M.C. Swag said:

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Lol absolutely. He's been beyond anything I could have imagined. Never been happier to be so wrong lol.

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I could have sworn you were off the charts pro-Lively, no? Your posts made me feel better about drafting some Duke punk.

South Platte said:

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M.C. Swag said:

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Lol absolutely. He's been beyond anything I could have imagined. Never been happier to be so wrong lol.

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I could have sworn you were off the charts pro-Lively, no? Your posts made me feel better about drafting some Duke punk.

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Oh dear me no. I was basically riding shotgun on the anti Lively train lol. I had a million critiques of his college game that I was flat out wrong about but the most glaringingly stupid thing I ever said about the kid was that he was soft. Lol You'd be hard pressed to find anyone more wrong than me on just about every facet of Dereck Lively.

We need to get this title. This team was completely dead in the water in February and now we're in the flipping Finals. You never know how long Kyrie will remain content. I'll lose it if we take game 1 up there.

South Platte said:

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We need to get this title. This team was completely dead in the water in February and now we're in the flipping Finals. You never know how long Kyrie will remain content. I'll lose it if we take game 1 up there.

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I think the Celtics "need" this title way more than we do. They have been close before and have basically been feeling the pressure for numerous years and it has only ramped this year.

I know the West is only getting better, but I expect the Mavs to be a better team next year also. We'll ship off THJ for some type of minor contributor, Hardy will play more, maybe we can flip Maxi for something, O Max will be a big part of the team next year. A full season with this team will be a top 3 seed in the West, and would have been the top seed based on the final month of the season. Right now I'd expect the WCF to be Dallas and OKC next year.

The Mavs are set to be very good for the next 2 seasons and then we will see where we are at with Kyrie.

Obviously this is getting way too far ahead and you never know when you'll be back, but just trying not to be so doom and gloom.

finally gameday, in case anyone missed this on the radio this morning

SOUND UP! RJ Choppy's Jack Harlow-inspired song for the Mavericks' NBA Finals match-up against the Celtics

PatAg said:

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When you're in the finals you always need it. Never know when you're coming back

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Sure, but Dallas is set up pretty well to get back again. Lively, Gafford, Luka, PJ and DJJ are all in their early to mid-20s and DJJ can likely be kept with the MLE. Kyrie still has plenty of good years left since he relies much more on technical skill and shooting than raw athleticism. Dallas also has the extremely valuable expiring contract of THJ available to improve the team this offseason. Would love to seen them use that as part of deal to get a big shooter.

PatAg said:

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When you're in the finals you always need it. Never know when you're coming back

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For most sports leagues there are around 30 teams. If everything was distributed evenly then you might expect 1 title every 30 years. In the average lifespan you might get to see 2 titles from your favorite team with around 4 finals appearances total. This is the Mavs 3rd finals appearance in 18 years with 1* title. That is a great run but you just never know when it will happen again.

Then there are the Cowboys who haven't even made the conference finals in 30 years. The expected odds to at least make the conference finals is every 8 years. Let's hope that the universe is balancing out the Cowboys suffering with Mavs, Stars, and Rangers success.

ramblin_ag02 said:

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We thought the same thing after 2006

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I mean, we got back within 5 years with the Dirk/Terry duo. Other than Josh Howard those teams just swabbed out role players.

But also nobody on that 2006 team was in the same league as far as transcendence as Luka. Dirk at his peak was nowhere close to the inevitable force of nature Luka is already. Guys like Luka, of which there have only been 10-15 ever, always get back. The only question is is it with Dallas. But it's virtually impossible to see him not winning a title in his career.

ESPN expert picks for the Celtics-Mavericks series:

9 for Mavs, 8 for Celtics.
(No Jaylen Brown finals MVP picks either) pic.twitter.com/T8jjPdWfCR

— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) June 6, 2024

If the Mavs win and Kyrie Irving is the MVP then the Mavs won in 4 or 5.

It's a bit crazy to think that each of the last 3 coaches led Dallas to the NBA finals. Kidd 2024, Carlisle 2011, and Avery Johnson 2006. That's a pretty good success rate on coaching hires, and the guy before them was some scrub HOF coach

ramblin_ag02 said:

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It's a bit crazy to think that each of the last 3 coaches led Dallas to the NBA finals. Kidd 2024, Carlisle 2011, and Avery Johnson 2006. That's a pretty good success rate on coaching hires, and the guy before them was some scrub HOF coach

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That's a pretty crazy fact

ramblin_ag02 said:

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It's a bit crazy to think that each of the last 3 coaches led Dallas to the NBA finals. Kidd 2024, Carlisle 2011, and Avery Johnson 2006. That's a pretty good success rate on coaching hires, and the guy before them was some scrub HOF coach

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Dallas has been a remarkably successful franchise since Cuban bought the team, especially given where they were beforehand. A couple unfortunate injuries/matchups plus the 2006 Finals robbery were what separated the Dirk era from 1 vs 3-4 rings.

Infection_Ag11 said:

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ramblin_ag02 said:

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It's a bit crazy to think that each of the last 3 coaches led Dallas to the NBA finals. Kidd 2024, Carlisle 2011, and Avery Johnson 2006. That's a pretty good success rate on coaching hires, and the guy before them was some scrub HOF coach

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Dallas has been a remarkably successful franchise since Cuban bought the team, especially given where they were beforehand. A couple unfortunate injuries/matchups plus the 2006 Finals robbery were what separated the Dirk era from 1 vs 3-4 rings.

