DALLAS — In addition to airing every game of the 2024 NBA Finals on our station, WFAA is also hosting a special presentation called "The Pregame" before every matchup in the series. Head here for more information.
There will be no sweep in this year’s NBA Finals after the Dallas Mavericks avoided elimination in dominating fashion.
The Mavs crushed the Boston Celtics by 38 points in Game 4 for their first win of the series.
It was a valiant effort from an inspired Mavericks group, but the hill to climb is still steep as the series returns to Boston for Game 5 on Monday night.
Here are three things to look for:
1. Play Free Bird
It’s amazing what can happen when a team plays free and without a care in the world. It’s true in all sports, especially golf.
The Mavericks did that from the start of Game 4 and did not relent.
Perhaps no better example than rookie center Dereck Lively II launching a three-pointer in the first quarter.
He attempted just two shots from beyond the arc all season. He missed both.
But with their season on the line and zero, uh, cares to give — Lively let it rip.
Splash.
The Dallas crowd went nuts.
After the game, Kyrie Irving acknowledged how that moment helped relax the team.
The Mavericks have to do a lot of things right to win Game 5, but it all starts with their attitude.
2. Push it to the limit
The Maverick's pace of play was noticeably faster (and better) in Game 4.
Every time they got a steal or loose ball or defensive rebound, there was an outlet pass and sprint up the floor.
Pushing the pace — even if it’s just to get the ball across the timeline — doesn’t allow the Celtics to set up their hounding halfcourt. In previous games, Luka Doncic and the Mavs would bring the ball up slowly and it led to stagnant offense and far too much isolation/1-on-1 basketball.
Give credit to Dante Exum, Josh Green and Doncic as well. They all played up-tempo and it had the Celtics on their heels.
Do that again and they may leave Boston with a W.
3. Takes a village
There are obviously hierarchies when it comes to players on a team. You have the superstar(s), the star(s), the X-factor role players, the other role players, the reserves and the deep reserves.
While the Mavericks have a star duo in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Celtics have six of the top eight players in this Finals series (Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzongis, Derrick White and Al Horford).
As special as Luka and Kyrie are, the Mavs are outmatched in terms of depth of talent — at least, at this point in their respective careers.
The only way to beat a deeper, better team is to have one’s team step up and get contributions from multiple other players.
In Game 4, the Mavs played perhaps their best team game of the entire 2024 NBA Playoffs.
Even the slumping Tim Hardaway Jr made FIVE three-pointers — a Mavs franchise record for a single Finals game.
The freedom with which they played was contagious. They were aggressive and instinctive.
It was a complete game for everyone — stars, role players and reserves. So you know it exists.
But can the Mavs replicate that effort in Boston to preserve their season a few more days?
We’ll find out Monday night in Game 5.