2024 NBA Playoff Update
The Boston Celtics had gotten blown out in Game 4 in Dallas. It was their first attempt to clinch this NBA Finals series and with it, the NBA title.
In Game 5, they made sure to get the job done. There was little to no suspense almost from the start, as the Celtics took control of the game early. They built up a 10-point lead by the end of the first quarter, and took a 21-point lead into the locker room by halftime.
Indeed, Dallas was never really in this one. The Celtics defense was just too stifling, and so the Mavericks just were not able t make this one competitive.
Once again, Luka Dončić led the Mavericks with 28 points. Kyrie Irving was next with 15 points, but he just did not have a very good series. The only guy on Dallas who did was Dončić. But he was never going to win this series largely by himself.
For Boston, Jayson Tatum also struggled. He did not have his best playoff series, although he at least saved the best for last. In Game 3, he finally had decent production. And in Game 6, he scored 31 points, leading the Celtics in scoring in the game in which they clinched the championship.
Drue Holiday scored 15 points while Derrick White added 14 points. Both contributed strongly to helping Boston get past Dallas in this NBA Finals series.
The biggest start for the Celtics in this series proved to be Jaylen Brown. He scored 21 points in this game, but his contributions went well beyond that, both in this game, and in the series. For his efforts, he was named the NBA Finals MVP, although he himself made clear that this was a team effort, and that the Celtics won this title as a complete team.
Really, the Celtics left no doubts this season. They finished with what proved to be easily a league best 64-18 regular season record, and then easily dispatched with every opponent they faced in the playoffs. Nobody lasted to even force a Game 6 against them, as they compiled an overall record of 16-3 in this postseason. It culminated last night with them finally clinching an NBA championship title. It marks the first time that the Boston Celtics lifted the trophy since 2008.
Also, this is the 18th NBA title for the Boston Celtics, which means that once again, they stand alone in the league as the team with the most championships overall, one more than the Lakers. Whatever doubts from past limitations and failures may have persisted before this season, the Celtics answered all of the critics and won this title without leaving any room for doubt. None of Boston's opponents could really even stay with them, including this Dallas team. As solid as their playoff run was, the Mavericks simply looked overwhelmed in this series, with the exception of Game 4. But all that they really managed to do in that one was delay the inevitable, and avoid the embarrassment of a sweep.
The Boston Celtics are NBA Champions once again.
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