Wednesday, June 12, 2024

J-Speaks: The Passing Of NBA's "The Logo"

 

In career that spans over six-and-a-half decades, this West Virginia native used his all-around skills to become one of the greatest players on the professional hardwood that earned him a place in Springfield, MA. He then went on to be one of the greats in the NBA’s front office not just for the team he played for, but in the “Bay Area,” the so-called “Little Brother” of “La La Land” and in “Music City.” He was a champion both on the hardwood and as an executive and his literally the logo of “The Association,” and has the best nickname in professional sports that he lived up to both on the hardwood and in his front office posts: “Mr. Clutch.” This legend that was significant part of the National Basketball Association (NBA) left us today.

Jerry West, the first significant player in the history of basketball in Los Angeles, CA first on the hardwood for the Lakers and then as an executive for the “Purple & Gold,” the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, and Memphis Grizzlies passed away on Wednesday. He was 86 years old.

“Jerry’s four decades with the Lakers also included a successful stint as a head coach and a remarkable run in the front office that cemented his reputation as one of the greatest executives in sports history,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement about the passing of Mr. West.

“He helped build eight championship teams during his tenure in the NBA-a legacy of achievement that mirrors his on-court excellence. And he will be enshrined this October in the Nasmith Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor, becoming the first person ever inducted as both a player and a contributor.”

“I valued my friendship with Jerry and the knowledge he shared with me over the many years about basketball and life. On behalf of the NBA, we send our deepest condolences to Jerry’s wife, Karen, his family, and many friends in the NBA community.”

In a statement by the Lakers following the passing of West, “Jerry West is forever a basketball icon. He will always be a Laker legend.”  

Mr. West is survived by his two sons, Ryan and Jonnie, and his widow, Karen, who he married in 1978. He is also survived by David, Mark, and Michael, his three sons from his first marriage to Martha Jane Kane (1960).

Drafted No. 2 overall out of the University of West Virginia in 1960 by the then Minneapolis Lakers shortly before the team moved to L.A. where he played for 14 seasons (1960-74) then becoming the team’s General Manager of the Lakers and the Grizzlies (2002-07) and then a consultant for the Golden State Warriors (2011-17) L.A.’s other team in the Clippers (2017-24). In his over six-plus decades in the NBA, Mr. West earned nine NBA championship rings. 

He earned enshrinement in the Hall of Fame first as a player behind 14 All-Star selections; 12 All-NBA selections (First Team 10 times-1962-67 & 1970-73; Second Team twice-1968, 1969); and five All-Defensive Team selections behind career averages of 27 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds.

The NBA did not recognize steals as an official statistic until Mr. West’s final season (1973-74), averaging 2.6 per contest.

The league’s All-Defensive squads came into existence starting in 1968-69 season, five years before Mr. West retired from playing. In his final five NBA seasons, Mr. West made the First Team four times (1970-73) and the Second Team once (1969).

At the time of his retirement following the 1973-74 season, Mr. West retired as the Lakers all-time leading scorer (25,192 points), now at No. 2 behind fellow Hall of Famer in the late Kobe Bryant (33,643 points). Also when he retired, West became the third player in league history to reach 25,000 career points.

His second call to the Hall of Fame was as a member of the 1960 USA Olympic Team alongside fellow Hall of Famer and co-captain Oscar Robertson that captured Gold in Rome, Italy.

As mentioned earlier by Commissioner Silver’s statement earlier in the day, Mr. West will be enshrined in Springfield, MA for a third time as a contributor later this year.

Years later following his retirement, Mr. West made the three exclusive squads in the 35th, 50th, and 75th NBA Anniversary squads.

In 2019, Mr. West was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Mr. West, going back to the 1974 NBA Draft, was selected that summer one pick after Robertson was chosen No. 1 overall in arguably the greatest No. 1 and 2 overall picks in the history of the NBA.

West immediately joined forces on the hardwood with fellow Hall of Famer in the late Elgin Baylor to form one of the most potent 1-2 punches in league history for the Lakers, carrying the Lakers to the Playoffs 14 straight seasons and elevating professional basketball in Southern California

While his endless need for perfection was a blessing in his career both as a player and as an executive, it was also a curse for Mr. West, who drove himself hard to be the best on the floor as a player for the Lakers and as an executive for them and the Clippers, Warriors, and Grizzlies to live up to the high standard he held himself to.

The positive of that pursuit of perfection for Mr. West is he never missed the Playoffs as a player in his 14-year career with the Lakers and as an executive for the team he played a role in helping to build.    

Mr. West’s along with Baylor was not enough in the twosome’s prime years in the league as they were denied championship glory during the Celtics in the 1960s.

In the nine occasions the Lakers reached The Finals led by West, they won just once and they lost six times to fellow late Hall of Famer Bill Russell and the Celtics.  

Mr. West’s two signature moments came in two of his most significant setbacks in his playing career.

The first came in 1969 when Mr. West became the first and only player in NBA history to be named Finals MVP on the losing team when the Lakers lost to the Celtics 4-3. In Game 7, West posted a triple-double of 42 points, 12 assists, and 13 boards while playing with a limp in the 108-106 loss.   

One year later, Mr. West nailed a 60-foot heave in the 1970 NBA Finals setback to the New York Knickerbockers 4-3.

In the 1965 Finals versus the Celtics, West averaged 40.6 points for the series.

“Those losses scarred me, scars that remain embedded in my psyche to this day,” Mr. West said in his autobiography “West by West.

“You would have to be able to see the tissue under those scars to really know and fully understand what I am talking about because I can’t adequately articulate to anyone what it actually feels like. The thing about scar tissue is that it keeps building, and pretty soon it’s awfully sizeable.”

Mr. West added in a 2019 interview with NBA.com, “I really, really hated losing. I hated losing more than I enjoyed winning. It was just something inside of me, the competitor who felt that if my team didn’t win then it was something I failed to do. So, I was driven to be my best every time I walked on the court.”

After years of disappointment, the Lakers led by West, Baylor, and newly acquired fellow Hall of Famer in the late Wilt Chamberlin got their first title in L.A. in 1972 completing the best regular season in NBA history with 69 wins, which consisted of an NBA-record to this date of 33 straight wins, defeating the Knicks 4-1.   

Born on May 28, 1938 in the small town of Cheylan as the fifth of six children, WVA, Mr. West childhood was not a pleasant one has he grew up with an abusive father Howard Stewart, a coal mine electrician, who he never developed a close relationship with.

To escape his troubles at home, Mr. West migrated to basketball, often playing on an outdoor hoop by himself in the cold and snow.

During his formative years of basketball at East Bank High School in East Bank, WVA, Mr. West perfected his jump shot, which was not in vogue like today, and led him to become one of the most highly recruited players in the country.

Mr. West stayed local attending college at West Virginia University, where he very quickly rose to the elite level in the collegiate ranks.

Not even a broken nose could keep Mr. West off the floor once playing for the Mountaineers where he played with the broken ailment the rest of the contest breathing through his mouth, refusing to leave the game for treatment.

For the remainder of his days, West sported a nose that was never properly fixed.

Following his playing career, West remained with the Lakers becoming their head coach (1976-79), compiling a 246-145 record in the regular season. However, the furthest they went under Mr. West and fellow Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the postseason is the Western Conference Finals in 1977 in a four-game sweep to the eventual NBA champion Portland Trail Blazers led by the late Hall of Famer Bill Walton, who passed away back on May 27.

Mr. West following his three seasons as the Lakers sideline leader, he worked in the team’s scouting department for the next three seasons before moving into the front office as the Lakers GM before the 1982-83 season.  

West beginning as a scout and then GM for the Lakers helped build the Lakers dynasty of the 1980s, better known as “Showtime” which combined an entertaining style of fastbreak scoring, passing, and shooting.

The head of the snake of “Showtime” era was Hall of Famers in Earvin “Magic” Johnson, the No. 1 overall pick out of Michigan State in 1979, the aforementioned Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, No. 1 overall pick 1982 out of University of North Carolina, and then head coach Pat Riley, who is now in the front office of the now three-time NBA champion Miami Heat was West’s teammate on that 1972 title squad.

The Lakers led by West, Riley, Johnson, and Worthy, flanked by the likes of fellow Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper, Jamaal Wilkes, and Mychal Thompson won five titles in nine seasons (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988).

One of West’s man quirks as Lakers’ GM that he famously was nervous before every game  and often watched the action from the tunnel or on television. He rarely attended Lakers road games because of his hate for flying, even if it meant missing playoff games.  

