NBA Playoffs – playoffs – working day 52
The Dallas Mavericks are willing to sell dearly their loss in the NBA finals. After three games in which the Celtics showed clear superiority, Luka Dončić’s team beat Boston’s team in this Friday’s game. The 122-84 lead those in Dallas to believe in the miracle or, at the very least, not to throw in the towel prematurely. “We are going to believe until the end,” said the Slovenian guard in the press conference after the first win in the series, which momentarily remains 3-1 in favor of the Celtics.
No team has ever come back from a seven-game final, or even a knockout, after starting 3-0 down. On Monday at the TD Garden in their city, the Celtics have the opportunity to win a title that has eluded them since 2008, the only time they have achieved it since the time of a certain Larry Bird. Those from Dallas, however, will try to continue postponing the Boston party.
“Nothing changes. As I said at the beginning of the series, it is the first to reach four. Let’s believe until the end. We just have to move forward. I firmly believe in this team, that we can do it, so we just have to keep believing,” Dončić said. “We were very focused, especially in defense. We play with rhythm. That helped them. I’m here to help the team in any way I can. We just have to play like this,” argued the Mavericks star. “Everyone played with a lot of energy. This is how we have to do it. We have to think the same way in game five in Boston,” he added.
Dončić had received criticism for his play in the first three matches. Despite being the top scorer on his team, he was criticized for lack of defensive commitment, poor shot selection, individualistic play, constant complaints to the referees, in addition to his mistakes from the free throw line and his elimination due to fouls in the third match. His coach, Jason Kidd, came to his defense before the game and the former Real Madrid player thanked her. “That says a lot about him. He always has the players’ backs. He always supports us. That is very important, having a coach like that,” he said. The Dallas player said before the game that he was going to pay less attention to the referees and more to have fun playing. he got it.
The other one he gave flowers to is center Dereck Lively II, the team’s rookie, who had a great night. It was a streak of his in which he chained a triple (his first as a professional, the only one he has shot in all the playoffs), a block and a dunk that allowed Dallas to start to take off on the scoreboard in the first quarter. He closed the game with a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds in just 22 minutes. “I think people forget that he’s a rookie. He’s a rookie doing these things. He’s been incredible all season. Watching him grow has been incredible. It’s fun to have him there with me. Call him my partner, he is amazing. “It’s a pleasure to have him.”
The Mavericks coach also praised the rookie’s game: “Lively was great. His energy was fantastic. His ability to give us second chances. Tonight he showed his range with the three-pointer from the corner. He’s been really good. He has given us second chances, he has drawn fouls, he has grabbed the offensive rebound, it was necessary. I think he did a good job tonight,” he said at the press conference.
Lively was grateful for the team’s support. “They are my family. We have developed a lot of trust between us, a lot of chemistry. That trust only comes down to the fact that if they fail, they know that I have their back. At the same time, I know that if I fail, I have people behind me to back me up. It’s just about doing everything possible so that when someone takes a step, we all take it with them,” he said in the press room.
Jason Kidd won the game this time against Joe Mazzulla in both rings. “We had to play our best game. It was either this or go on vacation. I think the group has done a great job without putting pressure on us, letting the game develop. There has been fluidity. We have done it in the first three games, we just haven’t been able to take advantage. We have made mistakes and they have taken advantage of them,” explained the Mavericks coach. Kidd was obsessed with changing the pace compared to previous games, moving the ball faster, looking for alternatives against the Celtics’ rocky defense. With Luka Doncic at the helm, he did it.
The Celtics coach, for his part, praised Dallas’ great game, but avoided reproaching his players. “Dallas has played very well. You have to give them a lot of credit,” Mazzulla said. “I think they played with a lot of energy and physicality. You have to recognize it. And they are a great team. “That’s the reason they’re here, when they play like that.”
No matter how much they asked him about his team, he immediately referred to the rival. “I think Dallas outplayed us. They just played harder. It’s not about us. It’s about our rival and having respect for him. And we have to recognize how well they have played, which is the most important thing.” Finally, when faced with a new question about the effort of his team, he admitted: “It was not as good as Dallas. I think theirs was much better.”
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