LeBron James recently shared his insights on why the Boston Celtics are an extremely dangerous team ahead of the NBA Finals during an episode of the ‘Mind the Game’ podcast. James broke down the Celtics’ strengths, focusing on their offensive versatility, defensive challenges, and overall team composition.
“You know, that’s going to be a big-time challenge and obviously, personnel-wise, you see who’s on the floor, but at the end of the day, if Porzingis is active, then nine times out of ten, they’re going to have five shooters on the floor.”
“So you can’t, you know how, you know, in the OKC series, Dallas was allowed to hide Gafford at times and lively and put them on Josh Giddey, you know, and kind of keep them roaming, you know, not afraid of his pick and pops, not afraid of him being spaced in the corner.”
“So that will be the biggest question mark, JJ, on who guards Porzingis. So I think what helps in Dallas case um if that is the case having Maxi Kleber back. So I think that helps a lot. I know he’s been out for a while since round one versus the Clippers, but it does allow them to now start switching a lot.”
“You know, and I know that’s always challenging against Boston because they have so many great ISO players, but I do think there’s times in certain matchups where Maxi can’t switch out on some of the, you know, Boston guards and contain them.”
“There’s not one person you can roam off of that Boston puts out on the floor. They are well equipped.” (1:00)
LeBron highlighted that one of the Celtics’ most significant advantages is their ability to deploy five shooters on the floor simultaneously, especially if Kristaps Porzingis is active.
This creates a formidable challenge for opponents who cannot afford to leave any player unguarded. The Celtics’ shooting prowess forces defenses to stay honest, eliminating opportunities to “hide” weaker defenders or big men who struggle with perimeter defense.
James pointed out that during their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Dallas Mavericks could place Daniel Gafford or Dereck Lively on less threatening shooters like Josh Giddey, allowing them to roam and provide help defense. However, this strategy won’t work against Boston due to their lethal shooting across the board.
Another crucial aspect James mentioned is the Celtics’ ability to exploit defensive mismatches. With versatile big men like Porzingis, Boston can run effective pick-and-pop actions, putting opposing big men in difficult positions. Defenders like Gafford and Lively will face tough decisions on whether to help driving guards or contest Porzingis’ outside shots. This dilemma can open up the floor for the Celtics’ dynamic perimeter players to attack.
LeBron also emphasized the importance of the Mavericks having Maxi Kleber back in the lineup. Kleber’s return provides Dallas with more defensive flexibility, allowing them to switch more effectively on pick-and-roll situations and contain Boston’s elite isolation players.
However, even with Kleber, the Celtics’ offensive firepower and spacing present unique challenges that the Mavericks haven’t encountered in their previous playoff matchups.
Moreover, James stressed that the Celtics’ offensive scheme, characterized by high-volume three-point shooting, adds another layer of difficulty for defenders. Boston’s capability to make 25 or more three-pointers in a game forces defenses to stretch thin, creating more driving lanes and open shots. This relentless shooting pressure can be mentally and physically exhausting for any defense.
Lastly, LeBron noted the defensive matchups, particularly highlighting players like P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr., who can effectively guard Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. While acknowledging their defensive capabilities, he reiterated that the Celtics’ offensive system and spacing make them a different beast compared to the teams Dallas has faced so far.
LeBron James articulated that the Boston Celtics are a formidable opponent due to their versatile offense, excellent spacing, and shooting depth. The Mavericks will need to bring their best defensive strategies and adapt to Boston’s unique offensive threats to stand a chance in the Finals.
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