The Lakers after a two-year drought got back to The Finals in 1991, then led by new head coach Mike Dunleavy, Johnson, Worthy, and Scott but lost 4-1 to Chicago Bulls, led by  Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and then head coach Phil Jackson.

After two First-Round Playoff exits and not making the postseason in 1993-94 season, the West rebuilt the Lakers back into a Playoff perennial alongside then head coach Del Harris around Hall of Famer Vlade Divac, Cedrick Ceballos, and Nick Van Exel. They won 48 games in 1994-95 and reached the West Semifinals, where they lost 4-2 to the eventual East runner-up in the San Antonio Spurs.

West that season won his first of two Executive of the Year Awards.

The makings of another Lakers title run began in summer of 1996 where he signed Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal in free agency and in that June’s draft traded Divac for the draft rights to then teenager in the now late Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, No. 13 overall pick.

After only going as far as the Western Conference Finals 1998 after winning 61 games that season, the Lakers lost 4-0 to the eventual Western Conference Finals champion Utah Jazz. The next postseason, the Lakers lost 4-0 in the West Semis to the eventual NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.

In the summer of 1999 before moving into their current home arena, then Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena), the Lakers hired Jackson, who coached the Bulls to six titles in eight seasons (1991-92 & 1996-98).

The Lakers won the first of two of three straight titles beginning in 2000, West final season with the Lakers in their front office.

In 2002, West became the GM of the Grizzlies, saying, “After being a part of the Lakers’ success for so many years, I have always wondered how it would be to build a winning franchise that has not experienced much success. I wanted to help make a difference.”

While no championships came in West’s five seasons with the Grizzlies, he did turn them into a Playoff perennial, reaching the postseason three straight seasons (2004-06) behind additions via solid trades and draft selections that included Hall of Famer Pau Gasol, and James Posey, and Jason Williams, and signing Hall of Famer and current NBA on ESPN analyst Hubie Brown, who in 2003-04 won his second Kia Coach of the Year Award (1997-78). West also received some postseason recognition, winning his second Executive of the Year Award in the same season.

After missing the postseason behind a 22-60 record, West then at age 69 retired as Grizzlies GM in 2007, turning over managerial duties to Chris Wallace, the Grizzlies GM from 2007-19.     

Four years later, West joined the Warriors as a consultant on their executive board and alongside new Governors Joe Lacob and Peter Guber helped build them into a championship dynasty with three Larry O’Brien trophies (2015, 2017, 2018) in five seasons (2015-19). The 2015 title was the team’s first since 1975.

During this period, the Warriors drafted future Hall of Famers in Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, Kevon Looney, and now Sacramento Kings’ Harrison Barnes. They also during this glorious time signed or traded for the likes of now Phoenix Suns perennial All-Star Kevin Durant, Shaun Livingston, Andre Igoudala, Leandro Barbosa, Andrew Bogut, Marreese Speights, David West, and JaVale McGee.

Perhaps the biggest moment for West in the Warriors front office was convincing the Warriors to not trade Thompson to the Minnesota Timberwolves for now Heat’s Kevin Love.

Following the Warriors third title in five seasons in 2016-17 versus the Cleveland Cavaliers on June 14, 2017, West announced he was coming back to Southern California but to join the Clippers front office as member on their executive board and consultant.

“One of the saddest days” West said of leaving the Warriors. But also said he was excited for the challenge of helping build the Clippers into a title contender.

Then head coach Doc Rivers, who is now the sideline leader of the Milwaukee Bucks floated the idea of Mr. West joining the Clippers back in 2016.

In the summer of 2019, the Clippers hit the jackpot in the summer of 2019 signing All-Star and 2014 Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“He was absolutely my basketball sage: wise, loyal, and so much fun. If you were in his presence, you felt his competitiveness and his drive,” Clippers Governor Steve Ballmer said of his seven years (2017-24) with West.

“He cared about everything and everyone. From the first day I met Jerry seven years ago, he inspired me with his intellect, honesty, and enthusiasm.”

“He never stopped. I spent a lot of time with him, some of the best times of my life. He always lent an ear, and he always had a quip. He always left me laughing. I will miss him.”

The big part of the history of the NBA included Jerry West, first as a player for the Lakers, leading them to the Playoffs in all 14 seasons, winning a title in 1972, their first in L.A. after winning five in Minneapolis, MN.

As an executive, West built the Lakers into an 11-time NBA champion first in the 1980s and at the start of the 2000s.

He then moved on to join the Grizzlies and helped them to their first three postseason appearances in franchise history in the middle of the 2000s.

West then joined the Warriors in 2011 and built them into a team that won three of their seven Larry O’Brien trophies.

Mr. West’s NBA journey concluded with the Clippers beginning in 2017. While they never won a title, West kept them on a path to where they have registered 13 consecutive winning seasons after compiling just two winning seasons in their first 32 years of existence dating back to their time as the Buffalo Braves (1970-78) and San Diego Clippers (1978-84).

Jerry West lived up to his nickname on the court and as an executive: “Mr. Clutch.” When called upon to deliver he did in great fashion. He did it on the court with his ability to shoot and guard and as an executive drafting, trading, and signing the right player(s) that helped turn the Lakers and Warriors into champions and the Grizzlies and Clippers from laughing stocks to Playoff perennials.

While Mr. West may be gone physically, his image will live forever as the silhouette of him on every hoop in all 30 NBA arenas, on a Wilson basketball both in an NBA game or what you see on a court in your local park or home driveway is considered basis of NBA logo.

“It’s an enormous loss for all sports not just basketball,” Commissioner Silver said to the ESPN “NBA Countdown crew of Malika Andrews, Stephen A. Smith, Bob Myers, Michael Wilbon, and Los Angeles Clippers Paul George on Wednesday night.

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 6/12/2024 www.nba.com story, “NBA Icon And Hall of Famer Jerry West Passes Away At 86,” By Shaun Powell; 6/12/2024 7:30 p.m. “NBA Countdown,” ABC, Delivered by Doordash With Malika Andrews, Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon, Bob Myers, Adrian Wojnarowski;  www.statmuse.com; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Memphis_Grizzlies_seasons; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubie_Brown; http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Wallace_(basketball); https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Los_Angeles_Clippers_seasons; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Johnson; and http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Worthy.  

Sunday, June 2, 2024

J-Speaks: 2024 NBA Finals Preview

 

Two late springs ago, the boys from “Beantown” were up in 2022 NBA Finals over the boys from the “Bay Area” but fell in six games, losing the series clincher at home. Last season, the boys from “Beantown” overcame a 3-0 series deficit in the 2023 East Finals only to fall to the eventual Eastern Conference champions from “South Beach” in seven games, losing the final game of the series at home. The boys from “Big D” were in the Western Conference Finals two late springs back but fell in five games to those eventual boys from the “Bay Area.” Unfortunately last year despite a blockbuster deal in early February 2023, where they acquired one of the best guards in the NBA, the boys from “Big D” faltered down the stretch and missed out on the Playoffs entirely. The boys from “Beantown” ran through the league in this regular season and in the postseason to win the East, while the boys from “Big D” ran the gauntlet of the stacked Western Conference to reach The NBA Finals. Now both squads with several days to rest and prepare will take each other on in the 2024 NBA championship round. Here is the 2024 J-Speaks NBA Finals Preview.

The Boston Celtics were the top team record wise in the NBA right from the start of the regular season and registered 64 regular season wins, registering the Top Seed in not just the Eastern Conference but the best record in the entire NBA. That earned them homecourt advantage throughout the postseason, including in the upcoming NBA Finals that gets underway this Thursday, June 6, 2024 (ABC).

The Dallas Mavericks, who finished the regular season 50-32 and claimed the No. 5 Seed in the stacked Western Conference.

Despite not having homecourt advantage, the Mavericks took down the No. 4 Seeded Los Angeles Clippers (51-31) in the opening-round 4-2. They followed that up by taking down the No. 1 Seeded Oklahoma City Thunder (57-25) also 4-2. In the West Finals, the Mavericks took down the No. 3 Seeded Minnesota Timberwolves (56-26) 4-1 to win the West and reach The Finals for the third time in franchise history.

The Celtics journey to their 23rd Finals appearance in their franchise history, the second most in NBA Playoff history to the 32 appearances by the Los Angeles Lakers on paper was a good one where they went 12-2 in taking down the No. 8 Seeded Miami Heat (46-36) in the Opening-Round 4-1. Then proceeded to take down the No. 4 Seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the East Semifinals 4-1. In the East Finals, the Celtics swept the No. 6 Seeded Indiana Pacers (47-35) 4-0.

For most teams, going 12-2 the first three rounds of a postseason would bring both praise and respect, especially after following up a 64-win regular season with that kind of a mark. For the Celtics, they drew criticism from the sports media for their lone Game 2 missteps at home in the First Round versus the Heat and in the East Semis versus the Cavs.

Second-Year head coach Joe Mazzulla also drew criticism for not being challenged in the first two rounds because the Heat were missing key personnel in perennial All-Star Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier. In the East Semis, fellow All-Star of the Cavs Donovan Mitchell missed the final two games of the series because of a calf injury.

The Celtics also drew criticism for not playing, in many close games or having to pull a game out in the clutch time except for their Game 4 victory in the Semis at the Cavs.

In the East Finals, the Celtics’ critics got their wish as they played three “Clutch Games” against the Pacers, winning all three, taking Games 1 and home and in Games 3 and 4 at the Pacers.

Even with all of that, the Celtics are back in The Finals for the second time in the last three seasons and as just mentioned the 23rd time in their storied history.

The Celtics are four wins away from winning their 18th NBA title in franchise history because of how perennial All-Star forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have performed during this postseason despite how critics have felt they have gotten to The Finals.

By the numbers, Tatum has had the best all-around postseason of his career with averages of 26 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. The issue has been his shooting efficiency throughout this postseason, which has been at 44.2 percent overall from the floor and just 29 percent from three-point range.

So far this postseason, Tatum has totaled 11 double-doubles, with seven coming in the last eight games. That includes a triple-double, which he registered in the Celtics’ Game 1 victory (114-94) of the opening-round versus the Heat totaling 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, going 8/8 at the charity stripe, overcoming a 7/18 performance from the floor, including 1/8 from three-point range.   

The difference for Tatum compared to past postseasons has been his ability to get to the foul line, where he has averaged 7.9 attempts and has made 84.5 percent of those chances at the charity stripe.

By each round, Tatum’s numbers in terms of scoring, assists, and field goal percentage have risen, while the rebounding have been constant.

Jayson Tatum Stats                           Points   Rebounds   Assists  FG%  3-Pt.%
By Round 2024 Playoffs    1st  RD     21.8         10.4            5.4      41.6      29.0
                                             2nd RD     26.8         10.4            6.2      44.1      27.3
                                             3rd RD     30.3         10.3            6.3      46.3      30.6

The other half of Celtics dynamic All-Star duo in Brown has been very consistent in terms of his production this postseason averaging 23.0 points, 5.5 boards, and 3.6 assists on 49.9 percent from the floor and 35.4 percent from three-point range.

In the first two rounds of this postseason when Tatum was trying to find his shooting touch, it was Brown who picked up the slack in that area and that allowed the Celtics to keep rocking and rolling.

In the East Finals, Brown played perhaps the best basketball of his career in the postseason. In Game 1, Brown had 26 points with seven rebounds and five assists on 10/20 shooting. His lone made three right in front of the Pacers’ bench tied it late in regulation following a Pacers turnover tied the score and the Celtics prevailed in overtime 133-128 to take a 1-0 series lead on May 21, 2024 (ESPN).

Two nights later, Brown tied his Playoff career-high with 40 points with five boards going 14/27 from the floor, including 4/10 from three and 8/11 at the free throw line.

Those first two games of East Finals earned Brown the Larry Bird Award as Eastern Conference Finals MVP and helped the Celtics make the most of their third straight appearance in third round and their sixth in the past eight seasons.

Jaylen Brown Stats                           Points   Rebounds    FG%  3-Pt.%
By Round 2024 Playoffs    1st  RD     22.8           7.0           52.2      32.1
                                             2nd RD     23.4           6.2           59.2      42.9
                                             3rd RD     29.8           5.0           51.7      37.0

Back in the offseason of 2023, the Celtics made two key additions via trade acquiring All-Stars in Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to go alongside the supporting cast of Al Horford, Derrick White, who the Celtics acquired from the Spurs in February 2022, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Luke Kornet, and Xavier Tillman, Sr., who the Celtics acquired at the Feb. 9, 2024 NBA Trade Deadline from the Memphis Grizzlies.  

In acquiring Holiday, the Celtics brought in a true legit floor general who can do it on both ends of the floor, especially defensively.

By each round, the floor general, who helped the Bucks win it all in 2021 by each round of this postseason has increased his production while making key plays in the clutch in the East Finals against the Pacers. 

In the aforementioned Game 1 triumph in East Finals, Holiday scored a Playoff high 28 points with eight assists and seven rebounds on 10/16 from the field, including 4/8 on his triple tries. Following his first double-double of this postseason (15 points, 10 assists), going 3/4 from three in the Celtics 126-110 victory in Game 2 , Holiday had a solid 14 points and nine rebounds in Game 3 victory (114-111) at the Pacers on May 25, 2024 (ABC), making three key plays in the closing minutes to help the Celtics pull out the “clutch” victory as they overcame an 18-point deficit in the first half.

Holiday’s score and a foul on the Pacers’ All-Star Pascal Siakam on a drive to the hoop put the Celtics up 112-111 with 38.9 seconds left. Moments later, Holiday stole the ball from Pacers’ Andrew Nembhard on a drive to tie the game and following another foul from Siakam nailed what would be the game-clinching free throws that put the Celtics up 114-111 and the victory as the Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith missed the game-tying triple at the final buzzer.  

Jrue Holiday Stats                             Points   Rebounds   Assists  FG%  3-Pt.%
By Round 2024 Playoffs    1st  RD       7.8          4.8            4.4       35.0      36.8
                                             2nd RD     13.0          5.2            3.8       51.0      40.0
                                             3rd RD     18.5          7.0            5.8       58.7      41.7

The Celtics have made this postseason run for the most part without Porzingis (12.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 38.9 FG%, 40.0 3-Pt.%), who has been out since the first half of Game 4 of the opening-round at the Heat due to a right calf strain.   

In Porzingis absence, the Celtics have relied on Horford to man the middle and the 37-year-old, who came off the bench for nearly half of the regular season stepped in and did the job.

Dating back to the regular season, the Celtics have gone 23-2 in their last 25 games that Horford has started. That includes a 9-1 mark this postseason.

One of those postseason victories without Porzingis came in the previously mentioned Game 3 comeback win where Horford scored 23 points with five boards and three block shots, going 8/14 shooting, and 7/12 from three. The seven made threes by Horford set a new overall career-high.

This performance by Horford came on the heels of a six-point, 10-rebound, two-steal performance in the Game 2 rout. In the Game 1 win versus the Pacers, Horford had 15 points with six boards and three blocks making three triples (5/15 FGs-3/12 3-Pt.).

For three straight postseasons beginning in the 2020 restart in Orlando, FL, the Mavericks, under now Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, have been led by perennial All-Star Luka Doncic. In his first two postseason appearances, Doncic and the Mavericks lost to the Clippers 4-2 in 2020 and 4-3 games in 2021. 

The Mavericks, under now head coach and Hall of Famer Jason Kidd finally won their first Playoff series since winning their lone NBA title in 2011 taking down the Utah Jazz in the opening-round of 2022 postseason 4-2. After a hard fought first six games in the West Semis against the then No. 1 Seeded Phoenix Suns, the Mavericks roasted and toasted the Suns in Game 7 (123-90), leading in the game by as many as 46 points.

In the West Finals, the Mavericks were battling out of their weight class as they went down to the eventual NBA champion Warriors 4-1.

Last season, the Mavericks were in prime position to make it back to the postseason. They especially felt confident they could get back to the West Finals after they acquired Kyrie Irving on Feb. 6, 2023, from the Brooklyn Nets to team up alongside Doncic.

The pairing had its share of growing pains, especially in close games where the two could not get on the same page in terms of who would take the last shot to win in the game in the closing seconds of a game.

That along with the fact Doncic and Irving missed games due to injury and the fact that they took a major slip defensively the Mavericks in ability to play any consistent defense closed 2022-23 with a 9-18 mark and just missed the Playoffs with a 38-44 record.

In the early stages of this season, the Mavericks, despite Doncic and Irving finding their footing on the hardwood were playing just average basketball being no more than seven games over .500 (23-16 Jan. 11, 2024).

The dynamics of this season for the Mavericks completely changed when at the Feb. 8, 2024 NBA Trade Deadline acquired P.J. Washington from the Charlotte Hornets and Daniel Gafford from the Washington Wizards.

