Luka Doncic Or Jayson Tatum? Ranking Top 10 Players In NBA Finals
Sign In
The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks didn’t get to the NBA Finals by accident.
The Celtics enter the series with a 76-20 combined record from the regular season and playoffs while the Mavericks toppled three higher seeds in the Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves to get to this point.
Both teams are two of the more talented squads in the league with plenty of fire power and depth. But which team has more talent? It seems like it should be the Celtics, which doesn’t guarantee them a title.
There will be plenty of highly skilled players on the floor when the Finals commence Thursday night at TD Garden, so we ranked the top 10 players who could play a big role in the series:
more NBA Finals
Kyrie Irving Among Biggest Villains To Face Celtics In NBA Finals
by Greg Dudek
6 Min Read
Four Random Predictions Ahead Of Celtics-Mavericks NBA Finals
by Gio Rivera
5 Min Read
10. Daniel Gafford Derrick Lively II could be in this spot, but Gafford took it due to his elite rim protection. He came over to the Mavericks in a midseason trade from the Washington Wizards and became Dallas’ main shot-blocking presence. The 6-foot-10 center totaled 2.6 blocks per game in the Western Conference finals and in Game 2, he turned in a 16-point, five-block performance on the road.
9. Al HorfordHorford, 38, is the wily old veteran at this stage of his career as he looks for his first ring. Horford can still provide enough versatility on the defensive end and is a reliable enough 3-point shooter. He knocked down a career-high seven triples in a Game 3 win over the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals.
8. P.J. WashingtonAnother trade deadline pick up by the Mavericks who has made his mark. Washington is Dallas’ third-leading scorer in the playoffs at 13.6 points per game and can make an impact on both ends of the floor.
7. Kristaps PorzingisPorzingis would be higher on this list if he hadn’t sat out the last five weeks due to a calf injury. He’s not even sure what he can provide in the Finals, but when he’s at his best, he’s a pick-and-pop assassin and top-tier rim protector.
6. Derrick WhiteWhite can do everything for the Celtics as he went from an undrafted guard to the precipice of stardom. He’s scoring 17.8 points per game in the playoffs and hitting 3-pointers at a 40.7% clip. And don’t forget he’s one of the best defensive guards in the NBA and is a real threat to block anyone’s shot.
5. Jrue HolidayHoliday and White do very similar things on the court, but it just feels like Holiday has a couple of more intangibles than White to take this spot. Holiday took his game to another level in the postseason by making several clutch plays and could be the X-factor for the Celtics in this series.
more NBA Finals
Celtics Backcourt Gives Same Sly Answer On How To Defend Mavs Stars
by Greg Dudek
3 Min Read
Kristaps Porzingis To Return For Game 1, But Uncertainty Follows
by Greg Dudek
3 Min Read
Mavericks Ready To Rally Around Kyrie Irving In Hostile NBA Finals Setting
by Greg Dudek
3 Min Read
4. Kyrie IrvingThere might not be another player in the NBA who has the array of offensive moves that Irving does. He’s a deadly shooter, too, as he’s sunk 42.1% of his 3-point attempts during the playoffs.
3. Jaylen BrownBrown is a better all-around player than Irving, which is why the Celtics star gets this spot. Brown is averaging 25 points and is shooting an eye-popping 61.5% from inside the arc in the playoffs. Brown has also delivered in the biggest moments, too, which shouldn’t go unrecognized.
2. Jayson TatumThere’s a reason why Tatum has finished in the top six in MVP voting each of the last three seasons. The 6-foot-8 forward is a high-volume scorer, a strong rebounder and has developed into an adept playmaker. Tatum’s long-range shooting has been off in the postseason, but if he finds it, he has the chance to take over the series and claim Finals MVP honors.
1. Luka DoncicThis might be tough for Celtics fans to swallow, but Doncic is the best player in the series. He’s averaging close to a triple-double in the postseason with 28.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists. Doncic has an unorthodox style, but he gets the job done repeatedly and can make an impact on any play when he touches the ball.
More NBA:
Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis Has ‘Goosebumps’ Heading Into Finals
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings