"This is gonna be one for the ages": Former NBA champ Kendrick Perkins lays out sole condition for Mavericks to win the NBA Finals against Celtics
For the first time in 13 years, the Dallas Mavericks are back in the NBA Finals. As they prepare to take on the Boston Celtics, one former champion cited one way they could be the last team standing.
All season long, the Celtics were led by what many agreed was the best starting lineup in basketball. That said, they've been without one of their key contributors for most of their postseason run. Kristaps Porzingis got injured in the first round against the Miami Heat and hasn't returned to the lineup since.
While on ESPN's "Get Up," Kendrick Perkins was asked to give his NBA Finals prediction. He feels the Mavericks have a chance to take down the Celtics in the event Porzingis doesn't play.
"This is gonna be one for the ages," Perkins said. "If Porzingis plays, I got the Celtics in seven. But if he don't, I got the Mavericks winning this series."
When asked about Porzingis' availability in the NBA Finals, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said he still doesn't know yet. That said, he did mention the former All-Star has begun his ramping up to play. Porzingis also made a social media post in Latvian saying that he'll be back soon.
"Thank you to everyone who supports and sympathizes throughout the season. I'll be back in line soon. See you in the finals," Porzingis wrote.
Kendrick Perkins believes Dallas Mavericks have better duo in NBA Finals
Now that the stage is set for the NBA Finals, all eyes are going to be on the star players.
For the Boston Celtics, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown continue to lead the charge. They'll be taking on arguably the best duo of this postseason, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Before giving his prediction on "Get Up," Kendrick Perkins touched on the star duos in this matchup. In terms of talent, he gave the nod to the Mavericks' backcourt pairing.
"When it comes down to Luka and Kyrie, I do think they are the better duo," Perkins said.
While Perkins feels the Mavericks have the better star duo, he did go on to say the Celtics have the better overall group of talent.
Through the first three rounds of the playoffs, the Mavs duo has been nothing short of unstoppable. In the closeout game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Doncic and Irving combined for 72 points, scoring 36 each.
Both guards are capable of producing high-scoring performances on any given night. As a result, rival teams have had a difficult time defending them. Doncic and Irving will confront their most difficult battle yet in the Celtics' defense.