Tag: 2024 nba playoffs

Is it okay for fans of the San Antonio Spurs to cheer for the Dallas Mavericks?

The Mavs are from Texas, so it’s okay, right? Or do in-state rivalries take precedence?

Is it okay for fans of the San Antonio Spurs to cheer for the Dallas Mavericks? With the Spurs neck deep in their 2024 offseason, if you want to root for a “local” ball club at this stage of the 2024 NBA Playoffs are somewhat limited with only the Mavs, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Boston Celtics still playing.

But the Mavs are from Texas, so it’s okay, right? Or do in-state rivalries take precedence over quasi-local rooting interests? Is it okay for the Western Conference finals series vs. the ‘Wolves? What about in the 2024 NBA Finals, should Dallas advance to face the Celtics in it?

These may seem like your typical offseason fare to tide us over until Victor Wembanyama is playing again for the Spurs in games that count, but for some fans among us, this is also serious business.

The host of the “Locked On Spurs” podcast, Jeff Garcia, debated these issues with guest Rudy Campos of “Sweep The League” podcast fame; check it out above!

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‘What we have is an appearance’: Sam Presti reflects on Thunder’s 2024 playoff run

‘What we have is an appearance’: Sam Presti reflects on Thunder’s 2024 playoff run.

During the Oklahoma City Thunder’s recent rebuild, one of the more quotable phrases Sam Presti coined was related to their next playoff berth. In 2021, he said he wanted OKC to make a statement the next time it had games beyond the regular season.

“When we do get back to the postseason,” Presti said. “We want it to be an arrival, not an appearance.”

It appears the Thunder did just that this last year. After falling a win shy of the playoffs last season, OKC collected the first seed this season.

It swept its first-round matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans before falling to the Dallas Mavericks in six games in the second round.

In his exit interview, Presti surprisingly stated he didn’t think the Thunder’s impressive playoff showing was an arrival. He noted it was just an appearance and constant playoff trips would be when the arrival would occur.

“We talked about an arrival vs. an appearance and the difference between that,” Presti said. “I know this is not going to go over well for people, but what we have is an appearance. We have an appearance.

“We have shown up to the postseason. We’ll arrive if we can replicate that. If we can replicate that. Because there’s a lot of teams that have gotten to the playoffs for one year, and then they, for whatever reason, may not be able to get back there.”

The Thunder are no strangers to this idea. From 2011 to 2020, OKC made the playoffs every season outside of an injury-plagued 2015 campaign. This was highlighted by four Western Conference finals appearances in six years. OKC reached the NBA Finals in 2012.

If this iteration of the Thunder finds similar success, they’ve smashed open a championship window. Or as Presti put it, cracked the code of the NBA.

“So the way I would look at that is you can either pick the lock or you can crack the code,” Presti said. “Picking the lock, you’re stealing it. Cracking the code, you own it. We have to be able to own our success and be able to repeat it.”

The Thunder has an impressive run in their postseason debut. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showed out as the top option. It’s now about Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren catching up to the MVP runner-up following inconsistent playoff tenures.

The youthful Thunder have a long runway with this group. Most of the roster is in their early 20s. Mark Daigneault is fresh off a Coach of the Year season. OKC has $35 million in cap space and a plethora of draft picks at its disposal.

The Thunder can only gain from their playoff experience. They received their first taste of postseason basketball as a group. It’s now about building off that and becoming a recurring participant in the playoffs.

“I think we’ve got the first step in place, but we have to walk the line toward making it what we set out to do,” Presti said.

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What to expect from the Celtics in the NBA Finals

What should we expect from the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals?

The Boston Celtics are headed to the NBA Finals. They overcame the Indiana Pacers in a four-game Eastern Conference finals series. They’re 12-2 in the postseason. They’re undefeated at home. And for the fourth straight time, they’re waiting to see who their opponent will be in the next series.

In a recent episode of the “Kenny For Real” podcast, Kenny Beecham discussed the Celtics’ route to the NBA Finals and what to expect from the team, depending on who they wind up facing. Boston has been receiving criticism for a perceived easy path through the Eastern Conference; however, there is no such thing as an easy win at this late juncture of the season.

The Celtics will likely be favorites to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of the playoffs. Their dominant two-way performances have seen the team rank near the top of all statistical indicators, both during the regular and postseason.

You can hear Beecham’s thoughts on the Celtics path to the NBA Finals by clicking on the embedded link above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3UAVYRg

Spotify:  https://spoti.fi/3y0H4Lh

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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4 Mavericks got hysterically frustrated in unison at Maxi Kleber for being late to the huddle

Don’t be late to the huddle!

The Dallas Mavericks weren’t about to let forward Maxi Kleber miss out on a huddle during Game 4 of the Western conference finals on Tuesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In an absolutely priceless clip, Mavericks starters like Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. got briefly exacerbated with Kleber to the point where they all had to frustratingly corral him into a huddle during a game break.

When you’re playing at home and a game away from the NBA finals, you’ve got to make sure you’re brisk when it comes to huddling together with your teammates to strategize when you get a moment.

Kleber seemed to be a bit behind the ball here, and his Dallas teammates just weren’t having it. We’re not sure what he was doing before this, but we’re pretty sure he got the message.

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PHOTOS: Boston Celtics celebrate sweeping Eastern Conference finals in Indianapolis

Here’s all the best photos of the Boston Celtics celebrating another trip to the NBA Finals.

The Boston Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers in the 2024 Eastern Conference finals thanks to a comeback win on the road in Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers. Now the Celtics head back to the championship round with a chance to bring an NBA title back to Boston for the first time since 2008.    

Following the win, the Celtics were awarded the Bob Cousy Trophy, given to the team that comes out of the East in the postseason. Likewise, Jaylen Brown won the Larry Bird award after being named the MVP of the conference finals. The Celtics celebrated with their families, as well as a number of fans who stuck around to watch the ceremony at Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Boston may be focused on winning an 18th banner, but it was a joyful celebration worthy of a tremendous accomplishment.

Check out the best photos from Game 4 of the 2024 Eastern Conference finals and the Celtics’ celebration that followed.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Jaylen Brown had a hilarious NSFW reaction to his winning Eastern Conference Finals MVP

At least Jaylen Brown is honest!

The Boston Celtics will soon play in their second NBA Finals in three seasons. But before they start even thinking about competing for a championship, it’s worth revisiting Jaylen Brown’s terrific performance in an Eastern Conference Finals sweep of the Indiana Pacers.

The small forward was named MVP of the series for averaging 29.8 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals per game while also shooting 51.7 percent from the field.

When asked about his immediate reaction to winning East Finals MVP, Brown was rather frank. He couldn’t believe he actually won it because he simply, well, never wins “[expletive].”

(Warning: NSFW language in the video below.)

Brown might be referring to his snub from this year’s All-NBA teams. Because even while he said he didn’t care, it clearly motivated his recent performance in the third round of the playoffs.

Well, Brown can add this series MVP to his personal trophy case for all his troubles.

Celtics sweep Pacers, advance to NBA Finals with 105-102 Game 4 win

The Boston Celtics are headed back to the NBA Finals after defeating the Indiana Pacers 105-102 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals. With the win, Boston sweeps the series and will now look to earn an 18th title in franchise history. Jayson …

The Boston Celtics are headed back to the NBA Finals after defeating the Indiana Pacers 105-102 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals. With the win, Boston sweeps the series and will now look to earn an 18th title in franchise history.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the way for the Celtics. They combined for 55 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists. In fact, Boston got strong contributions up and down the roster, but this wasn’t enough to keep up with the Pacers. Indiana shot the lights out in the first half, and looked a step ahead of the Celtics defense from the opening tip. Boston hung tough, however. The tightened up on defense in the last period, recapturing the lead in the final moments of the fourth quarter. Derrick White put the Celtics ahead with a corner 3-pointer, and a Jrue Holiday offensive rebound secured the win.

Let’s take a closer look at Game 4 and recap a 105-102 Celtics win against the Pacers.

Boston stuck with their usual defensive strategy to open the game. All series long, the Celtics have prioritized locking down the perimeter and otherwise relied on individual efforts to protect the rim. As one of the best offenses in NBA history, Indiana has been able to score in bunches in the painted area as a result, though they have taken far fewer 3-pointers. This trade-off has been a key part of Boston’s defense all series and all postseason

Indeed here in the first quarter, the formula looked like it would pay off once again, however narrowly. Boston won the period 29-27 after shooting 5-for-10 from deep in the period.

For the game, the Celtics went 14-for-44 on 3-pointers, a good but not great outing, and the Pacers looked ready to upend this shooting imbalance in Game 4. Though they cooled off in the second half, Indiana’s prowess from deep was a big theme early in the game.

The second quarter saw more of the same. Indiana scored with relative ease around the rim, and but the Pacers were more willing to shoot from distance. The tandem of Ben Shephard and Andrew Nembhard were crucial in this effort, and they hit a number of big 3-pointers in the first half.

