Boston won G1 with its supercharged start. The “Mavericks” couldn’t recover.
The NBA is a game of runs. After Dallas took a 9-5 lead (it's biggest all night) Boston ran 7-0. The game see-sawed for a minute and Dallas led 15-14 at 6:38. Boston went on a 8-0 run. They closed the opening quarter 9-0 with a 17-point lead. The game was over.
Dallas made a desperate 7-0 run to close the 2Q and expanded it in the 3rd to an inspiring 29-9. That got them to within 8 but Boston then ran off 14 straight.
Historically, and in G1, Boston has had lapses. They don't play well with a lead. In past post-seasons that has cost them games and series. 29-9 was a major lapse.
Boston benefited, surprisingly, by Kristaps Porzingis seeming to take Dallas by complete surprise when he came off the bench in the 1Q. It was like the "Mavericks" had never seen him play before or didn't expect him to play in this one. Porzingis was the reason for that turbocharged 1Q. That's not going to happen again. Neither of those things: being unprepared for Porzingis and letting Boston sprint to a 17-point lead after one.
Kyrie Irving, so deadly, so cold a killer, disappeared in G1. 12 points total. He has his ghosts in Boston. The crowd was on him every time he touched the ball. It was surprising that the crowd got to him. I don't think that will happen again.
So I don't think Boston is going to run away and hide in the 1Q of G2. I expect Dallas to sprint to a big lead and Irving to lead it. Boston will be where it seems to like to be, playing from behind. They have more weapons than Dallas does but they have to stop Irving and Doncic.
Here is where Joe Mazz can help. He can't run out the same game plan in G2. He has got to give Dallas a different look. Somehow, he surprised them with Porzingis in G1. He could surprise them again with Porzingis by leaning into the principle of verticality. Have Porzingis guard Irving sometimes. Show him different defenders, Porzingis now, then White, then Holiday. Go two big. Play Porzingis with Horford, who would try to limit Doncic.
I don't think Joe Mazz has it in him. I think he'll run it back again and I think Dallas will be ready. If all the stars play like stars Boston will win because they have more stars. But I don't think they will. I expect Dallas' two to play like stars, but I don't expect Porzingis to detonate again. That reduces it to two stars on two stars and even if Tatum and Brown play like stars, Irving is Mr. Clutch. I predict Dallas will win G2.
