Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals is still several days away, leaving so much time for everyone to hype up the matchup between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith is already hitting the ceiling about that finals showdown, even saying that it has the potential to become the most thrilling, at least from his perspective.
“We have seen, and we have seen riveting playoff series and finals confrontations and all of this stuff. I’d make a challenge to you. I don’t know how much I’ve looked forward to an NBA Finals as much as I’m looking forward to this one in the last decade.
And I’m talking, I know I looked forward to KD and LeBron, but we knew that go to state with, he had the Splash Brothers with him. We knew they weren’t beating, Cleveland wasn’t beating them, but you still want to see LeBron, KD, I get all of that. But this finals right here, nobody can definitively say who the hell is going to win. This is really, really a toss up. It’s a pick them, right? “
.@stephenasmith says this might be the most exciting NBA Finals matchup he's ever witnessed 🍿
"These finals, ladies and gentlemen, brace yourself! … This is gonna be special." pic.twitter.com/UQv9FH2eh2
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 31, 2024
Celtics, Mavericks Make Up Intriguing 2024 NBA Finals Matchup

Whether you agree with Smith or not, it’s hard to deny that the NBA Finals matchup of the Celtics and the Mavericks is incredibly intriguing. On one hand, there’s Boston, which is the only team back in the 2024 NBA regular season to win at least 60 games. The Celtics have a star-studded roster with a solid bench, a great head coach, and not to mention, a huge fanbase.
The Mavericks, on the other hand, are peaking at just the right time. They are led by a two-headed monster in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who are both surrounded by a perfect supporting cast that plays so well to Dallas superstars’ strengths.
Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals will be on Thursday at TD Garden in Boston.

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