Starting 5, June 2: NBA Finals: Star duo spotlight – NBA.com

How Doncic & Irving quarterback the Mavs. How Brown & Tatum merge their differing styles for success.

When you’re four sleeps from your fourth Finals appearance.

THE LINEUP 🏀
The Floor Generals: How Luka & Kyrie complement one another and lead Dallas
The Jays: Two players with similar stories, different styles and the same goal
What They’re Saying: The Cs met with the media to discuss Dallas and the Finals
Celebration GIFs: Look back at some of the best celebrations from the Playoffs
Mavs’ Finals Path: A dozen GIFs for the Mavs’ 12 wins to reach the Finals
BUT FIRST … ⏰

Today: Watch a live stream of every game from the 2011 Finals — when the Mavs claimed their only title in franchise history — as the NBA App counts down til NBA Finals tip off June 6 on ABC (8:30 ET).
NBA Play: As we anticipate Game 1, test your NBA Finals knowledge:
1. THE QBS: HOW KYRIE & LUKA BALANCE DALLAS’ OFFENSE

“There’s a debate out there: ‘Is this the best backcourt in NBA history?’” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd. “It’s kinda cool.”
Kidd’s embraced the buzz surrounding Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving during their run through the West Finals, using the term “quarterbacks” to describe Dallas’ dynamic duo. | Luka’s Best Of Year | Kyrie’s Best
In just 84 games together since Irving joined the Mavs at the 2023 trade deadline, Kyrie and Luka have developed an on-court chemistry that makes it look like they’ve been playing together their entire careers.
Beyond “Your Turn, My Turn”: The pair have filled in the gaps for the other in order to expand and diversify the offense.
For example, in the Playoffs, Luka’s split between 3-point attempts (43.6%) and paint attempts (37.8%) is nearly flipped by Kyrie, with 46.5% of his shots coming in the paint compared to 35.7% from deep.

Look at the open spaces in made buckets from Kyrie and Luka’s individual shot charts above. Then look at the lack of open space when they are combined below.

While they only have five combined corner 3s (all from Kyrie), there is another layer to add to this picture – how they distribute to athletes & high flyers like P.J. Washington, Derrick Jones Jr., Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II.
Another benefit of having two floor generals on the court together is that it lightens the burden on both to carry the offense by themselves.
2. THE JAYS: SIMILAR STORIES, DIFFERENT STYLES, SAME GOAL

With the 3rd Pick of the 2016 NBA Draft, the Celtics selected Jaylen Brown — a 19-year-old wing out of Cal.
With the 3rd Pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, the Celtics selected Jayson Tatum — a 19-year-old wing out of Duke.
Since the beginning, Tatum and Brown’s careers intertwined. Even the first three letters of their names align. But the Jays’ playing styles and personalities differ.

Balance Of Opposites: In their seven seasons playing together, Tatum and Brown’s contrasting styles have blossomed into a deadly 1-2 punch that ranks among the best in Celtics and NBA history. | Tatum’s Best Of Year | Brown’s Best
Put A Ring On It: Tatum and Brown — who have never missed the Playoffs and are now playing in their second NBA Finals — have carved their names into Celtics lore as a duo while maturing as individuals. But capturing Boston’s 18th title is their ultimate goal.
3. QUOTABLES: Cs TALK FINALS

Boston’s Break: The Celtics met with the media Saturday to discuss the Finals, which begins Thursday — 10 days after their last game.
Staying Sharp: The East Champs — who eliminated all three of their Playoff opponents in five games or less — remain hungry amid another long break between series.
Taking It In: While Jayson Tatum is making his second Finals appearance, White is making his first. But both players are soaking in the big stage and its gravity.

Containing Kyrie & Luka (Part II): For a second straight day, the Celtics harped on their respect for Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving — the latter of whom played for Boston from 2017 to 2019.
4. FINALS IN GIFS: DALLAS’ PLAYOFF RUN
To help get you ready in the lead-up to Thursday, we’re counting down the days in one of our favorite ways: with 🔥 GIFs.
Today?
The story of how the Western Conference champs got here … followed by pure vibes in Section 5.

