While it looked like the Celtics could get their NBA Finals opponent Tuesday, the Timberwolves just refuse to go down in an elimination game. So while the Mavericks are huge favorites to reach the Finals to play the C’s, Boston still has to technically wait for the West Finals to wrap up.
In that scenario, the Celtics get a massive benefit if the Wolves can put a scare into the Mavs in the next few days. The Wolves host the Mavs in Game 5 on Thursday, so they do have home-court advantage to potentially put more pressure on Dallas. C’s fans should cheer for the Wolves to lengthen the series as much as possible, even if Minnesota isn’t able to make history by coming back from a 3-0 series deficit.
The Finals don’t start until June 6, so even if the Mavs win in five or six games, they’ll have several days to rest up before playing the Celtics. But even then, that’s extra wear-and-tear on the Mavericks throughout the series. Instead of finishing the West Finals in four games and getting a nine-day break, the Mavs instead have to fly to Minnesota, game plan and play in another playoff game.
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The Mavs have also been banged up. Luka Doncic’s knee sprain has been a factor throughout the playoffs, so getting him as much rest as possible before the Finals should be the priority. Big man Dereck Lively II is also dealing with a neck injury. So those are all factors when it comes to any extra games the Mavs will have to play if they can’t close out the Wolves quickly.
There’s also the chance the Wolves can drag out the series and put immense pressure on the Mavs. Minnesota is now 3-0 in elimination games this season after coming away with Game 4. The Wolves will have to rip off three straight more wins to get to the Finals, so the mountain is tough to climb.
But remember: it was just last season the Celtics forced a Game 7 against the Heat in the East Finals after falling into a 3-0 hole. There was plenty of luck involved (Derrick White’s game-winner) that also flipped its head at the worst time (Jayson Tatum’s ankle sprain in Game 7). The Nuggets, the eventual champs, certainly appreciated Boston’s efforts to give Miami a difficult series. Denver was coming off a sweep of its own over the Lakers, so Nikola Jokic and Co. were rested going into the Finals.
The odds are stacked against the Wolves as they look to make the West Finals a competitive series again. And, notably, the Wolves showed clutch-time genes in Game 4 that had been lacking in the first three games of the West Finals. If Minnesota can get a few bounces to go its way in Game 5, then all the pressure will be on the Mavs to close it out in Game 6 in Dallas. The alternative could be a Game 7 in Minnesota with the Wolves playing with house money. But a lot has to go right for Minnesota before then.
In the meantime, the Celtics should enjoy their privilege they earned by sweeping the Pacers. They get to rest up and reset ahead of the Finals, including a perfect Kristaps Porzingis situation. Even though the East Finals ended in four games, Boston had to fight in every single game against a pesky Indiana team. It looked like the Mavs could do the same by sweeping a competitive four games. Instead, there’s pressure on Dallas to close it out. And C’s fans should cheer for the Wolves to extend the West Finals.
