Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks Series Prediction

With the NBA Finals finally set to take center stage this week, it is easy to expect that there are going to be a lot of fantastic showdowns and massive predictions from various critics and experts, but what should we look forward to in one of the hyped showdowns in the NBA Finals? After all, a new champion will be named, and some stars will be getting their first titles in their careers.

What to Expect in the NBA Finals Between Boston and Dallas

The stage is set, and now it all comes down to which team gets to four first! That says a lot about the big expectations that fans can look out for considering the fact that this is the first time that these two teams will meet in the biggest stage of them all. We are expecting to see some massive scoring between the two teams considering that Dallas presents a high-octane backcourt in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, but so does Boston when it comes to their duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. It is all going down for real now more than ever as there are big stakes to look out for.

This Dallas duo is the best offensive backcourt pair ever image

On top of that, there is more to expect as to how Dallas will play through Boston’s deep offensive unit and highly efficient defense under Joe Mazzulla. Jason Kidd’s quest for a title both as a player and a coach with Dallas will be put to the test as he needs to find a way to counteract Boston’s defensive efficiency and promising system that has been praised by a lot of fans over the course of the season.

Boston calls for a timeout image

There’s also the fact that Boston has the homecourt advantage in this series, which has helped them keep a promising record in the postseason despite losing a couple of Game 2s in the playoffs. However, Dallas is also impervious with home court advantages, considering that they have braved a set of tough crowds in Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, and Minnesota. This is indeed a fun series to watch now more than ever.

What are the Big Stakes in the 2024 NBA Finals?

So if we are going to see the NBA Finals on the big picture, there are definitely a lot of stakes to consider in the series as one massive sports discussion can be closed out and settled after another, which says a lot about the massive expectations that are coming in ahead of the war on the big stage.

So what are the big stakes to look out for in the NBA Finals?

Kyrie Irving vs Boston - On the Big Stage

Kyrie Irving stepped on lucky and has gone 0-10 vs Boston since image

Since stepping on the Boston Celtics’ logo in TD Garden, Kyrie Irving has never won a single game he played against the team, going 0-10 in that span with the Brooklyn Nets and the Dallas Mavericks. This just says a lot about the infamous step curse that has Celtics fans trolling Irving every single time that he plays in Boston. Whether or not the curse is actually real, Irving will need to whatever it takes to finally end that streak and win a game in Boston. The Curse of Lucky as Celtics fans put it, seems to be a great stake to look out for in the NBA Finals. There’s at least two games guaranteed where Irving will feel the pressure of the game when he plays at TD Garden.

Irving has averaged 20.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in those 10 losses, which says a lot about how it will affect Dallas’ chances in the series as well.

Battle of the Exes in Porzingis and Irving

Kyrie Irving once played for the Boston Celtics from 2017 to 2019, bringing some of his best basketball in the team as their first option back then. This says a lot about how Celtics fans would feel about him once more considering that he was a star back then, and it is expected that he can actually step up once more and do well against his former team. Coincidentally, Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis played a total of three seasons with Dallas, with two playoff runs resulting in futile results. It does seem that there are a lot of talks about how these two former players of the other team will meet each other on the big stage.

Porzingis also used to play for Dallas like Irving did with Boston image

Dallas has found a new identity and sense of maturity with Irving as a veteran leader, while Boston, on the other hand, has given Porzingis a new hope with a chance to take on the playoff stage and appear in his first NBA Finals. This will be a massive showdown between the co-stars who will be expected to make an impact in the game.

MVP Duel in Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum

Luka vs Tatum is a promising showdown to watch image

Boston’s quest for Banner 18 has been foiled for a long time, especially after the 2022 NBA Finals. Tatum’s leadership has been questioned from time to time, but he has stepped up well this postseason to show his worth as one of the biggest stars to look out for. In 11 games in his career, Jayson Tatum has averaged 26.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists against Luka Doncic, which is definitely something that fans can be excited for at this point. He has already reached the Finals once, and this time will be something different for Tatum as he definitely has the upper hand when it comes to experience in the game.

On the other hand, Luka Doncic is fueling the fire for the Dallas Mavericks’ chase for their first title since 2011, which was the Dirk Nowitzki era. It cannot be denied that Dallas is expecting more of Doncic at the age of 25, and he is definitely making it happen with promising performances in the game. It is also worth noting that Doncic averaged 29.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in 11 games against Jayson Tatum. There’s no denying that Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum will be the massive headline for this showdown in the NBA Finals. This is going to be an MVP duel that will feed a lot of families with the intensity of the game and massive stakes at hand for both players who have a chance to cement their legacy in the NBA now more than ever.

An MVP duel to remember image

Who Will Win the NBA Finals?

The NBA Finals is expected to be a high-octane showdown between the best of the West and the beast of the East. Fans can hope to see promising baskets, momentum-shifting runs, and explosive performances in the games ahead, and this is going to be a massive treat to remember, so which teams have the best chance to win?

Let’s break down the factors that you should consider in the series:

High-Volume Scoring

As said before, Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic is arguably the best offensive backcourt duo in the league, and it cannot be denied that they are expected to bring the guns in the game. However, it will be a war with both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in the mix, and it seems that we will be in for a massive treat to remember considering that the supporting cast of both Boston (Derrick White, Jrue Holiday) and Dallas (Derrick Jones Jr., PJ Washington), will have to step up and supplant their stars with key contributions of their own when it matters most.

Boston has the deepest unit in the NBA image

Scoring will be a huge factor as to how both teams will need to come up with a way to stop one another, which should be a great storyline between the two teams. There are a lot of talks about how Boston will need to come up with some interesting ways to slow down the Dallas offense and make their own side work, considering how both teams are also loaded with clutch performers in their games.

Promising Paint Battle

Let’s not forget the fact that the paint will be a war zone in this coming NBA Finals. We have seen how Dallas has owned the rebounding game in all of the series they have played with in the Playoffs, and it says a lot about the pressure that is mounted on the Celtics to come up with a solution on that end. We have seen how Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II has become a solid presence in the paint, and the return of Maxi Kleber has also allowed them to stretch the roster now more than ever. This should be a significant issue considering how Kristaps Porzingis (who has been injured since Round 1) will be supported by both Al Horford and Xavier Tillman - who has seen little minutes in the playoffs so far.

Dereck Lively II will be a pivotal piece in his Finals debut image

This paint battle will also be responsible for dictating the series, and it would seem that it will play a huge role as to how either Dallas or Boston will be able to control the pace of the game, which is yet another crucial point for the games in the long run. Just remember, whoever controls the glass, controls the game, and this is a fun series to see that unfold too.

Gamble Picks Prediction

At this point, we are all expecting to see how the Finals will unfold in the coming days. Sure, it is easy to expect that the Larry O’Brien Trophy will come see itself in the hands of the deserving winners. So who runs at the top of the NBA Finals odds as of the time of writing?

TEAM	OPEN ODDS	BET365	WILLIAM HILL	BETWAY
BOSTON CELTICS	-240	-230	-227	-225
DALLAS MAVERICKS	+250	+250	+180	+185

*odds updated as of June 6, 2024

Gamble Picks Prediction: Dallas in 6

Witness a New Champion Rise in the NBA Finals!

This will mark the sixth time in a row in the history of the NBA that a new NBA champion will come and find its way to the top of the league. This just says a lot about how the NBA Finals is expected to reach bigger heights with the Celtics and the Mavericks locked in an epic battle to remember!

Make sure to stay tuned for the latest updates on the NBA and the rest of the sports world! Don’t miss out on the latest happenings in the NBA Finals with GambleSpot! We have top-notch news, blogs, tournament previews, game predictions, betting guides, game analyses, and many other sports-related content that you can use to make promising bets that will yield you massive rewards!