The Boston Celtics are aiming to close out the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, but it won’t be an easy task, especially with former Celtic Kyrie Irving on the Mavericks’ side. Irving, who spent two seasons in Boston before leaving for the Brooklyn Nets, has faced backlash from Celtics fans ever since. Despite the animosity, Irving seems to have come to terms with his past decisions as he prepares to face the hostile Boston crowd.
While the Celtics have their sights set on their 18th franchise title, coach Joe Mazzulla is not getting ahead of himself. He knows that in order to achieve greatness, the team must focus on the basics – running back on defense, rebounding, executing plays, and maintaining proper spacing on the court. These fundamentals were lacking in Game 4, leading to a blowout loss for Boston.
Star player Jayson Tatum acknowledges that the team may have put too much pressure on themselves in the previous game, and he is looking to rediscover the winning formula that has brought them success throughout the season. With Irving and Luka Doncic leading the charge for the Mavericks, the Celtics cannot afford to underestimate their opponents.
Despite facing a 3-1 deficit in the series, the Mavericks are not ready to throw in the towel. Doncic believes that their belief in themselves is what led them to victory in Game 4, and they will need to maintain that confidence if they hope to make history by overcoming a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series.
As the Celtics look to close out the series on the 16-year anniversary of their 2008 title win, the stage is set for an intense Game 5 showdown. With both teams hungry for victory, fans can expect a thrilling conclusion to what has been a hard-fought series. Will the Celtics secure their 18th championship title, or will the Mavericks force a Game 6? The answer will be revealed on the court on Monday night.