The additions of Washington and Gafford, coupled with the drafting of Dereck Lively II (No. 12 overall) out of Duke University, who was acquired on Draft day 2023 from the Thunder coupled with new addition Derrick Jones, Jr. made the Mavericks a much better defensive team and even more balanced offensive team.

That balance on both ends was the result of  Washington, Gafford, Jones, Jr., Maki Kleber, Josh Green, Dante Exum, Tim Hardaway, Jr., and Jaden Hardy accepting their roles and letting Doncic and Irving handle the heavy lifting at the offensive end and putting the rest of the cast in position to score off the doubles the two draw.

Counting the three wins before their deadline deals, the Mavericks closed 2023-24 with a 24-9 mark dating back to Feb. 5, 2024 going from being in the Play-In bracket of the Western Conference Playoff race to clinching as previously mentioned the No. 5 spot in the West, one game ahead of the No. 6 Seeded Suns (49-33). Only Celtics ironically enough at 26-6 had a better mark to close 2023-24 dating back to Feb. 5, 2024 than the Mavericks.

After dispatching the Mavericks and the Thunder the first two rounds’ of 2024 Playoffs to get back to the West Finals for the second time in the last three seasons, the Mavericks showed much improved they have been on both ends of the hardwood dating back to the regular season.

In taking down the Minnesota Timberwolves and their rising phenom in All-Star Anthony Edwards, the Mavericks did it by winning the first three games of the series in “clutch time.”

The Mavericks won Game 1 on May 22, 2024 (TNT) at the Wolves (108-105) behind their dynamic backcourt tandem of Doncic and Irving.

Irving was the star in the opening half, scoring 24 of his 30 points going 11/14 from the floor. He finished the game 12/23 shooting.

Doncic closed the deal in the second half scoring 15 points on 5/8 from the field, including 2/3 from three and 3/3 at the foul line in the fourth quarter. He finished with 33 points with six assists, eight boards and three steals on 12/26 from the floor and 6/7 at the foul line.

In Game 2, it was Doncic and Irving who ruled the fourth quarter with Doncic closing the deal in the final period to help the Mavericks win Game 2 (109-108) two nights later.

Doncic hit the eventual game-winning triple over the Kia Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert with 03.8 seconds left. It capped 30-point triple-double by Doncic, his sixth of this postseason with 32 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds on 10/23 from the floor, including 5/11 from three and 7/7 at the foul line.

Irving scored 13 of his 20 points in the final period going 4/5 on his triple tries. He finished with 20 points and six assists on 7/16 from the floor and 4/7 from three-point range.

In the Game 3 victory (116-107), the Mavericks once again shined in the fourth period, especially in clutch time, led again by Doncic and Irving.

Irving, who had 33 points on 12/20 shooting, including 3/6 from three and 6/8 at the foul line, scored 14 of those 33 points on 5/7 from the floor and went 3/4 at the foul line in the final period.

Doncic, who had 33 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and five steals on 10/20 shooting, including 5/11 from three, and 8/10 from the charity stripe scored seven of those 33 points making all three of his free throw attempts in the final period.

The Mavericks in the final period outscored the Wolves 29-20, with Doncic and Irving combining to outscore the Wolves in the fourth quarter 21-20.

In Game 4, the Mavericks came up short in “clutch time” as they failed to sweep the Wolves falling 108-105 May 28, 2024 (TNT).

While Doncic registered his league-leading sixth triple-double of 2024 Playoffs with 28 points, 10 assists and 15 rebounds, going 10/12 at the foul line, he managed to go just 7/21 from the floor despite going 4/11 from three.

Irving also struggled registering 16 points on 6/18 from the field , including 1/6 from three.

After combining for 21 points on 7/12 shooting, including 3/5 from three with five assists with the score within five points in the final five minutes the first three games of the series, Doncic and Irving combined for just two points on 1/5 from the floor, including 0/3 from three and totaling just one assist in “clutch time” in Game 4.  

At the defensive end, the Mavericks after holding the Wolves to a total of 11 points on 3/12 from the floor, including 0/7 from three in the final three minutes of the first three games of the series, outscoring them 24-11. In Game 4, the visitors from Minneapolis, MN in the final three minutes outscored the Mavericks 10-3 going 4/6 from the field.

The Mavericks got off the canvas in Game 5 and led by Doncic and Irving sparkled in Game 5 and closed the door on the Wolves season two nights later in their house winning in dominant fashion 124-103 to win the series 4-1 (TNT).

Doncic got the party started for the Mavericks with 20 points on 8/11 from the field, including 4/6 from three-point range in the first quarter. He finished with his 13th double-double of this postseason with a series-high 36 points and 10 boards with five assists on 14/22 from the floor and 6/10 from three. That included a first half where Doncic scored 25 points and five rebounds on 10/16 from the field, including 5/8 on his triple tries.

Irving kept things going with 15 points in the second quarter (5/5 FGs, 4/4 Fts) and finished also with 36 points and five assists on 14/27 shooting, including 4/10 from three.

During the regular season, the Celtics swept the season-series 2-0 over the Mavericks, winning by an average of 18.5 points. The “C’s” won the first meeting (119-110) at the Mavericks. They won the second tilt in Boston (128-110) Mar. 1, 2024 (ESPN).

The Celtics have won the past four regular season meetings over the Mavericks.

What will decide this series is which dynamic duo between Doncic and Irving for the Mavericks and Tatum and Brown for the Celtics will rise to the moment and take this championship series by the horns?

Through the first three rounds of 2024 postseason, Doncic and Irving have averaged 51.6 points, 14 assists and 13.5 rebounds.

They have played and gelled so well together on both ends of the hardwood that it had the TNT crew of Kevin Harlan, Hall of Famer Reggie Miller and Stan Van Gundy as the most “skilled” or even the best backcourt of all-time.

If they win the title, they could put themselves into that conversation up against the Warriors two-time Kia MVP Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, who have four titles to their credit. Then there is the Hall of Fame duo of Hall of Famers Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, who led the “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons to back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990.

Doncic and Irving will get put to the test against Holiday and White, who earned spots on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2023-24 and have made their marks in the NBA especially at the defensive end.

In helping the Bucks win the 2021 title, Holiday defensively gave then lead guard Chris Paul fits.

The Celtics also can put Brown and Tatum on Doncic and possibly Irving if he gets going offensively.

In the two regular season meetings, Doncic and Irving totaled 112 points, making up for 51 percent of the Mavericks 220 points.

Doncic in the two regular season meetings averaged 35 points, 12 assists and 15 rebounds on 47.3 percent shooting. But only connected on 29.4 percent of his triple tries.  

While Doncic and Irving have shown great improvement defensively, Holiday and White have proven in these Playoffs that when called upon to rise to the moment offensively, they have.

Dating back to the regular season, the Celtics are 31-1, including a perfect 8-0 in 2024 Playoffs when Holiday has scored 14-plus points, which he has done in eight out of the past nine games.

Another factor that will decide this championship series is who can protect their home court and which team can win a game in the opposing team’s gym.

Since the league changed the opening-round from a best-of-five to a best-of-seven in 2003, the Celtics and (6-2 at home; 6-0 on the road) and Mavericks (5-3 at home; 7-2 on the road) are just the fifth and six teams out of 44 in this span that have reached The Finals with a better road record than home record.

The Celtics dating back to the 2021 Playoffs are just 18-15 at TD Garden, which is where this title series will begin on Thursday, including 17-14 since the 2022 Playoffs. But have gone a stellar 19-7 on the road.

For the Mavericks, they have won five straight on the road and have yet to lose two straight entering this championship series.

The other deciding factor will be which squad can generate and defend the three-point shot while also being the better defensive?

In the first three rounds of the 2024 Playoffs, the Celtics have outscored the Heat, Cavs, and Pacers by 9.9 points per game from three-point range.

Celtics Total Made Threes   Jayson Tatum        229          Jaylen Brown          145
By Player 2023-24                 Sam Hauser           197          Jrue Holiday           138
                                                Derrick White       196          Kristaps Porzingis  110
                                                Payton Pritchard  147          Al Horford               108

In the postseason, Pritchard off the bench has gone 20/44 from three (45.5 3-Pt.%). Holiday (15/31: 48.4%) and White (36/76: 47.4%) have ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in catch-and-shoot  three-point percentage this postseason amongst the 45 players with at least 25 such attempts.

The big thing for the Celtics is their ability to mix up taking threes while generating shots from the mid-range and getting to the foul line.

