The NBA finals will feature the Boston Celtics going against the Dallas Mavericks for a chance to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy. This will be the second time in three seasons that the Celtics will make it to the Finals after recording a 12-2 victory in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the conference finals, booking a spot in the NBA finals.
On the other hand, the Mavericks will be playing in the NBA finals for the first time since the 2011 season. The Mavericks booked their spot in the finals after crashing three 50-win teams including the Minnesota Timberwolves to win the Western Conference playoffs in five games. That said, it’s the perfect moment to start looking forward with some bold predictions for the NBA finals.
Will Luca Doncic lead the NBA finals in Scoring?
In 2006, Dwyane Wade recorded a 34.7-point average in the NBA finals. Kevin Durant also recorded over 30.6 points six years later during the 2012 finals. However, no other player under 26 years has averaged 30-plus points in an NBA Finals during the three-point era.
Well, you can expect one more player to join this club in this year’s finals. At only 25 years old, Doncic has an average of 32.4 points against Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, and the NBA’s best regular-season defense. Even with the Timberwolves’ overly physical and aggressive defense, Doncic dominantly took great control of his possession.
Dereck Lively II to average a double-double
As you look for a reliable sportsbook review to bet on the NBA finals this year, there are several players you should closely watch. Rookie Dereck Lively II is one such player to watch, thanks to his high-end rim protection that helped the Mavericks launch their midseason surge to reach the Finals.
With Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II on the field, Luka Doncic will have his work cut out for him, and the Dallas Mavericks might be almost unstoppable. Lively has proven quite active on the offense, and he has had a positive impact on the Mavericks’ point differential this season.
Lively is currently averaging 7.1 rebounds and 8.5 points in 21.5 minutes. These points might roll over to double-figures on the biggest basketball stage this summer, which will be quite impressive for a rookie.
The Celtics will push the NBA finals to Game 7
The Boston Celtics had a remarkable regular season campaign, and have proven they are a basketball powerhouse. While the Dallas Mavericks are also on fire and have their eyes set on the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the Celtics will record at least three victories in the series.
Jaylen Brown is scoring with efficiency and volume, while Derrick White averages 17.8 points while shooting 40.7% from the deep. The Celtics are also getting timely contributions for other players in their rotation. That said, the Mavericks’ defense is strong, and they seem highly likely to win the NBA finals this year, although you can expect the Celtics to hold the fort until game 7.
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