With the Dallas Mavericks winning game 4 and avoiding the series sweep, they will head back to Boston in hopes of taking another step towards history. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit, making a potential comeback not only a significant achievement for the Mavericks but also a historic moment in the NBA. As for the Boston Celtics, they want to end this series as soon as possible, to avoid giving Dallas any hope or motivation.
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Keys for the Mavericks
Continuing the Defensive intensity
In game 4, the Mavericks looked like the team that dominated on the defensive end after the trade deadline. Everyone was flying around the court on defense, closing out hard on shooters, and rotating perfectly. Bringing defensive-minded, athletic players like Dereck Lively II, Maxi Kleber, Dante Exum, and Josh Green off the bench gave the Mavericks a much-needed spark of energy and effort on defense. Dallas played with a noticeable sense of urgency on defense, which definitely affected the Celtics.
Dallas finished the game with seven steals and two blocks while holding the Celtics to their lowest scoring total of the postseason. The Mavericks held Jayson Tatum to 15 points on 4/10 shooting, while Jaylen Brown scored 10 points on 3/12 shooting. If Dallas wants to extend this series, it must carry their previous defensive performance into game 5. Especially against a dynamic offense like the Celtics, the Mavericks can’t afford to take any possessions off, so every player must buy into playing 48 minutes of stellar team defense.
Resurgence of Dereck Lively II
While Dereck Lively II didn’t look like himself in games 1 and 2 of the Finals, enough can’t be said about how important he has been for the Mavericks in games 3 and 4. Whatever Dallas Needs Lively II to do, he will do it. Whether grabbing offensive rebounds, catching lobs or guarding players on the perimeter, he excels at everything thrown at him. Lively II made his first career 3-pointer in game 4, making him the youngest player ever with a Finals 3-pointer. He shot from beyond the arc without hesitation, then proceeded to block Al Horford, finishing the amazing sequence with an alley-oop slam.
Lively II finished game 3 with 11 points and 13 rebounds and game 4 with 11 points and 12 rebounds. His performances in these games make him the first rookie since Magic Johnson with back-to-back double-doubles in the Finals. With Kristaps Porzingis’s status unclear, Lively II must continue his dominance inside in game 5. His paint presence on offense and defense gives Boston a myriad of problems, especially when Al Horford or Xavier Tillman Sr. are on the floor. While Daniel Gafford starts at center for the Mavericks, expect Lively II to play significantly more minutes than him.
Keys for the Celtics
Limiting the Mavericks In the Paint
In games 1 and 2, Boston’s paint defense was excellent. Every time Dallas got inside, the Celtics challenged all shots or forced tough kick-out passes. However, in game 4, the Mavericks got whatever they wanted inside. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving shot 18/24 in the paint combined, taking advantage of Kristaps Porzingis’s absence. When Dallas gets into the paint, not only can it get high-percentage shots at the rim, but also kick-out passes for corner threes, a staple of its offense.
With big men like Al Horford and Xavier Tillman Sr. in the middle, the Celtics’ paint defense is severely lacking. Given that Kristaps Porzingis is only available for ‘specific situations’, Boston’s focus in game 5 should be on tightening its perimeter defense. While there’s no substitute for Porzingis’s rim protection, the Celtics can’t allow the Mavericks to find an offensive rhythm by easily penetrating the paint.
Stick to Your Game
Though the Celtics suffered the third-largest loss in NBA Finals History (38 points), they followed the same offensive game plan that helped them win throughout the regular season and playoffs. The Celtics got up 41 3-pointers in game 4, and more often than not, that is their recipe for success. Boston Kills teams by bombing 3-pointers but just couldn’t make them in game 4. While credit should be given to the Maverick’s improved defense, Boston needs to stick to its guns and keep playing its game.
The last thing you want to do if you’re the Celtics is to panic and overreact to game 4. It is very unlikely that nearly all of your players will have another poor shooting night, like in game 4, especially all at the same time. Returning to Boston, the Celtics must be focused and confident in their strengths.