First Round vs. Clippers: After going down 0-1, Luka wouldn’t let his team go down 0-2, knocking down the dagger three to power his team to the win

First Round vs. Clippers: Following up Luka’s shot last game, Kyrie uses a series of moves to find room for the dagger jumper to give the Mavs the 2-1 series lead 

First Round vs. Clippers: Daniel Gafford opened Game 6 against the Clippers with this huge slam in the first half…

First Round vs. Clippers: …and Kyrie Irving closed out Game 6 – and the series – with this ridiculous 3 as the Mavs rolled past the Clippers

West Semis vs. Thunder: After going down 0-1 for the second series in a row, Luka again knocks down the clutch jumper to even the series 1-1

West Semis vs. Thunder: Repeating their pattern from the first series, Kyrie follows up Luka’s clutch jumper in Game 2 with a highly-skilled clutch floater to seal Game 3 for the Mavs 

West Semis vs. Thunder: P.J. Washington’s two clutch treys and three clutch free throws ended the series in Game 6, moving the Mavs on to the Finals

West Finals vs. Timberwolves: After a tightly contested Game 1 in Minnesota, Game 2 also came down to the wire, allowing Luka to deliver a game-winner and a 2-0 Mavs series lead

West Finals vs. Timberwolves: As Game 3 again came down to the wire, Luka this time provided the dime to Daniel Gafford as the Mavs took the 3-0 series lead

West Finals vs. Timberwolves: In Game 4, the Mavs only loss in the Conference Finals, Luka threw this fastbreak lob that had Kevin Harlan yelling “we just saw a man fly!”

West Finals vs. Timberwolves: In Game 5, with an opportunity to go to the Finals, Luka set the tone early. He tallied 20 1st quarter points, including a ridiculous logo pull up three 

West Finals vs. Timberwolves: Luka and Kyrie stand together, headed to their first NBA Finals as teammates
5. FAVORITE PLAYOFF CELEBRATIONS

Sunday Funday!
To get the vibes right, spin through a few of our favorite reactions from both teams’ Finals runs, as we head into the first week of June … aka Finals season.

P.J. Washington struck his signature pose after Dallas eliminated OKC in the West Semis

The ageless Al Horford, fired up after yet another clutch postseason 3.

Luka Doncic & Dereck Lively II celebrate Luka’s game-winning 3 in Game 2 of the West Finals

D-White’s feeling it … And the bench goes wild.

Eyes on the prize.

When you’re waiting for Finals Game 1 to load …
See the storylines and 1 thing each team needs to keep an eye on heading into the 2024 NBA Finals Presented by YouTube TV.
With a Celtics-Mavs Finals matchup set on June 6 (8:30 ET, ABC), check out some key storylines before tipoff.
Offense. Defense. Historical trends. Breaking down 24 numbers that matter heading into the 2024 NBA Finals.
Tatum and Brown or Doncic and Irving? Breaking down which superstar pairing is poised to dominate the NBA Finals.
See the storylines and 1 thing each team needs to keep an eye on heading into the 2024 NBA Finals Presented by YouTube TV.
With a Celtics-Mavs Finals matchup set on June 6 (8:30 ET, ABC), check out some key storylines before tipoff.
Offense. Defense. Historical trends. Breaking down 24 numbers that matter heading into the 2024 NBA Finals.
Tatum and Brown or Doncic and Irving? Breaking down which superstar pairing is poised to dominate the NBA Finals.
Ricky Council IV puts up a 19-point fourth quarter for Philly, while Keyonte George comes up clutch for the hometown Jazz.
Keyonte George scores 30 points and hits the game-winning free throws in OT as Utah outlasts No. 9 pick Zach Edey (14 pts, 15 reb) and Memphis.
Ricky Council IV scores 29 points and No. 16 pick Jared McCain adds 15 points and six rebounds to pace Philly's win.
Still more than 5 months from his 18th birthday, Flagg shows why NBA teams will be coveting his skills in next year's Draft.
The Nets are planning on a strategic rebuild after trading Mikal Bridges to the Knicks for several future first-round picks.
Our writers reveal which players should start for Team USA at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

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