We broke down the NBA Finals on this week’s episode of Happy Hour Hoops. You can watch on Youtube or listen to our podcast on Spotify or APPLE PODCASTS and follow us @happyhourhoops1.
Some of my thoughts heading into tonight’s Game 1….
KYRIE RETURNS
Once upon a time, Kyrie Irving was supposed to THE guy in Boston. He said “you know what, this LeBron James fella? Can’t work with him anymore.”, threatened a knee procedure and forced his way via trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Boston Celtics, to team up with Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Al Horford.
It… didn’t go as planned.
The Celtics made the Eastern Conference Finals against those same Cavaliers. But Kyrie was nowhere to be found. The series went 7 games, but he wasn’t even courtside in their game 7 loss.
He made it another season before leaving for Brooklyn to play with Kevin Durant in what would end up as one of the most melo-dramatic super teams we’ve ever seen. This was AFTER he told Celtics fans he planned to resign and be a Celtic for life. Kyrie seems to change his mind a bunch, doesn’t he?
But what Celtics fans seemed to hold onto the most? He stepped on Lucky.
THE DISRESPECT.
The hero arc of Kyrie this playoffs has been a little overstated. He stopped being an asshole and now everyone wants to give him his flowers again. I’m happy he’s not an asshole anymore, don’t get me wrong! (Or he’s at least not being one in public). But he’s not some hero. However, the general NBA public just doesn’t want to see the Celtics succeed. It’s like cheering for the Yankees or the Cowboys. So Kyrie now has the opportunity to cement himself as one of the best sidekicks in NBA history and alter the narrative forever to where most fans will choose to forget the discretions of the last 7 years.
LUKA VS TATUM
Two things at play here. Luka is on the path to taking over as the best player in the world. It might not make sense, it might still be Jokic, but this is how our sport works. He’s been on a generational run, ended up 3rd in MVP, dispatched of a guy who finished ahead of him and now has the chance to take down the best team in the league.
Regardless of the Finals, Jayson Tatum will not be the best player in the league. Should he be? Celtics fans could argue that. I don’t necessarily think so, but the Tatum discourse is insane now. He’s a first-team All-NBA player and talent. He might never be THE guy in the league but he seems poised to always be one of the top 10 on a great team. But I think people only want to see you be THE guy. Could outplaying Luka and winning a Finals MVP get him into those convos? We will see.
THE BIG MATCHUP
Jrue Holiday is the key to this series. If he can defend Kyrie or Luka effectively, it makes the collective defensive effort easier for the rest of the Celtics. But he could have trouble with either matchup. Kyrie’s speed or Luka’s power could present issues for Holiday.
Tatum and Brown’s ability to help guard both Kyrie and Luka will be vital.