The March 1st game between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics has the least impact on the Mavericks' playoff seeding of the other games on this list. But the Mavericks need to make a statement at the climax of a four-game Eastern Conference road trip against Boston. The last time these teams met in Dallas, Dallas was significantly less talented.
The Mavericks' trade deadline additions will help address the length and physicality of the Celtics' frontcourt, but the Celtics are arguably the best team in the NBA so far this season, and objectively so far this season. They are a better team than the Mavericks. Even if they don't win the game outright, the Mavericks have to compete against Boston on the road. The Mavericks are already off to a bad start on their trip to the Eastern Conference with a blowout loss to Indiana on Sunday night, so it's important for Dallas to show they can play in the NBA's best game at the post-trade deadline. .
Dallas committed too many resources at the trade deadline and was beaten by an elite team. As such, the Mavericks will need to solidify their defense for the remainder of this trip to prove that their seven-game winning streak was no fluke. The Celtics have a dynamic defense overall, with all of their starters capable of creating offense on their own.
Given that former Mavericks big man Kristaps Porzingis is having a great season with the Celtics and Boston is one of Kyrie Irving's previous failed bases, the Mavericks will seek revenge against the Celtics. holding my heart It's no mean feat to contain players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but Dallas is good enough defensively that fans know they can compete with a Celtics-level team, as even Porzingis couldn't. We need to play with grit. Suits for the first game for both teams, but Dallas was still crushed.
