BOSTON — Well either there’s going to be a parade or we’re going to look pretty silly. All of six of us picked the Celtics to beat the Mavericks in the NBA Finals which begin on Thursday at TD Garden.
So if the Mavericks win, they can say nobody believed they could do it and point to us as evidence.
Souichi Terada
Kyrie Irving is surprisingly tame throughout the series, torching the Celtics in Game 2 to steal home-court advantage for Dallas. But the Celtics close out the Mavs on the road since they’re so comfortable away from the Garden.
Celtics in 6
Finals MVP: Jayson Tatum
Brian Robb
Luka Doncic steals a game in Boston to create some drama while Kristaps Porzingis struggles to shake off some rust defensively. Ultimately, the Celtics’ supporting cast carries them to a win as they continue a historic road playoff run.
Celtics in 6.
Finals MVP: Jrue Holiday
Karen Guregian
Kristaps Porzingis returns, and the former Maverick burns sage at American Airlines Center to “cleanse the energy” of the stadium. While Dallas has two of the NBA’s best closers, the Celtics have the best starting five on the planet. Jayson Tatum rediscovers his shot, and Derrick White and Jrue Holiday tame Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Celtics in 6.
Finals MVP: Jayson Tatum
Sean McAdam
A tight series has its inflection point at halftime of Game 6. Kyrie Irving grabs a microphone courtside and tells the crowd that he intends to finish his career in Dallas “if you’ll have me.”Massive booing follows, the Mavs never recover and the Celts win Banner No. 18
Celtics in 6
Finals MVP: Jaylen Brown
Jim Pignatiello
Kristaps Porzingis plays the first two full games only, but he helps put the Celtics in the driver’s seat and Jayson Tatum does enough in an epic Game 6 win to lead Boston to banner 18.
Celtics in 5
Finals MVP: Jayson Tatum
Matt Vautour
I’m going to try really specific. I think it’s 2-2 after four games, a stretch that will include three close games at least one absurd Luka Doncic game, but as the series goes on Jrue Holiday and Derrick White wear down the Mavs guards, who are being too heavily relied on. The Celtics play their best game in Game 5 and hold on to seal it in Game 6.
Celtics in 6.
Finals MVP: Derrick White
