Scoring champion Luka Doncic and sharpshooter Kyrie Irving spearhead the upstart Dallas Mavericks against the favored Boston Celtics when the NBA Finals begin tomorrow (HK time).
Ex-Celtics star Irving is bracing for a hostile road reception in Boston, five years after quitting the franchise for Brooklyn, leaving Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to turn the side into the league's top club with a league-high 64 wins this season.
"They're the best team in the NBA," Doncic said. "They have by far the best record, some incredible weapons on offense and defense, so we're going to have to play really hard and amazing basketball to beat them."
Tatum lifted the Celtics into the 2022 Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors but planted seeds that could bring a trophy starting with the best-of-seven opener at home.
"There's a lot we can learn from the experience of being in the Finals and this go-around is a lot different," Tatum said. "I'm really just looking at it as a second chance and trying to simplify things as much as we can."
The Celtics seek an unprecedented 18th NBA crown, with their most recent title coming in 2008. The Mavericks won their only NBA title in 2011.
Irving will be the emotional heart of the series after his Boston stay and a playoff return with Brooklyn that went poorly.
"I'm better at consolidating the emotions now," Irving said. "You call it animosity. We call it hate. We call it: 'It's going to be hell in Boston'."
Irving said his playoff appearance in Boston with Brooklyn "wasn't a great reflection of who I am and how I like to compete on a high level."
"Everyone saw me flip off the birds and kind of lose my [cool] a little bit. I wasn't my best self at that time. I've been able to grow since then".
Irving is on a high now, averaging 22.8 points in the playoffs behind Doncic, who averages 28.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists.
Boston counter with two of the league's top defensive guards in Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.
"There's really no stopping them. You just try to make it difficult for them," White said. "They're going to take tough shots and they're going to make them. Just trust that over 48 minutes what we're doing is going to work."
Tatum averages 26.0 points and 10.4 rebounds in the playoffs while Brown averages 25.0 points, with White and Holiday providing strong support.
Boston, who beat the Mavericks in both meetings this season, expect to have center Kristaps Porzingis back from a right calf strain.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Luka Doncic, left, and Kyrie Irving will be up against Boston's Jayson Tatum, top right, and Jaylen Brown. AP, AFP
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