okay here's my midweek hot-take-free #nba finals content for ya
there's every reason to think this should be a good close series. No outcome would shock me except a sweep either way.
Specifically, both teams have the players to guard the other team's best guys at least reasonably well (with the "no one stops Luka" caveat).
there's a clear expectation among analysts and hoops heads that the BOS strategy will be to focus on stopping Kyrie above all. So watch for that in game 1
@mrcompletely The Dallas team seems to like each other more. You could even see it towards the end of the regular season. Boston seems like a collection of individuals. And that coach is going to die by the math. Boston seems untested. Dallas beat 3 goid teams handily. There is a world where Dallas punks Boston and Boston can't answer.
@noirlover on top of all that, which I agree with - Boston has ZERO identity or personality as a team - this just feels to me on a gut level a bit like the 2011 mavs run where they came in super hot to the finals. It seems like Dallas should win games that are close at the end, so can Boston come into the endgames with big leads? I kinda doubt it
I wasn't entirely sold on Kidd as a coach as recently as the start of the playoffs but in addition to holding the respect of his players - including Kyrie - he's done a nice job. I don't have a single critique really. They play smart, they lean into advantages, they get the most out of their role players. Good job by him.
@mrcompletely@brucy I like Horford, Holiday, and White. I went to Syracuse, so rooting for Oshae too. The J’s I’m indifferent to. My Celtics fan friends are cool. Many, many masshole Celtic fans are not. I’m jealous of their historical success, but I’ll get over that to root against Luka, Kyrie, (who are incredible) and Kidd (who beat his wife).
@emarktaylor@nba@OldTakesExposed dunking on that chump never gets old but almost everyone was wrong about the Kyrie move for Dallas. We all forgot a few things: sometimes guys settle down when they're in the right situation, and Kyrie loves and respects Jason Kidd.
Via Eric Michael Garcia @EricMGarcia
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2h
The Dallas Mavericks are going to the Finals. Melania is checking her renegotiated prenup. Big day for Slovenians in America.
@alchemistmuffin@nba Nice. I’ve never been a big #NBA fan but I feel like #Doncic has gone a lil underrated for far too long. I’m really rooting for him in the #NBAFinals
BREAKING: “Big Red” Bill Walton has passed away at 71. He was a Hall of Fame NBA title winner with the Boston Celtics and Portland Trailblazers. He also did analysis on NBA games. #NBA
Via Mezz @for_yield
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4h
Bill Walton: I stood there, at the University of Arizona lawn, coeds laughing, the sun shining, the mountains.. I couldn't help but think this is a place to experiment. To explore. To see what life can offer
Dave Pasch: Wildcats up 3 coming out of the Sean Miller timeout
Via Eric Michael Garcia @EricMGarcia
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4h
I feel like more people need to see this photo of Bill Walton at UCLA protesting the Vietnam War. He also wanted to send a letter telling Nixon to resign, which made John Wooden mad at him. (Photo Credit: Joe Kennedy/ @LATimes )