Jun 15, 2024, 08:23 ET
Every playoff game is a different story. This maxim, which we have known for decades, is usually the least assimilated by fans of this League. Because on Friday night, seconds before Game 4 of the Finals began, The sweep of the Boston Celtics against the Dallas Mavericks was imminent. 3-0 up, a lapidary record of 156-0 in playoffs that began with three wins in a row for one of the parties, and an overwhelming difference in strength between both teams.
However, this is NBA. And things don’t end until they end.
The Mavericks sent a message: the bell hasn’t rung yet
. Not only did they win the fourth game, but it was the third largest victory in the history of the NBA Finals (122-84). It was as if all the planets aligned in time to prevent collapse. It was about correcting everything to awaken what had not existed until now: energy, defense, attacking the paint and shooting from a distance.
Let’s start with the first point: energy. The passion with which Dallas played this Friday. His first half, complete, was a mandate of hope. Cornered against the corner, he avoided the knockout with an uppercut in time to return to the scene. To think again that the miracle, which is still far away, may be possible.
The Celtics, on the other hand, never found the key to this game. Erratic, dispersed, relaxed, they lost fluidity and quickly went out, perhaps with the peace of mind of having at least three more lifeguards to prevent sinking.
Luka Doncic, this time, had company. And not just Kyrie Irving. The others appeared, mainly Derek Lively II, a titan in the painted area. He dominated completely and took advantage, of course, of the Latvian’s new absence Kristaps Porzingisannounced back for this match but without minutes.
The Celtics’ defense, fundamental in this tie, was conspicuous by its absence. A little due to his own deficiencies and much more due to the Mavericks’ virtue, which opens the door to the fundamental question: Can he extend this aggressive style on his new visit to Boston?
The attack on the painting was decisive. A ridiculous number brings us closer ESPN Stats: Dallas won 60-26 in points in that sector. Between layups and dunks, the Mavericks added 15. That is, they also did what Boston did to them: attack the rim with determination, score if the opportunity presented itself or unload on open shooters.
Doncic, for example, went 0-8 on three-pointers, an atypical number for him no matter how you look at it, but he went 6-6 on layups. Irving, for his part, made 18 of his 21 points near the rim. And that transformed both of them into worry. Then, when the defense tried to close the paths, passes arose to teammates, who for the first time in these Finals did not forgive. An example of this is that, with Irving’s penetration and unloading, Dallas was, until Friday’s game, 10-26. In Game 4 it was 6-6.
Lively II killed them. He was again the one in the series against the Timberwolves. His 11 points and 12 rebounds are not enough to show all the good he did here. He was intense, decisive, energetic, annoying, intrusive. He kept everyone divided and fought like a lion. His seven offensive rebounds may serve to justify this excess of adjectives. Let’s add that Dallas won the battle against Boston 16-2 in second-chance points, 17-9 in points from turnovers and they grabbed 21 more rebounds. An absolute domain.
The triples appeared and they were not from Doncic and Irving, who shot 1-14. They belonged to others. And so, as we said before about Boston, we have to say it about Dallas: it’s much harder to plug five holes than one or two. There were, in total, 15 shots from behind the arc (the aforementioned by Irving, two by PJ Washington, one by Derrick Jones Jr., one by Markieff Morris, one by Maxi Kleber, two by Dante Exum, one by Lively, one by Jaden Hardy and five of Tim Hardaway Jr.). When basketball flows, when the scoring is distributed, everything is easier.
And then, we have to talk about defense. And we must do it with Doncic, fiercely criticized in the preview for his play without the ball and for his recurring attacks on the referees. He improved both. Or rather, he made a 180 degree turnaround. He played with a seal in his mouth and spoke back with the production of him: according to ESPN Stats & Infothe Celtics shot 2-9 and committed four turnovers in the fourth game with Doncic as the primary defender.
Anyway, it was a joint effort. Limit the paint and bother the attackers. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for a very low 7-22 from the field. Jrue Holiday had five turnovers despite not having lost any in the first three games of the series. And easy access to the rim was difficult due to greater defensive effort on the first line, Boston suffered with the three-pointers. His ball circulation lost fluidity and that was consistent with the clear drop in effectiveness in triples.
The Finals tie then returns to the TD Garden for Game 5. It will be on Monday, June 17, exactly 16 years after the title won in 2008 against the Los Angeles Lakers at home.
Once again, every action causes a reaction. Boston wants to close this tie before it gets complicated, but Dallas doesn’t want to throw in the towel.
Who gives more? Game 4 put a new starting point to this Qualifier. Does it end in the next game? Will we have game six?
We will have all the answers in less than 72 hours.
