The Dallas Mavericks were not everyone’s choice to represent the Western Conference in the 2024 NBA Finals, but they were able to do just that. Only four more wins and the Mavs will score their second NBA title in franchise history. That’s going to be easier said than done, though, as standing in between the Mavs and their ultimate goal is the mighty Boston Celtics.
Dallas Mavericks continue to embrace the underdog label

Dallas head coach Jason Kidd knows that his team is the underdog and he wants his players to continue embracing that label. After all, they’re used to it.
Via Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports:
Kidd still has his players believing they’re the underdogs despite their impressive run to the Finals — a part-truth, part-motivational tactic to keep them on edge.
“We like the underdog role, we have to be,” Kidd said. “Boston’s been there before. We’re just a group of guys, that some people say, that just got put together and will play on the playground. It’s cool to see this group come together for a short amount of time and believe, and we got a great group of young men.”

The Mavericks were the underdogs in the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers, in the second round against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and in the Western Conference finals versus Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Boston is the final challenge for Luka Doncic and the Mavs, who seem to be getting better the deeper the postseason gets.

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