While they have led the 2024 Playoffs in shooting percentage in the paint (63.2%) but rank dead last, No. 15 in percentage of shots that have come from the paint (42%).

Brown so far this postseason has shot 65.1 percent (97/149 FGs) in the paint, that is the best amongst the 16 players with at least 100 attempts in the paint, which is up from 60.7 percent in the regular season.

Tatum in comparison has gone just 20/60 (33.3%) on pull-up two-point shots, the worst amongst 21 players who have at least 25 such attempts.  

During the regular season, the Celtics were an incredible 38-1 when they shot over 39 percent from three-point range. But were 6-11 record when they shot under 32 percent on their triple tries. Eleven out of their 18 defeats during the regular season came when they shot under 32 percent from three.

They were 27-0 when they made over 18 three-pointers, which included the aforementioned Mar. 1, 2024 win over the Mavericks, where they shot 21/43 from three. The Mavericks though were just 3-6 when they made under 12 triples and were 10-11 during the regular season when the opposition made more triples in a game than the Celtics.

In the Playoffs, the Celtics were 11-0 when they made over 13 triples and just 2-2 when they made under 13 triples.

In Game 2 loss in the opening-round versus the Heat (111-101) Apr. 21, 2024 (TNT), the Celtics were just 12/32 on their triples, while the Heat made a single-game franchise Playoff record 23 triples, going 23/43 on their threes.

In the Game 2 setback in East Semis (118-94) May 9, 2024 (ESPN), the Celtics were just 8/35 from three (22.9 3-Pt.%) as the Cavs were 13/28 from three.    

On the Mavericks side of things when it comes to three-pointers, they have led the 2024 Playoffs with 4.6 made threes from the corners, with 34 percent of those corner triples coming from Washington, who is the leader this postseason with 28 corner made threes.

How big has Washington’s three-point shooting been so far this postseason, he is just five short of the tying Bruce Bowen’s 33 made corner triples for the Spurs in their championship season in 2007.

Right behind Washington so far this postseason is Jones, Jr., who has 17 corner made threes, tied for the second most.

The Mavericks have also so far this postseason along with being a better rebounding team overall since the February Trade Deadline, have become a much better offensive rebounding team, retaining 31 percent of available second chances, which is No. 4 in terms of such rate in the 2024 Playoffs, which is up from 25.7 percent during the regular season.

That is the kind of impact Gafford and Lively II have had in the lane on both ends of the hardwood this postseason.

Especially in the past two rounds, Gafford and Lively II have had serious impact in the lane whether it is getting on the offensive glass or protecting the rim in the paint. The Mavericks two-headed monster in the paint have scored at a high rate in the paint off the attention that Doncic has drawn on the perimeter or when he gets in the paint on drives. That attention that Doncic and Irving have drawn on the perimeter has opened up Jones, Jr., and Washington on the perimeter for those corner triples and three-point attempts overall.

Doncic has led the league the first three rounds of this postseason in assists on threes (50) and assists on dunks (49), with those 49 assists tying what the Warriors Draymond Green registered in 2019 for the most such assists in the play-by-play era (1996-97).

Most Assists On Dunks                                                               Year    GP   Assists  Per Game
In Playoffs Since 1997  Luka Doncic (DAL)                            2024    17       49           2.9
                                       Draymond Green (GS)                        2019    22       49           2.2
                                       Jrue Holiday (BOS) W/MIL               2021    23       44           1.9
                                       Trae Young (ATL)                                2021   16        42           2.6
                                       Russell Westbrook (LAC) W/OKC    2016   18        40           2.2

Defensively, opponents have shot just 51.1 percent in the paint so far this postseason against the Mavericks, ranked No. 3 in the league. That number is at just 45.2 percent (38/84 FGs) at the rim when Gafford protecting the basket, while Lively II has allowed just 49.3 percent shooting to opponents at the basket. Gafford rate has led the league the first three rounds of this postseason, while Lively II’s rate is third best.

That rim protection has been aided by the stelar perimeter defense of not just Doncic and Irving but by Jones, Jr., who has seen his minutes increased and sort of has made Hardaway, Jr. and Exum expendable as this postseason has progressed as the two has seen their minutes drop from 26.8 and 19.8 in the regular season respectably for Hardaway, Jr. and Exum to 13.0 and 13.3 minutes so far this postseason.  

Then there is the underlying factor of Irving playing against one of his former teams in the Celtics, who he spent two turbulent seasons with (2017-19). On the Celtics side, Porzingis will be going against one of his former teams in the Mavericks, who he spent 2-plus seasons with (2019-22).  

Then there is the juicy part of his Finals of Irving playing against one of his former teams in the Celtics, who he spent two turbulent seasons with (2017-19). On the Celtics side, Porzingis will be going against one of his former teams in the Mavericks, who he spent 2-plus seasons with (2019-22).  

When the Celtics acquired Irving from the Cavs in the summer of 2017, there was the hope that joining forces with Tatum and Brown would lead the Celtics to ruling the East.

It was a tumultuous two seasons with Irving, who clashed more often with Tatum and Brown and the other younger players on the Celtics and on top of that Irving dealt with injuries and what once had a chance of being a great marriage where Irving said before the start of the 2017-18 season that he had plans on re-signing once his contract was up in the summer of 2019 never came to fruition.

Irving in the summer of 2019 moved on to Brooklyn to join the Nets and teamed up with good friend in fellow perennial All-Star Kevin Durant and eventually former fellow Kia MVP James Harden in February 2020.

What was also makings of a championship run lasted just one-plus season as injuries, the COVID-19 Pandemic and unstable leadership on the sidelines with then head coach Steve Nash and in the front office of Sean Marks kept the Nets from even coming close to getting to the championship round.

The closet the Nets came to getting to the title round came in 2021 when the toe of Durant’s sneaker late in Game 7 of that season’s East Semis versus the Bucks was ruled a two instead of a three forced OT and the Bucks won the game in the extra five minutes and the series 4-3.

Over the next two seasons after that, the Nets star three of Durant, Irving, and Harden were dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers, Mavericks and Phoenix Suns.

When Irving was dealt to the Mavericks, then Governor Mark Cuban spoke with Irving of what was expected and how this was his best and his last chance to not only make his mark in this league but to earn another major contract.

Irving rose to the moment and has emerged as a leader for the Mavericks as the only one with a championship ring, which he won in 2016 in helping the Cavs win their first title in seven games over the Warriors.

For Porzingis, the biggest question is will he play after missing the last 10 games with the aforementioned right calf strain.

If he can play and play effectively, that gives the Celtics another perimeter threat along with major rim protection against Gafford and Lively II.

Porzingis’ return also provides the Celtics another rebounder who can take the pressure off of Horford, who has played well in starting the 10 games Porzingis has been out, with the Celtics going 9-1 without their All-Star big man. Horford is 37 and having to deal with Lively II and Gafford is not picnic.

This is also an opportunity for Porzingis to show he can perform on the league’s biggest stage. There was the hope he would do that alongside Doncic after being acquired from the New York Knicks in 2019. Injuries and the inability to accept being in the secondary role as the so-called Robin to Doncic as Batman just did not allow that dynamic to flourish.

While having not played until the start of this series means that Porzingis should be fresh, he has been out a long period and how quickly he can get his wind back and have a high level of effectiveness on both ends of the hardwood remains to be seen.

This championship series will also be a legacy defining series for some of the key figures on both sides.

For the Celtics Tatum and Brown, they have helped the Celtics be a top tier squad in the East. They have led them to 50-plus wins seasons a few times in the past seven seasons as teammates. They have led them to the East Finals as mentioned six times in the past eight seasons, including the pat three under three different head coaches in now front office leader Brad Stevens, now Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, and now Joe Mazzulla.

Two late springs back as mentioned, the Celtics lost in The Finals to the Warriors, dropping Games 4, 5, and 6 of the series. In those final three games, Tatum and Brown were outplayed by Finals MVP in Stephen Curry.

If the Celtics are going to come out on top in this championship appearance, they will need their All-Star duo to make their mark on both ends of the floor, especially Tatum.

Then there is Horford. Only Hall of Famers of the Jazz Karl Malone (193) and John Stockton (182) have played in more NBA Playoff games without winning a title than the 181 career Playoff games by Horford.

Horford has done a lot individually in his NBA career, especially with the Celtics. The only thing missing from Horford’s career resume is a title, which he hopes to earn if the Celtics can defeat the Mavericks.

