OfFlavio Vanetti
The narrow defeat in the second game is a verdict that somehow revives the Texans’ hopes a little. But if Doncic provides his usual contribution to Dallas, he continues to avoid Irving
Boston also takes the second step towards its own eighteenth NBA titlebut the 105-98 that gives the Celtics a 2-0 lead in the final against Dallas is a verdict that somehow revives the Texans’ hopes a little: if nothing else the Mavericks they were not overwhelmed like in game 1, even if around Luka Doncic – who gritted his teeth and played his equal (32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists) despite the after-effects of a rib contusion suffered in the first match that the ‘has influenced – it was found again that the rest of the team fails to be a factor.
The next two matches, at their home, will become crucial for the Mavericks if they want to get back in the saddle for a final that sees them in the face. For them there is also a less than encouraging sign that comes from the history of these playoffs: up until now Dallas had always won game 2 on the road.
But let’s go in order. Boston, in his ninth straight win this post-season (the last defeat occurred in the series against Cleveland), he didn’t play like he did in Game 1 and above all he shot terribly (10 out of 39 three-pointers). Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, match winners on June 6, were the subject of particular attention and their impact was less significant (still 21 points for the former, 18 for the latter). But the Celtics made up for the poor shot with defense and play Jrue Holiday in a third quarter in which the player who won the title with Milwaukee in 2021 took center stage: named MVP of the game, Holiday finished with 26 points (the only one to have the hot hand: 11 of 14 from the field) and 11 rebounds. Alongside him he emerged above all Derrick White: 18 points, 8 in the last quarter, and more than acceptable aiming (4 out of 10) on triples.
Dallas, as mentioned, came first Doncic, whose presence was in doubt until the end and whose performance was in any case conditioned by physical suffering: when he became short of breath, the Slovenian ace dedicated himself to involving the others, but he also lost too many balls (8). The real problem with the Mavs is that Kyrie Irving (16 points and 6 assists, but a poor 7 out of 18 from the field) continues to not make a difference – he and Doncic must be the joint soul of the team – and that the sideline has confirmed itself to be lacking in quality and depth despite this time things went much better thanks to Washington (17), Gafford (13) and Jones.
But the three of them are starters and a good performance must be taken into account: rather it is the poverty of the bench’s contribution – 9 points in total – that turns on the alarm lights for the Texans. Dallas they won the first quarter (28-25), lost the second and third (closed by Boston with a mid-court basket) by 29 and 23 and in the final quarter they gave up narrowly, 24-22. The Mavs, at -5 with a minute left, had a chance to get within just one possession Celtics: but PJ Washington, launched on the counterattack, was blocked by White and Brown. Game, set and match: Boston doubles, Dallas ponders how to turn the corner in a final in which for now only the green and white of the Celtics has been seen. Game 3 will be played in Texas on the Italian night between 12 and 13 June.
June 10, 2024
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