be surprised to see Luka go into the Garden and run off a 14-point first quarter, give the Mavs an early 10-point lead and in nanosecond turn the "confident favored Celtics" into a team doubting they have the necessary ingredients to win.
This is a great piece. I am guilty of criticizing Luka for his weaknesses and his demeanor, but absolutely I have seen growth this season and particularly these playoffs.
I do hope Mavs window is a decent one, but the Spurs having Wemby and then two top ten picks doesn’t keep them nearly as long in the cellar as one would want. It’s highly doubtful they screw this up, right?
Maybe I’m overly influenced by what we’ve witnessed the last six weeks. But if I were a gambling man, which I’m not, I would find it hard to bet against Luka and the cast in his reality play that has left them waiting to be the stars who take the final curtain call, the maestros who receive the fans adulation, called out again and again as the crowd’s applause demands one more bow.
I am not a basketball expert, even though I played in high school and have watched generations of great college and professional players come and go. I’ve seen more talented teams, including the one the Mavericks will face starting this week. But the 2011 Dallas squad that won the team’s only championship trophy, was not the most talented bunch on the floor most nights of their playoffs. Talent alone is not enough.
The little I’ve seen of the Boston Celtics suggests they are a team that plays down to the level of their competition, a trait that has derailed more than one seemingly inevitable “champion,” in more sports than just basketball. They tend to live by the three-point shot and are very good at it. But the three-pointer can become a double-edged sword. Miss a few shots, and the doubts start creeping in, then spread as a Covid-like plague through the rest of the players. Because they are so talented, these Celtics carry the burden of expectation, a weight exponentially multiplied by the multiple runs of championship teams in their storied history. Can they stand the pressure? Lose one game at home, let the crowd turn on them, and they will have their mettle tested in a way most can only imagine.
These Mavericks, after three rounds of playoffs where they were never favored, do seem like a team of destiny. With arguably the best player in the world and another trusted star, a team full of role players willing to do what it takes to complement their superstars and a defensive mindset that throttles the best team offenses, they possess the ingredients needed to succeed as an underdog again.
Maybe this is all just a mirage. But three Western Conference playoff opponents will tell you these Mavericks are for real. Get ready Boston! Dallas is coming for you!!!
Love all this, but the Mavs were definitely the betting favorite in the Clippers series when Game 1 tipped off.
If the Celtics rely on the 3 too much, see what the Mavs did to OKC! Will be very interesting to see!
If I’m not mistaken, the Mavs were the top three point team in the league early in the season, but were in the bottom of the defensive rankings. That changed after the midseason trade when they figured out who to start and their player rotations.
There is a school of thought that teams should shoot anything but threes or layups, no midrange shots. Most teams, in any sport, that rely on only one element of the game get countered when they come up on a team with a smart coach and talented players,eg, Dan Quinn’s over reliance on his dime defense last year.
Whatever the outcome, I can not wait for this Finals to begin. I can’t watch any sport on TV right now that has the same flavor as this upcoming series, it’s as if all the others have dimmed in brightness and color and this sentence right here says all their is to say about why:
“When he goes into a hostile setting—and what could be more hostile than Boston waiting for a team with Kyrie?—he cannot wait to turn 20,000 voices against him, only to then systematically silence them with fear and anguish.”
Good grief,Bob! This read and this series has me ready to don the sword and face the Bolton’s head on like Jon Snow!
Sweet Jesus this got me way too hyped for a Tuesday at 9:00 am.
No doubt, I was ready to put up a double-double at LA Fitness after reading this. Bob's great at what he does, but there's another universe out there where Coach Sturm is at the top of his profession.
Same here. Especially since Game 1 is still two days away!
This one’s a beauty, Bob. Great stuff.
This is what sports fandom is all about. The human struggle to transcend. Expected—and unexpected—magic.
Maybe “human *yearning for transcendence*” is more accurate.
Very excited! Am glad the teams got some time off so they're both about as healthy as can be. I think Luka's shooting pct as the playoffs have gone on show he was really hurting early, and it was affecting his play, especially long range shooting. (The fact he adjusted and still managed to dominate those series despite clearly not being at his best shows how truly dominant he is).
Bob does a great job, not only in this piece but in many ways, of illustrating the journey is where all the hard work / maturation / challenges / setbacks occur. It's why I lose my mind when people talk about "championships are all that matter". When I think of the great chapionship teams that I rooted for, I rarely think about the final games, it's usually about something that happened in the middle of the journey, not where their final destination ended.
It's why I still love the 2010-2013 Texas Rangers, even though they didn't reach the mountaintop. The journey those teams took us on after DECADES of mostly futility was fun, exciting, and a joy right up until the end.
Now we're seeing another team on a journey and the mountaintop is in sight. They might make it, they might not. But regardless, what we've learned and experienced on the journey has been a wonder and I'll always value it.
Also, Luka is a bad bad man. An absolutely cold blooded assassin playing the game at the very highest level but also in a completely unique way - literally no one has played basketball the way he plays and also be the very best. It's unprecedented.
Let's enjoy this. I'll hope for the best. And I wouldn't at all be surprised to see Luka go into the Garden and run off a 14-point first quarter, give the Mavs an early 10-point lead and in nanosecond turn the "confident favored Celtics" into a team doubting they have the necessary ingredients to win.
This is a great piece. I am guilty of criticizing Luka for his weaknesses and his demeanor, but absolutely I have seen growth this season and particularly these playoffs.
Great reading! Glad to have stuff to “catch up on” while you are on vacation! Enjoy your time off!
Luka might enjoy being the heel a little too much, but as you said at least his mouth can write checks that his rear end can actually cash.
Great piece.
Looking forward to one about “the coach savant”, J-Kidd.
I do hope Mavs window is a decent one, but the Spurs having Wemby and then two top ten picks doesn’t keep them nearly as long in the cellar as one would want. It’s highly doubtful they screw this up, right?