For the Western Conference champs, their leader in Doncic is in The Finals for the first time in his career and hopefully is the first of many moving forward.

For Irving, it is his first Finals appearance since as mentioned earlier helping the Cavs win it all in 2016.

While he has been nothing but solid on and off the court with the Mavericks, winning a title may not wash away all of his baggage he accumulated with the Celtics and Nets, it will go a long way in how he is seen, especially by his critics.

For the sixth straight late spring, we will have a new NBA champion. We will also have a player or in the case of the Boston Celtics players who will win a title in the prime state of their careers.

Having a sense of urgency will not always win you a title. But having that urgency along with a talented roster that is full of experience, continuity and having home court gives you a serious leg up.

That is what the Celtics are entering the 2024 NBA Finals with. But they are going against an opponent in the Dallas Mavericks who have a stud of a player in Luka Doncic. One of the best scorers and ball handlers in the game in Kyrie Irving and a talented supporting cast who has shown this postseason they are not too big for the moment.

Prediction: Celtics in seven games.  

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 5/1/2024 7 p.m. “TNT NBA Tip-Off,” presented by Carmax With Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Chris Haynes; 5/26/2024 12 a.m. ESPN’s “Sportscenter” With Kevin Connors, and Zubin Mehenti; 5/29/2024 1 a.m. ESPN’s “Sportscenter” With Zubin Mehenti and Stan Verrett; 5/30/2024 11 p.m. ESPN’s “Sportscenter With Scott Van Pelt,” from Washington, D.C. and 5/31/2024 12 a.m. ESPN’s “Sportscenter” With Nicole Briscoe and Michael Eaves; www.nba.com; 5/31/2024 www.nba.com story, “NBA Finals: What To Expect In Celtics-Mavericks Series,” By Steve Aschburner and John Schuhmann; 6/1/2024 of Locked on Podcast Network’s “Locked On Mavericks: How Will The Boston Celtics Guard Luka Doncic & More NBA Finals Questions,” With Nick Angstadt; 6/2/2024 www.nba.com story, “Celtics-Mavericks: Which Duo Will Perform Best In NBA Finals?” By Shaun Powell and John Schuhmann; https://www.nba.com story, “Celtics-Mavericks: 24 Key Stats Ahead of 2024 NBA Finals,” By John Schuhmann;  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dallas_Mavericks_seasons; https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum; https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown; https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/3995/jrue-holiday; https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/3213/al-horford; https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/39452274/nba/year/2022;  https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/dal/seasontype/2; https://www.espn.com/nba/matchup/_/gameid/401585487; https://www.espn.com/nba/matchup/_/gameid/401658225;  https://www.espn.com/nba/matchup/_/gameid/401655100; https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/dal/dallas-mavericks; and https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/bos/boston-celtics.       

J-Speaks: 2024 West Finals Preview

 

(3) Minnesota Timberwolves versus (5) Dallas Mavericks
                    (57-25)                                          (50-32)

              Season-Series: Timberwolves Won 3-1
              Playoff History: DAL def MIN 3-0 2002 Western Conference Quarterfinals

For the boys from “Big D,” they were in the Western Conference Finals two springs back and were taken down in five games by the eventual NBA champions from the “Bay Area.” Last season, a late season collapse had them outside the postseason picture. Behind two trades at the Feb. 9, 2023 trade deadline along with the blockbuster acquisition of a former NBA champion and one of the most dynamic guards in the league this past decade-plus, the Mavericks are back in the West Finals seeking their third NBA Finals appearance in franchise history. Standing in their way are the boys from the “Twin Cities,” who turned their second most productive season in terms of wins into their second West Finals berth and their first in two decades. Behind their star swingman, who has captured the basketball world this postseason, their All-Star power forward and center and the best defense in the postseason, the boys from the “Twin Cities,” hope to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time in their 35-year history. Here is the J-Speaks 2024 Western Conference Finals Preview.

The last time the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves locked horns in the postseason was 22 years ago when Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki led the No. 4 Seeded Mavericks (57-25) to a 3-0 series sweep in the best-of-five tilt over the No. 5 Seeded Timberwolves (50-32) and fellow Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. The Mavericks fell in the West Semis that spring to the eventual Western Conference runner-up in the Sacramento Kings and fellow Hall of Famers Chris Webber and Vlade Divac.

Ironically enough two postseasons later, the Timberwolves and Garnett, the Kia MVP for 2003-04 took down Webber and the Kings in the West Semis 4-3 on the date of May 19, 2004, winning Game 7 83-80 on TNT. Garnett led the way with 32 points, 21 rebounds, four steals, and five blocks on 12/23 shooting. On that same night of victory, now Boston Celtics assistant and former All-Star coach Sam Cassell, who was brought in that summer scored 23 with seven assists on 10/11 at the foul line. Fellow All-Star Latrell Sprewell, who was also brought in the same summer by the Wolves scored 14.

In the 2004 West Finals, the Wolves fell to the Los Angeles Lakers led by Hall of Famers in now Turner Sports studio analyst Shaquille O’Neal and the late Kobe Bryant 4-2.

The second postseason tilt between the Mavericks and Timberwolves features two of the league’s current top stars and possibly future Hall of Famers in Luka Doncic of the Mavericks and Anthony Edwards, who has captured the country this postseason with his stellar play on both ends of the hardwood.

In their previous 10 encounters during the regular season portion of their careers, both have led their teams to five victories.

In those 10 tilts, Doncic has averaged 24.8 points, 7.7 assists and 7.3 boards. Edwards has registered 23.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists.

While Doncic and Edwards will grab the headlines and are expected to put up eye-popping statistics, the team that has the best chance to win this series will be the one that gets consistent play from their supporting cast, particularly their fellow co-star(s). It will be the team that brings it on the defensive end, especially on the glass.

Both the Timberwolves and the Mavericks have had similar paths that have gotten back to the point where they are four more wins away from getting another step closer to the championship round.   

For the Dallas Mavericks, they have gotten to this point in the postseason by taking down the No. 4 Seeded Los Angeles Clippers (51-31) in the opening-round 4-2 and in the West Semis 4-2 over the No. 1 Seeded Oklahoma City Thunder (57-25).

Leading the charge has been Doncic (27.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 9.1 apg), who finished third in the league’s MVP voting behind the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the winner of the award in Nikola Jokic of the now former defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets, more on that later.

While the numbers have been spectacular, Doncic has fought through ailments to his knees, and hobbled ankle and a couple of other injuries, which has effected his shooting efficiency to the tune of 42.3 percent from the floor and 30.1 percent from three-point range.

It has not stopped him contributing in other parts of the game. He closed the Thunder series with three straight triple-doubles as part of his five double-doubles overall to close out that six-game series win, totaling 10 double-doubles in the first two rounds of this postseason, including four triple-doubles.

What has really helped the Mavericks get back to the West Finals after a one-year absence has been the buy-in from head coach Jason Kidd’s squad at the defensive end. How Doncic has trusted his teammates more and that those said teammates have come through big time.

One of those teammates that Doncic has built the ultimate trust in is perennial All-Star guard Kyrie Irving (21.1 ppg, 5.4 apg, 48.2 FG%, 44.0 3-Pt.%), who the Mavericks acquired from the Brooklyn Nets near the NBA Trade Deadline (Feb. 6, 2023) last season.

The pairing did not yield instant results as the Mavericks finished last season 9-18, including 5-11 with Doncic and Irving both in the lineup as the Mavericks missed out on the postseason.

While the Mavericks showed signs of progress with their dynamic guard pairing, they were still a team that was missing something. Missing more of a supporting cast that complimented Doncic and Irving.

At this season’s NBA Trade Deadline (Feb. 9, 2024), the Mavericks acquired some much needed to that supporting cast in Daniel Gafford from the Washington Wizards and P.J. Washington from the Charlotte Hornets.

Those acquisitions paired alongside Derrick Jones, Jr. (10.8 ppg, 51.0 FG%, 37.5 3-Pt.%), rookie Dereck Lively II (8.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 58.1 FG%), Tim Hardaway, Jr. , Dante Exum, Maxi Kleber, Josh Green turned the Mavericks into a team that became more balance on both ends of the floor and made them an even better rebounding team.

That coupled with the leadership of Doncic and Irving, the Mavericks closed 2023-24 with a 24-9 record and secured the No. 5 Seed in the West Playoff Standings.

In the Playoffs as mentioned, Doncic has had his moments even with the injuries but it has been the play of Irving on both ends of the hardwood while doing most of his scoring damage in the second half of games this postseason that has gotten the Mavericks in a position where they are competing for the second title in their history.

