The Dallas Mavericks' hard-fought journey through the 2024 NBA Playoffs is one that Mavs fans will remember forever.
Dallas' playoff run through the Western Conference consisted of a much-needed series win over the LA Clippers, a six-game dogfight with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and a dominant five-game series win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Dallas won the West and then battled the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, but that series didn't go how Mavs fans wanted. The Mavs lost in five games to Boston, with their only win being a Game 4 win at home. Dallas was outmatched by the Celtics, but they've made the necessary moves to ensure they're right in the hunt for the Finals once again.
Dallas signed Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, and Spencer Dinwiddie, and they also made a trade for Quentin Grimes. The Mavs reloaded their roster exactly how they should have, and they have already commanded the attention of Jayson Tatum and the Celtics for next year's battle for the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
Jayson Tatum predicts Finals rematch between Mavs and Celtics
Tatum appeared on "The Tonight Show" with Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday night, and Dallas and Boston were the two teams that he predicted would face off in the 2025 NBA Finals.
"It's gonna be a rematch," Tatum said. "We're gonna play Dallas again."
The Mavericks are already in Tatum and the Celtics' crosshairs for the 2025 Finals, but this time around won't be so easy for Boston. Dallas' shooting in the 2024 NBA Finals against the Celtics was horrendous, but they made it a priority this offseason to address this area.
Dallas acquired one of the best shooters to ever play the game in Thompson, and Marshall should be an upgrade over Derrick Jones Jr. as a shooter. Marshall shot 38.7 percent from downtown last season, and he is going to be getting great looks playing next to Doncic. Grimes also has a chance to be an upgrade over Josh Green as a shooter, and the Mavs' defense got significantly better after these signings as well.
Although Dallas has consistently been doubted by the national media in favor of teams like the Thunder and Timberwolves, Tatum isn't. He respects the Mavs enough to think they're going to win the Western Conference again, and a rematch would be a thrilling matchup for the Mavs.
Kyrie Irving would have his chance for revenge after a disappointing performance in the Finals last season, and he has fully embraced his struggles from the Finals and is ready to get to work this season. Irving is confident that Dallas will find their way back to the Finals once again, and what better story could Dallas have than to beat the team that beat them last year?
Tatum and the Celtics are likely going to be the best regular season team in the league next season, and a rematch between these two powerhouses would be entertaining for all.
