The Celtics are one step closer to capturing the elusive banner No. 18, as they’re back in the NBA Finals. No, it’s not a gentleman sweep this time, as they won four consecutive games against the Pacers in the ECF to get this far.
Because of how they cruised through the Eastern Conference this postseason, the SBOTOP NBA 2024 odds have Boston as the huge favourites to win the Larry O’Brien trophy, regardless of their opponents in the Finals.
Speaking of their next opponents from the Western Conference, the Mavericks are likely to be that since they have a 3-0 series over the upstart Timberwolves.
Elsewhere in LA, the Lakers are in danger of losing one of their stars, as Rich Paul said that his client and business partner, LeBron James, is going to be a free agent this summer.
Celtics secure trip to the Finals, Brown wins ECF MVP
After a 126-110 win in Game 2, the Celtics were pushed to the limit by the Pacers, who were playing with house money since they were without their injured star, Tyrese Haliburton.
Despite Haliburton’s absence, the Pacers were playing out of their minds in Games 3 and 4, but that wasn’t enough against the Celtics, who always kicked things up a notch in those games, particularly on the defencive end.
When the Celtics tied the game at 102 apiece with 2:40 left on Jaylen Brown’s midrange jumpshot in Game 4, they forced two turnovers, and Brown blocked Andrew Nembhard’s layup with 1:05 left.
Derrick White hit the biggest shot of the game when Jaylen Brown found him for a corner trey with 43.9 seconds left. Indiana had one more chance when Jayson Tatum missed a three-pointer with eight seconds left, but Jrue Holiday came up with a big offencive rebound and ran out the clock.
Jaylen Brown finished with 29 points, six rebounds, three steals, and four three-pointers on 50-per cent shooting to lead Boston, while Jayson Tatum flirted with a triple-double with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.
Andrew Nembhard had 24 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds to lead Indiana in the losing effort.
Brown was named ECF MVP for averaging 29.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per contest on 51.7-per cent shooting in this series against Indiana, including a 40-point effort in Game 2, a day after he was snubbed for All-NBA honors.
Doncic and Irving coming up clutch for the Mavericks
The Mavericks are one win away from making it back to the Finals for the first time since 2011, when they won their first title in franchise history, and they have Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to thank for that.
The Timberwolves’ vaunted defence couldn’t find answers on how to stop Doncic and Irving, as the dynamic Mavs duo has scored at least 30 points each in the first three games of the Western Conference Finals, making them the first backcourt duo in NBA history to achieve such a feat.
In Game 3, both of them had 33 points in the 116-107 victory on Sunday, capped off by a 12-3 run late in the final period.
Dallas’ defence should get credit too, as they’ve essentially shut down Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns in this series, as the Dominican Republic international is shooting a woeful 27.8-per cent for the series.
Anthony Edwards is doing all he can to keep the Timberwolves afloat, but he has only shot 38.6-per cent so far against the Mavericks.
If Edwards and KAT struggle to generate enough NBA 2024 highlights for Minny in Game 4, the Mavericks will likely finish the series in four games.
James set to become a free agent, per agent
Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul may have inadvertently revealed LeBron James’ plan this summer during his appearance on the TNT alt-cast for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals between the Mavericks and the Timberwolves.
During the broadcast, Paul slipped up and referred to James as a “free agent,” although he went on to elaborate that his client’s situation is still up in the air.
LeBron James has a player option of roughly $51 million for the 2024-25 season. If he doesn’t opt in this summer, the four-time NBA champion is going to become an unrestricted free agent, and he will have suitors for his services despite turning 39 last December.
He is coming off another solid season for the Lakers, averaging 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 54-per cent from the field in 71 regular-season games.
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