Kyrie Irving By Half             1st Half:   6.0  PPG,  40.6 FG%, 23.8 3-Pt.%
In 2024 NBA Playoffs            2nd Half: 15.1 PPG, 52.4 FG%, 51.9 3-Pt.%

Kyrie Irving By Half             1st Half:   6.5  PPG, 35.9 FG%, 26.7 3-Pt.%
West First-Round                  2nd Half: 20.0 PPG, 59.7 FG%, 52.9 3-Pt.%
Versus Clippers

Kyrie Irving By Half            1st Half:    5.5  PPG, 46.7 FG%, 16.7 3-Pt.% 
West Semis Versus                2nd Half:  10.2 PPG, 42.6 FG%, 50.0 3-Pt.%
Thunder  

Along with picking and choosing his spots to score, Irving, who helped the Cleveland Cavaliers captured their first and lone NBA title eight springs back has taken more pride at the defensive end along with Doncic, which has allowed the Mavericks to win games even when their offense was not humming like it was at times during the regular season.

If the Mavericks were not outscoring their opponents, especially when their efficiency from three-point range was not up to snuff, they margin for error was very small. That changed dating back to as mentioned their final 33 games of the regular season and has carried into the postseason. 

What has also helped along with the Mavericks stronger commitment to defense has been how they have shown trust in their teammates.

In the opening-round versus the Clippers, while Doncic (29.8 ppg, 9.5 apg, 8.8 rpg) and Irving (26.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.7 apg, 51.4 FG%, 44.9 3-Pt.%) were dominant scoring wise, they did incorporate their teammates to an extent with Washington (10.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Jones, Jr. (8.8 ppg, 56.4 FG%, 38.5 3-Pt.%), Lively II (8.8 ppg, 6.2, rpg, 75.0 FG%), and Gafford (6.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 46.4 FG%).

That trust level was kicked up an extra gear in the West Semis against the Thunder where Washington (17.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 47.6 FG%, 46.9 3-Pt.%), Jones, Jr. (12.8 ppg, 47.5 FG%, 37.0 3-Pt.%), Gafford (11.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 61.0 FG%), Lively II (7.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg), Hardaway, Jr., and Green (6.5 ppg, 37.0 3-Pt.%) really showed well, especially in key moments in the series.

Following their loss in Game 1 at the Thunder (117-95) on May 7, 2024 (TNT), the Mavericks took three of the next four games to position themselves to take down the Thunder in six games and Washington, playing in the postseason for the first time in his career really showed out, posting his first three career Playoff double-doubles.  

In the Game 2 victory (119-110) at the Thunder two nights later (ESPN), Washington had his first career Playoff double-double with 29 points and 11 rebounds with two steals on 11/18 shooting, including 7/11 on his triple tries. He followed that up with 27 points and six boards on 11/23 from the field, including 5/12 from three in the 105-101 victory versus the Thunder in Game 3 May 11, 2024 (ABC). Following a performance of 21 points and 12 rebounds (7/19 FGs), going 5/11 from three in the 100-96 loss Game 4 two nights later (TNT), Washington battled through foul trouble to post his third double-double of the series with 10 points and 10 rebounds in the Game 5 victory (104-92) at the Thunder May 15, 2024 (TNT).

Following a quiet first three quarters in Game 6 series clincher (117-116) last Saturday evening due to foul trouble again, Washington registered nine points and three boards on 2/4 from three and 3/5 from the foul line in the fourth quarter, including making two out of three free throws after Doncic in the final seconds found him in the left corner for a three-pointer that he got fouled on by Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

After a quiet beginning in the West Semis, Jones, Jr. closed out things strong beginning with a then Playoff career-high of 17 points with four block shots on 7/12 shooting in the aforementioned Game 4 defeat. He followed that up with a new Playoff career-high of 19 points on 7/9 from the field, including 3/5 from three. In the Game 6 clincher, Jones, Jr. scored a new Playoff career-high of 22 points on 8/13 shooting including 4/5 on his triple tries. He scored half of his points in Game 6 in the third quarter going 3/3 from three. 

The Mavericks consolation prize for missing the Playoffs last spring was keeping their Lottery pick which they used on Lively II, No. 12 overall out of Duke University.

Coming off the bench for most of the regular season, the rookie big man had his moments totaling eight double-doubles.

Lively II was solid in the opening-round against the Clippers scoring in double-figures in three of the final four games of the series. He followed that pattern in the Semis against the Thunder particularly at the end where he closed out the series with consecutive double-doubles. Lively II had 11 points and 10 boards in the Game 5 win and followed that up with 12 points and 15 rebounds, also off the bench in the Game 6 clincher.

What made Lively II really stand out at the close of the West Semis is that when the Thunder intentionally fouled him and sent him to the foul line in the fourth quarter, he made his free throws going 8/12 in Game 3; 5/6 in Game 5; and 2/3 in Game 6.

The Timberwolves have been making their own noise this postseason after registering the second-best season in their history in terms of victories with 57. Their best season was 58 wins in 2003-04, the first time in their history they had the best record in the Western Conference.

In the 2024 Playoffs, the Wolves locked horns with the No. 6 Seeded Phoenix Suns (49-33) and their perennial All-Star trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal.

The Suns took all three regular-season meetings over the Timberwolves, winning by an average of 15.6 points.

The tables were turned rather quickly in their Quarterfinal tilt as the Timberwolves swept the Suns 4-0, winning by an average of 15 points.

In tangling with the defending NBA champions and the No. 2 Seeded Denver Nuggets (57-25), who tied a franchise-record with the 57 wins in the regular season and waxed off the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in the opening-round, the Wolves snatched home court advantage away taking Game 1 (106-99) May 4, 2024 (TNT) and followed that up with a defensive masterpiece of a 106-80 triumph in Game 2 two days later (TNT).

The Nuggets however showed their championship fortitude winning Games 3 (117-90) and 4 (115-107) at the Timberwolves respectively May 10, 2024 (ESPN) and May 12, 2024 (TNT). That was followed by a 112-97 win in Game 5 back at the Nuggets two nights later (TNT) that put the defending champs one win away from a return to the West Finals.

The Wolves, who were on their first three-game losing streak all season won Game 6 (115-70) last Thursday night (ESPN) to tie the series 3-3, registering their largest margin of victory in a Playoff game in their franchise history. 

After falling behind by 15 points at the half (53-38) and down 20 (58-38) early in the third quarter, the Wolves outscored the Nuggets 60-32 the rest of the way and won Game 7 (98-90) last Sunday night (TNT) to knock out the defending champion Nuggets on their home floor.

Leading the way for head coach Chris Finch’s squad has Edwards (28.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 5.9 apg, 1.7 spg, 50.4 FG%, 39.8 3-Pt.%), who took out his childhood idol Kevin Durant, and then ousted the aforementioned the now three-time Kia MVP and fellow perennial All-Star in Jokic.

During this postseason run, Edwards, a former No. 1 overall pick in 2020 out of the University of Georgia has produced five 30-plus point games, including three games of 40-plus points.

The Wolves ride to the West Finals has not been a one-person show. It has been the play of the All-Star front court duo of Karl-Anthony Towns (18.8 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 51.7 FG%, 44.0 3-Pt.%), and center Rudy Gobert (12.2 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 60.9 FG%), who the Wolves acquired from the Utah Jazz for a large number of draft picks in summer of 2022.

Veteran lead guard Mike Conley (11.3 ppg, 6.5 apg, 41.2 3-Pt.%) has given the Wolves steadiness and calm when it has been required.

Starting forward Jaden McDaniels (12.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 50.5 FG%) has been solid offensively with his perimeter stroke, especially from three-point range while being a menace defensively against the opposing team’s best perimeter player.

Fan favorite in Naz Reid (10.4 ppg, 44.7 FG%), the 2023-24 Kia Sixth Man of the Year winner and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9.0 ppg) have been major contributors off the bench.

It has all started though with Edwards’ magnificence so far this postseason, which has gone beyond his boxscore. It has been his leadership and confidence that he has shown on both ends and how he has raised the level of his teammates through his words and actions.

In two out of the four games that he scored under 20 points, the Wolves have won.  

In the 105-93 win by the Wolves in Game 2 of the opening-round versus the Suns on Apr. 23, 2024 (TNT), Edwards scored just 15 points on 3/12 shooting, including 2/6 from three but was 7/8 at the foul line. McDaniels, who made his Playoff debut after missing the postseason last year with a broken hand picked up the slack that night with a postseason highs of 25 points and eight boards on 10/17 shooting. 

