GAME 2 NBA FINALS 2024: Dallas Mavericks (0-1) vs. Boston Celtics (1-0)

[rocky164]

Bench only scored 9 points on 3 made buckets.

[Chicagojk]

Bench only scored 9 points on 3 made buckets.

Ouch.  Game looked to big for some of them.  First finals appearance for them but some have enough experience to not show up.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Andrew Nembhard destroyed those same defenders.  Kyrie is just in his own head.

No, Boston is in his head. He's 0-12 vs them since he left.

[Chicagojk]

Well let’s see if we can get our mojo back in Dallas. I think we win 1. Winning tough is going to be really challenging. Especially if we don’t have that reserve step up who makes big shots

[omahen]

Its not over till its over, but Boston looks like a better team. They didn't shoot it well, but Mavs were even worse from three, so there is some hope. Non Luka Mavs were 2 of 17 from three!!! Also incredible amount of stupid mistakes and missed free throws. People saying so much how our bench is better than Boston one, but they have been unfortunately beyond bad, sadly Lively too.

Luka did have some bad turnovers, but come on guys. Even in the third quarter. He had 3 TO but 2 steals, 6 assists, and 2-2 from the floor for 6 points. People calling that a bad quarter...

Lets face it, this Boston team is awesome and doesn't have many weak points, if any at all. Their FO did an awesome job over the years.

[BoredAssistant]

That was encouraging considering game 1. Kyrie can't play much worse and hopefully Luka gets healthier. Mavs in 7.

[MrGoat]

Fast forwarded the recording in the third quarter after seeing the way Brothers reffed the first half. Getting Brothers that early means we'd have to see him again at some point, we're toast

[Chicagojk]

I think PJ has met the moment. Hasn’t been perfect but not afraid.


We need more shooting but I keep thinking a guy like Draymond would be perfect. With his ability to run the offense, his defense and a little craziness.

Series not over but Mavs still need to slowly add a piece or two.

[Chicagojk]

Thought Gafford wasn’t afraid either. He just is at a disadvantage against this offense. I thought we would get a better lively. Can’t be upset. Mavs relied a lot on the youngster.

[donzingis38]

I just hope the Mavs can replicate how the Bucks came back from 0-2 against Phoenix 3 years ago. Miami also fn did it to us in 2006.

It's our turn..

[Chicagojk]

I just hope the Mavs can replicate how the Bucks came back from 0-2 against Phoenix 3 years ago. Miami also fn did it to us in 2006.

It's our turn..

Mavs also did it against Phx right?  The issue is I don’t think we have the shooting firepower we did back then.  Plus Boston seems to have all the answers to the test

[Chicagojk]

Sometimes it is the luck of the draw. Denver’s gets an overmatched Miami team last year. Mavs get the best team in the league all year

[Chicagojk]

Luka has some moments on D, but I think him and Kyrie are hurting them on defense. Can’t rely on him to play defense great all game long. I think there will be a lot of times in film review will be a tough watch.

If Kyrie is not scoring he needs to be better on defense though

[donzingis38]

I think PJ has met the moment.  Hasn’t been perfect but not afraid.


We need more shooting but I keep thinking a guy like Draymond would be perfect.  With his ability to run the offense, his defense and a little craziness. 

Series not over but Mavs still need to slowly add a piece or two.

Just need some real bench scoring. We need a Jason Terry type player. We should've traded for Bruce Brown.

THJ, Kleber, Powell definitely need to go. I'm so sick of them. Waste of space. Nico should be able find ONE decent player to replace them.

[Luka77]

Bench only scored 9 points on 3 made buckets.

I have been saying it since the beginning of the playoffs and I think people are starting to agree, the Mavs need a bench scorer in the worst way.  

Moreover, Maxi can't play 16 minutes and give you zero points.   Maxi's defense is good (not great) but his defense isn't good enough to give you zero on the offensive end.  Mavs could use an upgrade there as well.

[surfpuckmd]

Gafford just cannot stay in front of their guards/wings but the way Lively and Kleber are playing he is the only playable big on offense.

I thought Gafford made a very positive impact in the 2nd half.  He is fearless and we need that against a team this good.  

I'm hopeful Lively breaks out in game 3.  

Maxi will need a few months to get his shot back.  I respect him wanting to play but he is really hurting on offense right now.

[nicholasthefan]

The talent level of Boston is really high. If KP is out, that takes a hit. He has been killing us.

[rocky164]

All our starters scored in double figures on 35 of 68 shooting. That and holding Boston to 105 should have been a win. Kyrie was the only starter that didn’t shoot well. I’m not sure we can expect any better scoring from our starters with the exception of Kyrie. Our bench gave us nothing. Lively can play and score better. But we have to get points from our bench somewhere although I’m not ready for THJ. We lost this game due to untimely turnovers, giving up 2 many 2nd chance points and most of all missed FT. This could have easily been a one possession game in the last minute where anything is possible if we just made a couple more FT. And while you really can’t blame the ref for missing the foul on the PJ dunk attempt because he was screened out on the play, we would have still had a puncher’s chance if that call is made correctly assuming of course that PJ makes the FT. I’m afraid when the series is over we’re going to look back at this game as being the difference in the series. Mavs have come back from adversity before so I’m not counting them out, but it’s an uphill climb that didn’t have to be.

[surfpuckmd]

Kyrie has met his match with the Boston guards. Holiday and White are the reason he's not playing very well.

This.  Each of the Celtics top 6 is a good-to-elite defensive player.  That's why we're struggling on offense.  Only Luka is brilliant enough to overcome that.

By virtue of their experience and reputation, the Celtics also get away with some contact that other teams don't.  It's not that the officials are cheating.  They're just giving the benefit of the doubt to guys like Horford and Holiday.

[BolsDamols]

This has been a reality check and something I expected to see, but way before the finals. The team has overachieved, and I have allowed myself to buy in to the hype as well with how we have manhandled Minnesota.

But the reality is there are still some gaping holes in the roster that need to be addressed (starting level 3 that is a good shooter/POA defender, Maxi replacement/big guy that can shoot and can defend the perimeter, reliable bench scorer) - team is just way ahead of schedule. 

Not to mention there is internal growth that needs to happen especially with guys like Lively, Hardy, Omax for the team to really compete.

Having said that I refuse to believe that the series is over. Protect homecourt and this can still be a series. Ya not likely but I still believe.