Celtics on the brink of an 18th title can close out Mavericks in Game 4 of NBA Finals on Friday
It s over That s what the numbers say There will be a record-setting 18th championship for the Boston Celtics to celebrate soon maybe very soon They have a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals a lead that has never been wasted in any NBA series ever
Jofra Archer back on England s fast track as cautious optimism abounds
DALLAS -- — It's over. That's what the numbers say. There will be a record-setting 18th championship for the Boston Celtics to celebrate soon, maybe very soon. They have a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals, a lead that has never been wasted in any NBA series, ever.
The stats are absolute.
The Celtics, to their credit, are taking nothing for granted.
On perhaps the next-to-last day of the NBA's 78th season, the Celtics — who could finish off the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 on Friday night — were desperately trying to keep things as close to business as usual as could be expected, given that the team's first title in 16 years is now just one win away.
“At the end of the day we’re the most vulnerable in this,” said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, who, at 35, could be the youngest coach to win a title since Bill Russell won one as a player-coach for Boston in 1969. “So, we have to remain with a sense of urgency. We have to have an understanding of our environment. We have to know that we’re just as vulnerable as anybody else in this situation, and how we handle that will determine our fate.”
His point: Don't let up. A team that has gone 79-20 in its first 99 games of the season — on pace for the second-best single-season record in Celtics history — would likely be wise to keep doing what's worked all year, one more time.
“Either you survive or you don't,” said Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, repeating something Mazzulla told the team earlier Thursday. “That resonates with me.”
It might seem puzzling that it's the Celtics — the team up 3-0 — talking about survival and vulnerability. The reality is, obviously, that it's the Mavericks who are backed into the corner that no NBA team has ever successfully escaped from.
They're 0-5 against Boston this season. They've been outscored nearly 2-to-1 from 3-point range in this series. They saw a 13-point lead turn into a 21-point deficit on their home floor in Game 3. It's hard to find the proverbial silver lining right now, though the Mavs insisted they still have hope.
“We’re not in the offseason yet,” Mavericks star Luka Doncic said. “They’ve still got to win one more game. Like I said, we’re going to believe until the end.”
There were no concession speeches from the Dallas side on Thursday, no outward signs of surrender whatsoever. But there was an understanding of how tall this mountain — down 0-3 — is to climb, and how nobody in the NBA has managed to scale it.
Boston came close last year, rallying from a three-game deficit to force a Game 7 at home against Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals, only to lose. And that came after the Celtics lost the 2022 NBA Finals to Golden State, that series ending in Boston as well. Those were learning experiences. These finals will be one as well for the Mavs.
“When you look at the Celtics, they lose to the Warriors two years ago. They lose to Miami in Game 7 (last season). So, it's just experience of understanding that you’re not promised to get back, that you’ve got to work,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “You see the group that is out there today. They know how to play. They’re a really good team.”
By Friday night, they could be a championship team.
The only way for the Celtics to lose this series, obviously, is if they lose the next four games. Never mind the stat about how teams with 3-0 series leads in a best-of-seven series are unbeatable — 156 teams have gone up 3-0, 156 teams have eventually prevailed in that series. Consider this one instead — the last time the Celtics lost four consecutive games in the same season was in May 2021, two coaching changes and a whole slew of roster turnover ago.
“I think from our experiences over the past couple of years, the thing that we’ve really gotten a lot better at is not relaxing, not being complacent. From game to game or series to series, we always want more,” Celtics forward Jayson Tatum said. “Maybe in recent years we took things for granted at some points or were happy to make it to certain rounds, where (now) we’re not satisfied. Even now up 3-0, nobody is celebrating or anything. We still feel like there’s a lot more that we can do. There’s a lot more that we want to do.”
There's really only one thing left for this Celtics team to do. One more win and Banner 18 — one that'll break the tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most championships in NBA history — will finally be secured.
Mazzulla doesn't care when it happens, just that it happens.
“There’s four rounds left in this fight,” he said. “And however long it takes, whatever it takes, we’ll see how it goes.”
