NBA Finals 2024: Jayson Tatum’s offense and the 3 big Celtics questions that will define Game 2
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald
2024 NBA Finals: Kyrie Irving holds the keys to Game 2, and the Mavericks can’t survive another stinker
Brad Botkin, CBS Sports
NBA Finals: 4 things to look for in Game 2 of NBA Finals
Shaun Powell, NBA.com
Mavericks turned Jayson Tatum into a passer and got burned in Game 1
Bobby Manning, Celtics Blog
2024 NBA Finals: Five key questions entering Celtics-Mavericks Game 2
Nick Goss, NBC Sports
Can Mavericks regain aerial threat in Game 2 of NBA Finals?
Steve Aschburner, NBA.com
Inside Kristaps Porzingis’s Long Road to the NBA Finals
Bobby Manning, GQ Sports
Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis suddenly a big problem in Finals for a Mavericks team that cast him off
Kyle Hightower, Associated Press
Work it, flip it, and reverse it: the Celtics vs. Luka Doncic
Bill Sy, Celtics Blog
The 168 square feet that will determine this Celtics-Mavericks title clash
Chris Herring, ESPN
GAME 2 PREVIEW: MAVERICKS NEED TO RELOCATE TWO OLD RELIABLE FRIENDS
Eddie Sefko, Mavs.com
Behind the scenes of scouting Luka Doncic at Celtics practice
Jack Simone, Celtics Blog
How the Mavericks can solve the math problem after Celtics dominate from deep in Game 1
James Herbert, CBS Sports
The Dallas Mavericks attempted 27 3-pointers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics attempted 27 3-pointers in the first half. When Mavericks stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving checked out with 5:17 left in the fourth quarter, the Celtics had generated 48 points from behind the 3-point line to the Mavericks’ 15.
It was an extreme example of what Boston, the NBA’s most prolific 3-point shooting team, often does to opponents. In the regular season, it attempted an average of 5.8 more 3-pointers per 100 possessions than its opponents, tied with the Indiana Pacers for the biggest differential in the league.
Dallas, however, is not just any other opponent. The Western Conference champs were the second-most prolific 3-point shooting team this season, and nobody attempted more corner 3s than them. On Thursday, the Mavericks shot 1-for-3 in the corners, and the one make was in garbage time. After watching Doncic and Irving shred the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ top-ranked defense, it was jarring to watch the Celtics so thoroughly defang them.
If Dallas doesn’t solve this math problem on Sunday, it has little chance of evening the series. And chucking up a bunch of off-the-dribble 3s won’t do the trick. For the Mavs to bounce back, they need to create the kind of looks that Boston did in the opener.
Three ways the Mavericks can bounce back
Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News
Celtics’ lone rookie developing killer mindset during NBA Finals run
Souichi Terada, Mass Live
Horford remained Celtics’ unsung hero in Game 1. Can he keep it up in Game 2?
Conor Roche, Boston.com
3 thoughts as Mavs prepare for Game 2
Jason Worley, Mavs Moneyball
Dean Oliver on the NBA Finals and his new book
Mike Shearer/Ray LeBov, Basketball Intelligence
Kerry Eggers on Bill Walton’s life and legacy
Mike Shearer/Ray LeBov, Basketball Intelligence
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