The Dallas Mavericks have made NBA history by advancing to the Finals as a five-seed, joining the 2019-20 Miami Heat as the only other five-seed to achieve this feat, and the first to do so in a non-pandemic-impacted season.
Dallas’ journey has been nothing short of remarkable, fueled by mid-season trades that brought PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford (and got rid of Grant Williams), roster changes and standout performances from their two all-world superstars.
As mentioned, the Mavericks upgraded their roster at the trade deadline, acquiring Gafford and Washington to bolster their defense and give Doncic more support for lob threats and three-point shooting. This move helped the team to a 50-32 record and propelled them past higher-seeded opponents, including the Clippers, Thunder, and Timberwolves.
The Luka and Kyrie Show
There’s no surprise that Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have been the drivers of the Mavericks’ playoff success. Doncic, who averaged 32.4 points per game in the series against the Timberwolves, was named the Western Conference Finals MVP. “His performance has been nothing short of spectacular,” said head coach Jason Kidd.
The Mavericks clinched their Finals spot with a dominant 124-103 victory over the Timberwolves in Game 5, where Doncic and Irving each scored 36 points. This marked Dallas’ first return to the Finals since their 2011 championship win. Both Doncic and Kyrie have kept things cool under Minnesota’s defensive strategy and pressure. ‘He’s born for clutch situations,’ Luka Doncic said about Irving after a strong performance for the Mavericks. But both superstars have hit tough shots and kept their poise – like they were alone in the gym by themselves, maybe they popped a couple hhc gummies, or maybe it’s like Luka said, they both were born with that it factor.
The Boston Celtics await them and with Derrick White and Jrue Holiday, will provide much more resistance to Doncic and Irving. There’s a lot of talk about Luka and Kyrie as one of the best backcourts in the history of the game. Well while the Celtics are led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, White and Holiday might be one of the best defensive backcourts ever. Those matchups will make for an interesting NBA Finals matchup..
Jrue guarding Kyrie. Derrick White on Luka. It's gonna be nuts. https://t.co/yszJUM1vdK
— Jordan A. Hayles (@MR_STiXX) May 31, 2024
For the Mavericks, reaching the Finals as a lower seed shows what mid-season trades and jelling toward the end of the season can do for you. On the other side the Celtics have been consistently dominant in the East. The Dallas Mavericks’ path to the championship has been historic, overcoming odds and proving that regular season seeding doesn’t dictate playoff success. And if they can actually win the NBA Finals, they’ll be the second-lowest seed ever to win an NBA championship.
We all now sit here and anticipate whether Dallas can continue their Cinderella run and secure their second NBA title. The NBA Finals are scheduled to begin on June 6th, and all eyes will be on this star-studded showdown.