------
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
What s ahead for all 30 franchises Our NBA insiders are peering into each team s future including roster draft and financial projections for the next three seasons
["Premier League Arsenal versus Leicester City kick off 15:00 Sat 28 Sep 2024? Follow live text commentary, score updates and match stats from Arsenal vs \nLeicester City in the Premier League.","Team news: Raya fit to start against Leicester? Mikel Arteta has named the same 11 players that started against Manchester \nCity last week in his starting line-up for today's Premier League","Arsenal vs Leicester LIVE: Premier League latest score and goal updates? Arsenal vs Leicester live goal updates, confirmed team news, how to watch \nthe Premier League game on TV and live stream today.","Steve Cooper confirms Leicester injury situation ahead of Arsenal clash? Leicester boss Steve Cooper has confirmed that he is not expecting any \nplayers to return from injury before Saturday's trip to Arsenal.","Arsenal vs Leicester - Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as \nDavid Raya is passed fit to start? It has been quite the week in English football with European action, \nCarabao Cup matches and the small matter of Pep Guardiola declaring","How to watch Arsenal vs. Leicester in Canada: Live stream, channel, time, \nlineups for Premier League match? Arsenal vs. Leicester kickoff time: Here's how to watch the Premier League \nmatch on TV and live stream in Canada as well as the latest team","Nwaneri question, Havertz decision, Trossard return - Best Arsenal midfield \nfor Leicester named? Mikel Arteta has some tough decisions to make when it comes to Arsenal's \nmidfield against Leicester City.","Sutton's predictions: Arsenal v Leicester? Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this \nseason, against a variety of guests. For week six, he takes on","How to watch Chelsea vs Brighton on US TV and live streaming? Here are all of the details of where you can watch Chelsea vs Brighton on \nUS television and via legal streaming:","Confirmed Arsenal team to take on Leicester \u2013 Raya starts? This weeks team prediction is going to be much harder than usual, as having \nplayed 5 really tough games since the start of the season,","Preview: Rayo Vallecano vs. Leganes - prediction, team news, lineups? Rayo Vallecano will be looking to stretch their unbeaten run in La Liga to \nfour matches when they continue their 2024-25 campaign at home to","Rayo Vallecano vs. Leganes Prediction by Proven Computer Model [9\/28\/2024]? Our detailed prediction and analysis for the Rayo Vallecano vs. Leganes La \nLiga game on September 28, 2024 is featured below.","Rayo Vallecano vs Leganes: Match Preview and Prediction? Date: September 28, 2024 Time: 17:15. Location: Madrid, Vallecas. La Liga \n2024-25, Matchday 8Rayo Vallecano \u2013 LeganesWhere to Watch: MEGOGO,","Watch Rayo Vallecano vs. CD Leganes Online: Live Stream, Start Time? The upcoming match between Rayo Vallecano and CD Leganes is set to see the \n10th-placed Vallecano take on 15th-placed Leganes.","Rayo Vallecano vs Leganes Prediction and Betting Tips | September 28th 2024? Rayo Vallecano will welcome Leganes to the Estadio de Vallecas in La Liga \non Saturday. Vallecano have two wins in seven games and are in","Watch Rayo Vallecano vs. CD Leganes Online: Live Stream, Start Time? Discover how to live stream and get game time information for the LaLiga \nmatchup between Rayo Vallecano and CD Leganes.","Rayo Vallecano vs. Leganes Prediction, Odds, La Liga Picks [9\/28\/2024]? Rayo Vallecano and Leganes will lock horns in La Liga at Estadio de \nVallecas on Saturday, with kickoff at 10:15AM ET.","Best Bets Today for All Sports: Saturday's Picks Include Leganes vs. Rayo \nVallecano La Liga Play [9\/28\/2024]? Another big day of sports is upon us, with our innovative computer model \nworking hard to provide you with the best bets for Saturday,","Best Bets Today for All Sports: Friday's Picks Include Leganes vs. Rayo \nVallecano La Liga Play [9\/27\/2024]? Another great day of sports is upon us, with our revolutionary computer \nmodel working hard to provide you with the best bets for Friday,","Official Starting Lineups \u2013 Udinese Vs Inter Milan: Davide Frattesi & Yann \nBisseck Start? Official starting lineups for Serie A clash between Udinese and Inter Milan \n- Yann Bisseck and Kristjan Asllani start.","Serie A line-ups: Udinese vs. Inter? Davide Frattesi steps in for injured Nicol\u00f2 Barella as Inter try to get \nback on track with Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram against","Preview: Udinese vs. Inter Milan - prediction, team news, lineups? Sports Mole previews Saturday's Serie A clash between Udinese and Inter \nMilan, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.","Udinese coach Kosta Runjaic: \"We made life too easy for Roma.\"? Udinese manager Kosta Runjaic went over the 3-0 defeat against Roma on the \nweekend.","France & Argentina Stars To Lead The Line For Inter Milan Vs Udinese In \nSerie A Clash \u2013 Iran International To Get Chance In Champions League? Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez will start in attack for Inter Milan \nagainst Udinese this evening.This according to today's print edition","Inter Milan Coach Planning Three Changes To Starting XI For Serie A Clash \nVs Udinese \u2013 Germany U21 Star To Start? Simone Inzaghi is planning three changes to the Inter Milan starting eleven \nagainst Udinese, with Yann Bisseck set to start.","Inter Milan Duo Itching To Inflict More Damage On Their Favorite Victim \nUdinese \u2013 Figures Revealed? Inter Milan midfielders Davide Frattesi and Piotr Zielinski are both eager \nto take part in tomorrow's clash against Udinese who happens to","Udinese vs Inter: Match Preview and Predictions? September 28, 2024 16:00. Udine. \"Dacia Arena\"Serie A, Matchday 6Where to \nWatch: MegogoInjuries: Sanchez, Payero - Buchanan,","Udinese vs Inter LIVE Score Updates, Stream Info and How to Watch Serie A \nMatch? Get real-time updates on Udinese vs Inter live coverage minute by minute of \nthe match, score and result online, stream information, how to","Where to watch Udinese vs. Inter Milan live stream, channel, time, lineups, \nprediction for Serie A match? Udinese vs. Inter Milan kickoff time: Here's how to watch the Premier \nLeague match on TV and live stream as well as the latest team news.","Premier League Chelsea versus Brighton & Hove Albion kick off 15:00 Sat 28 \nSep 2024? Follow live text commentary, score updates and match stats from Chelsea vs \nBrighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.","Chelsea vs Brighton \u2013 Team News: Malo Gusto returns? Chelsea face Brighton at Stamford Bridge in just under an hour, and the \nteams are in!It's the exact lineup we were expecting, with just one","Chelsea vs. Brighton & Hove Albion, Premier League: Live blog; highlights? Chelsea look to make it four wins in a row, three in the league, and five \ngames unbeaten overall in all competitions.","Premier League Soccer: Livestream Chelsea vs. Brighton From Anywhere? Enzo Maresca's in-form Blues take on the unbeaten Seagulls at Stamford \nBridge.","Confirmed Chelsea line up vs Brighton and Hove Albion | News | Official Site? Enzo Maresca has made ten changes to his Chelsea side for this afternoon's \nPremier League clash against Brighton and Hove Albion at Stamford","Chelsea vs Brighton: LIVE Updates, watch live, score, analysis, highlights? The top-four pushes of Chelsea and Brighton go head-to-head at Stamford \nBridge on Saturday, where Enzo Maresca's long clean sheet streak","How to watch Chelsea vs. Brighton in UK: Live stream, channel, start time, \nlineups for Premier League match? Chelsea host Brighton for the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge, \nLondon on Saturday. The home-team come into the tie having scored","Chelsea boss Maresca speaks on injury prone Lavia? The midfielder has barely featured for the club so far this term, despite \nhaving been fit in preseason. Advertisement. Advertisement.","The key attacking, defensive and goalkeeping stats behind Chelsea\u2019s good \nstart? Chelsea's stat pack for today's game against Brighton makes fascinating \nreading. The Blues are in good form and the numbers back that up.","Liverpool vs. Wolves LIVE STREAM (9\/28\/24): Time, TV, channel for Premier \nLeague? Liverpool face Wolverhampton in a Premier League game on Saturday, \nSeptember 28, 2024 (9\/28\/24) at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton,"]
Steve Cooper confirms Leicester injury situation ahead of Arsenal clash? Leicester boss Steve Cooper has confirmed that he is not expecting any
players to return from injury before Saturday's trip to Arsenal.
Sutton's predictions: Arsenal v Leicester? Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this
season, against a variety of guests. For week six, he takes onRayo Vallecano vs. Leganes Prediction by Proven Computer Model [9/28/2024]? Our detailed prediction and analysis for the Rayo Vallecano vs. Leganes La
Liga game on September 28, 2024 is featured below.
Watch Rayo Vallecano vs. CD Leganes Online: Live Stream, Start Time? Discover how to live stream and get game time information for the LaLiga
matchup between Rayo Vallecano and CD Leganes.
Official Starting Lineups – Udinese Vs Inter Milan: Davide Frattesi & Yann
Bisseck Start? Official starting lineups for Serie A clash between Udinese and Inter Milan
- Yann Bisseck and Kristjan Asllani start.France & Argentina Stars To Lead The Line For Inter Milan Vs Udinese In
Serie A Clash – Iran International To Get Chance In Champions League? Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez will start in attack for Inter Milan
against Udinese this evening.This according to today's print edition
Udinese vs Inter LIVE Score Updates, Stream Info and How to Watch Serie A
Match? Get real-time updates on Udinese vs Inter live coverage minute by minute of
the match, score and result online, stream information, how to
Chelsea vs. Brighton & Hove Albion, Premier League: Live blog; highlights? Chelsea look to make it four wins in a row, three in the league, and five
games unbeaten overall in all competitions.How to watch Chelsea vs. Brighton in UK: Live stream, channel, start time,
lineups for Premier League match? Chelsea host Brighton for the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge,
London on Saturday. The home-team come into the tie having scored