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I get what you're saying, but if we're playing the "team was robbed" and "unfortunate injuries" and "unfortunate matchups" game, then there's probably a half dozen teams that could claim they would have won 3-4 rings.

MW03 said:

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ESPN expert picks for the Celtics-Mavericks series:

9 for Mavs, 8 for Celtics.
(No Jaylen Brown finals MVP picks either) pic.twitter.com/T8jjPdWfCR

— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) June 6, 2024

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Surprised to see that many picking the Mavs, but way they've gone through the playoffs, why not? If the 2011 team can defeat Lebron and the Superfriends then Luka/Kyrie can beat the Celtics.

Mavs in 6

Mavs win big tonight. Mavs in 6

Goldie Wilson said:

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Mavs win big tonight. Mavs in 6

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yep! Mavericks in 6…

Proposition Joe said:

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Infection_Ag11 said:

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ramblin_ag02 said:

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It's a bit crazy to think that each of the last 3 coaches led Dallas to the NBA finals. Kidd 2024, Carlisle 2011, and Avery Johnson 2006. That's a pretty good success rate on coaching hires, and the guy before them was some scrub HOF coach

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Dallas has been a remarkably successful franchise since Cuban bought the team, especially given where they were beforehand. A couple unfortunate injuries/matchups plus the 2006 Finals robbery were what separated the Dirk era from 1 vs 3-4 rings.

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I get what you're saying, but if we're playing the "team was robbed" and "unfortunate injuries" and "unfortunate matchups" game, then there's probably a half dozen teams that could claim they would have won 3-4 rings.

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I mean, statements made in official court documents all but concede the 2006 Finals was intentionally extended by officiating. Theres not really any coherent objection to those claims anymore, not that there ever was given it's one of the most obvious attempts to influence an outcome by officiating in the history of modern American sports. Donaghy is on record during one of his depositions saying the league made it clear they did NOT want the series ending in 4 or 5 games after Dallas went up 2-0. That sort of thing only really exists for 1-2 other franchises.

Staying steady about this one. The Celtics have the roster to win one of these games by 20+. So do the Mavs. Not gonna let myself to get too low if they lose tonight, and not going to expect a sweep if they win. Just going to stay steady.

Pressure is all on Boston tonight, the goal is always to just get one of the first two as the road team and Boston is not only expected to win but has the label of chokers to deal with.

If they lose tonight it's gonna be hell for them for three days

I didn't realize that series was part of his allegations.

Always felt like that was just a painfully unwatchable couple of games there in the middle of the series after being up 2-0. Whistle every time Wade drove to the hoop. Made 2011 that much sweeter though.

I'm sure hope Luka zeros in some Celtic fans early…..

I don't think that's true. Donaghy never said under oath that series was manipulated. Everything he's ever said about it being rigged was him promoting a book or a podcast or himself. I'm not saying something fishy didn't happen, but there's never been court evidence or under oath testimony about it (at least that I'm aware of).

RandyLahey1013 said:

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I'm sure hope Luka zeros in some Celtic fans early…..

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That's what I'm talking about! This guy gets it, this poster know what's up…

Man, been such a long wait!

Infection_Ag11 said:

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Proposition Joe said:

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Infection_Ag11 said:

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ramblin_ag02 said:

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It's a bit crazy to think that each of the last 3 coaches led Dallas to the NBA finals. Kidd 2024, Carlisle 2011, and Avery Johnson 2006. That's a pretty good success rate on coaching hires, and the guy before them was some scrub HOF coach

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Dallas has been a remarkably successful franchise since Cuban bought the team, especially given where they were beforehand. A couple unfortunate injuries/matchups plus the 2006 Finals robbery were what separated the Dirk era from 1 vs 3-4 rings.

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I get what you're saying, but if we're playing the "team was robbed" and "unfortunate injuries" and "unfortunate matchups" game, then there's probably a half dozen teams that could claim they would have won 3-4 rings.

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I mean, statements made in official court documents all but concede the 2006 Finals was intentionally extended by officiating. Theres not really any coherent objection to those claims anymore, not that there ever was given it's one of the most obvious attempts to influence an outcome by officiating in the history of modern American sports. Donaghy is on record during one of his depositions saying the league made it clear they did NOT want the series ending in 4 or 5 games after Dallas went up 2-0. That sort of thing only really exists for 1-2 other franchises.

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That's a lot of fandom taking a guy looking to make a buck at his word. He was on a Maverick podcast and pushed the narrative that he (and the Mavs fans) wanted to hear. Guy probably would have gone on a Heat broadcast and say the NBA wanted Dallas to make sure they won the first two.

Fans are hyper-aware of the trials and tribulations of their own team, and they often don't realize there's a dozen other teams that have similar "if this wouldn't have happened..." type scenarios. If Porzingis takes a hit early in this series and is out the rest of the series and Dallas wins it all, I'm sure Boston fans will claim that they "would have won the championship this year, but...".

But, if Colt…

I want this Luka tonight

Damn!

Look at that score. Would you just take a second, and look at that score? Look at it!

Good news, Boston 3 point shooting sucks but mavs need to rebound. Whatevs, only 3 minutes into it.

Bad news: Celtics are getting offensive rebounds
Good news: That means the Celtics are missing shots