On the Celtics side of the equation, scoring was a no-nonsense affair. The ball could have moved a bit more, and Boston didn’t really force the issue in transition. Still, the guys in green scored consistently enough, and stayed one step ahead of the Pacers.

The close to the quarter saw the Celtics miss a number of open 3-pointers, and as a result, Boston took a slim 58-57 lead into the second half.

The Pacers connected on a flurry of 3-pointers to open the frame, despite pretty good defensive pressure from Boston. Celtics fans know well enough what happens when an opponent gets hot in the postseason.

The action got a bit more physical as the period progressed, a welcome sign for Boston. The Pacers were among the fastest teams in the NBA this year, and much of their scoring prowess is predicated on pace and being quicker than the other team. Derrick White and Al Horford were both instrumental in slowing Indiana down.

The Celtics couldn’t take advantage. Turnovers were an issue in the period, while Indiana continued to make shots. Boston only scored 22 points in the quarter, and trailed 83-80 at the end of the third.

Indiana led for much of the fourth quarter, although Boston hung tough. Brown and Tatum each hit a number of critical shots that kept the Pacers from pulling away.

Things remained chippy in this period, and both teams looked exhausted. This is where Boston’s experience appear to come into play. In the final minutes of the quarter, the Celtics seemed to tighten their focus, save a few lapses. By settling in, Boston slowly marched back, capturing and holding the lead in the final minute.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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PHOTOS: Boston vs. Indiana – Celtics sweep Pacers with 105-102 Game 4 win

Let’s take a look at some of the best moments captured in images in the Celtics’ Game 4 of their East finals series vs. the Pacers.

The Boston Celtics defeated the Indiana Pacers 105-102 on the road in Game 4, completing a series sweep of the 2024 Eastern Conference finals. With the win, the Celtics return to the NBA Finals with a chance to raise a coveted 18th banner.

Indiana had another great night shooting the ball to open the action. Boston couldn’t quite keep up, and when the action got more physical in the second half, it was the Celtics who seemed most disrupted. This continued well into the fourth quarter, until experience appeared to come into play. The Pacers looked out of sorts, while Boston locked in on defense. The Celtics took the lead in the final minute of the game after slowly chipping away, and iced the game with composure. 

Let’s take a look at some of the best moments captured in images in the Celtics’ Game 4 of their East finals series vs. the Pacers.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Anthony Edwards shared a thoughtful, awe-inspiring mindset after gut-wrenching Game 3 loss

Anthony Edwards remains incredibly optimistic despite the Timberwolves facing elimination.

The Minnesota Timberwolves look absolutely cooked, but that isn’t stopping Anthony Edwards from staying positive, even when the sky is proverbially falling.

I won’t sugarcoat just how bad things look for the Timberwolves. They’re now down 3-0 in the Western Conference finals, and Luke Doncic likely whispered something diabolical to Anthony Edwards as the Mavs were running away with Game 3. IT’S BAD.

Still, Anthony Edwards isn’t panicking. Postgame, a reporter asked him how he remained optimistic despite now facing elimination. Here’s what Edwards shared with the media:

“I never think the sky is falling. I don’t know. I’m always positive — always happy. Been through the worst. So, the sky is never falling for me.”

This is the right mindset when it feels like nearly everything is going wrong. It’s part of what makes Edwards so good, and because of how well he is playing, the Timberwolves have had some absolute moments of brilliance during the Western Conference Finals.

At the very least, this should tell fans that Edwards won’t go down without giving it everything he has.

Luka Doncic won’t reveal what he said to Anthony Edwards during Game 3 but fans have some hysterical theories

Whatever Luka said to Anthony Edwards, it was definitely NSFW.

Luka Doncic may have said something diabolical to Anthony Edwards at the end of Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, and fans are having a field day guessing what he said.

Luka, Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavs are playing absolutely stellar during their series with the Timberwolves. Every time Minnesota gets remotely close to dominating, the whole gang doesn’t even flinch. They just come back harder. (I mean, look at this Luka lob to Daniel Gafford. FILTHY stuff.)

Game 3 might just be the game that helps Dallas eventually win the series, and it seems that Luka Doncic knows that. As the game was winding down, Luka was casually chatting with Anthony Edwards — very reminiscent of a moment with Devin Booker a few years back.

Postgame, Luka was asked what he said to Anthony Edwards, but refused to say what the two were chatting about.

However, fans are guessing, and the results are hysterical. Here’s what people are sharing:

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