In the Wolves Game 6 win versus the Nuggets that kept their season alive, McDaniels scored 21 points with two blocks on 8/10 from the floor and 3/5 from three. He followed that up with 23 points, six boards and two steals on 7/10 from the field and 3/4 in the Game 7 series clincher at the Nuggets.  

Back in 2015 when the Wolves selected Towns No. 1 overall out of the University of Kentucky, he was expected to lead the Wolves to this current moment alongside former No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins, the No. 1 overall pick the year before out of the University of Kansas.

While both players had some individual success capturing Rookie of the Year in their seasons in 2014 and 2015 respectively, they only led the Wolves to the postseason only once (2018) as teammates.

Having to turn the keys over in terms of the face of the franchise is not easy and considering how things have gone for Towns in his time with the Wolves it would be understandable if he wanted a fresh start elsewhere. Instead he has embraced Edwards and the two have worked well together in trying to get the Wolves to the promise land it has sure paid off this postseason.

In closing out the Suns in their house in the opening-round, Towns posted double-doubles of 18 points and 13 rebounds on 7/16 shooting, including 3/5 from three in the Game 3 victory (126-109) Apr. 26, 2024 (ESPN). Edwards in that victory led the way with 36 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, with two steals o n12/23 from the field and 11/11 at the foul line.

Towns followed that up with 28 points and 10 rebounds on 11/17 shooting, including 4/6 from three in the Game 4 clinching victory (122-116) two nights later (TNT). That complimented Edwards’ then Playoff career-high of 40 points with nine boards, six assists and two blocks on 13/23 shooting, including 7/13 from three and 7/10 at the foul line.

In the Wolves victory in Game 2 of the West Semis at the Nuggets, Edwards had 27 points with seven assists, and two steals on 11/17 shooting. Towns had another double-double with 27 points and 12 rebounds, with two blocks on 10/15 shooting, including 3/5 from three.

In the Game 6 win versus the Nuggets, Edwards had 27 points with three steals on 8/17 shooting including 4/9 from three and 7/8 at the charity stripe. Towns had his fifth double-double of the postseason of 10 points and 13 boards with five assists.

In the previously mentioned Game 7 win at the Nuggets last Sunday night, Edwards struggled scoring just 16 points on 6/24 shooting, including 2/10 from three. He did have eight rebounds and seven assists, with two steals. It was Towns who picked up the scoring slack with his second straight double-double of 23 points and 12 boards and two steals on 8/14 shooting.

When the Wolves acquired Gobert, who won his fourth Kia Defensive Player of the Year earlier this month, he was expected to anchor one of the best defenses in the NBA. That was not the case last season but it has been this season and for much of this postseason.

While the shot blocking has not been at the level it was in his seasons with the Jazz, Gobert has been a solid rim protector and rebounder for the Wolves this postseason, posting six games of double-digit rebounds and four double-doubles.

He and Towns have found a connectiveness that they did not have a season ago because Towns missed a lot of games (52) with a serious calf strain. That connectivity particularly defensively is a big reason why the Wolves registered the second most wins in a regular season in their history and how they took down the defending NBA champions.

One big reason the Timberwolves are in this position of being four wins away from appearing in The Finals is their lead guard in Conley, who they acquired last season from the Jazz.

He has brought not just a steadiness in his time so far in the “Twin Cities,” has been a comfort to Coach Finch to where he can steady things when called upon.

That steady hand was not available in the Wolves defeat (112-97) in Game 5 May 14, 2024 (TNT) as Conley was on the shelf with a sore right Achilles.

Conley was good to go in Games 6 and 7 and played a major role in the Wolves winning both contest to clinch the series. He had 13 points and five assists on 3/6 from three in Game 6 and 10 points with eight boards on 3/5 from three in Game 7. In both victories, he had no turnovers.

While the Wolves on three of the four regular season meetings against the Mavericks, it occurred before the Mavericks acquired Gafford and Washington.

How things go in the paint on both ends of the floor will play a major role in who wins this West Finals.

For the Wolves, it is imperative that Towns, who his prone to committing foolish fouls stays out of foul trouble. That he brings a ferociousness on the glass while making his presence felt offensively in the paint while occasionally pulling the likes of Gafford and Washington out from the paint with his three-point shooting.

Defensively, the Wolves rank No. 4 in opponent’s points (99.6); No. 5 in steals at 7.3 and No. 8 in blocks at 4.7. They are ranked No. 6 in opponents field goal percentage (45.7%) and No. 10 in opponents three-point percentage (35.7%). That defense has led to the Wolves scoring 17.1 points off their opponent’s turnovers, No. 2 so far this postseason. 

Behind that defense, the Wolves have rallied in four of the seven games that they trailed at intermission of their 11 games played so far this postseason, highlighted by their aforementioned historic comeback on Sunday night in Game 7 at the Nuggets.  

When it comes to trying to slow down Doncic, who averaged 36.5 points and 10.5 assists against the Wolves in the four regular season tilts, that will be up to McDaniels and Edwards, who also said that he will guard Irving, who missed three of the four matchups due to injury.

The one game Irving played against the Wolves, he scored 35 points with eight rebounds, five assists, three steals, and two blocks on 14/27 shooting, including 6/8 from three in the Mavericks 115-108 triumph on Jan. 7, 2024. Also, Doncic in the victory scored 34 with eight assists and six rebounds on 12/26 from the field, including 6/7 from three.

The attention both Doncic and Irving will draw will leave the likes of Jones, Jr., Washington, and Hardaway, Jr. open on the perimeter and they have shown throughout this postseason that if they can get hot from the perimeter, especially from three-point range, that is how they got separation from the Clippers and Thunder.

For Gobert, it comes down to him also feasting on the defensive and offensive glass and finishing off of dives to the basket off the attention that Edwards and at times Towns attract from Mavericks’ defense.

From an offensive standpoint, it will be up to McDaniels, Alexander-Walker, Edwards, and Conley to keep the Mavericks defense honest by making shots from the perimeter consistently.

So far through two rounds, the Wolves shot 35.8 percent from three, No. 8 in the league and are No. 5 in overall field goal percentage this postseason at 47.2 percent.

For the Mavericks, they will have to continue being the defensive squad that they have been to this point, while also continuing to be active on the offensive and defensive glass.

They have so far through two rounds ranking No. 5 overall in rebounding (43.8), while ranking No. 3 in offensive boards (12.1), which has resulted in them being N. 3 in Second Chance Points (15.0).

So far this postseason, the Mavericks have registered four games with 14 offensive boards.

Defensively, the Mavericks through two rounds ranked No. 5 in opponent’s points (103.2); No. 7 in steals (6.4) and tied No. 7 with Cleveland Cavaliers in blocks (5.0).  

The Western Conference will have a new representative in the NBA Finals in two weeks from now. Both the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Dallas Mavericks have strong cases for being that squad fighting for the Larry O’Brien trophy.

The Mavericks have a rising star in Luka Doncic, who has a sidekick in Kyrie Irving who knows what it takes to win at this stage in the Playoffs. They have a head coach in Jason Kidd, who 13 years prior alongside Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks to their first and only title. The Mavericks have shown they can bounce back from defeat, going 4-0 following a loss so far this postseason.

For the Timberwolves, they have a rising star in Anthony Edwards, whose play has many predicting he will be the next face of “The Association.” They have players in Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, who are playing for a chance at The Finals for the first time after many years of disappointment. More than that, they have homecourt and have shown in this postseason, they can win away from Target Center going 5-1 on the road.  

You have two teams that are peaking at the right time with star players that are primed to take this league by storm moving forward.

Prediction: Timberwolves in seven games

Information, statistics, and quotations courtesy of 5/20/2024 www.nba.com story, “West Finals Preview: What To Expect In Timberwolves-Mavericks Series,” By Michael C. Wright and John Schuhmann; 5/21/2024 www.nba.com story, “NBA Playoffs: 12 Biggest Difference-Makers In Conference Finals,” By Michael C. Wright; https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2024-nba-western-conference-semifinals-mavericks-vs-thunder.html; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001%E2%80%9302_NBA_season; https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/3945274/luka-doncic;  https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/4278078/pj-washington;  https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/4683688/dereck-lively-ii;  https://www.landofbasketball.com/head_to_head_gl/mavericks_vs_timberwolves_game_log_pl.htm; and https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200405190MIN.html.