Final thoughts on the 2024 NBA Finals

This year was the first time in a really long time that I didn't do any NBA Playoff and Finals commentary, so instead I decided to take a look back and reminisce on the 2014 NBA Playoffs that culminated with the Spurs' Beautiful Game Redemption Finals win, and I thought the 10th anniversary of those Finals would be the perfect opportunity to relive those memories.

But as you might expect, there are some ideas for the playoffs and finals in 2024. Here are a few of them.

1. This is the first time since the 2012 Weather Finals (Heat vs. Thunder) that I haven't had a strong feeling of rooting for a team in the NBA Finals. After some deliberation, I decided on the Celtics. As a former Lakers fan, it wasn't an easy decision for me, but a few things led me to it. I had (at least) two great teammates on the Celtics: former Spurs and Colorado Buffalo players Derrick White and Jrue Holiday. In fact, Holiday has been voted best teammate by his NBA peers on multiple occasions. From NBA.com:

“NBA players have selected Milwaukee Bucks guard July Holiday as the recipient of the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award for the 2022-23 season. This marks the second consecutive year Holiday has won the award and the third time in the last four seasons.”

Compare this to Kyrie Irving with the Mavs. If the NBA had a worst teammate award, Kyrie would have been a multiple first team selection and left several teams over the years. As a former coach, I much prefer a good teammate over a bad one. That's why I chose the White/Holiday Celtics over the Mavs. The fact that White and Holiday are also great defenders was the clincher. They also wrapped up Kyrie not playing well except for one game in the Finals, finishing with a very satisfying 5-for-16 score in the final game for this observer.

2. In the end, I was right to bet. The Celtics were better than any other team. My only criticism is that they didn't have to face another good team during the playoffs and their opponents had serious injury problems (until the Finals). It would have been better to face the Nuggets in the Finals. But you can't blame the Celtics for their opponents, and they've pretty much dominated their opponents in the regular season and the playoffs, except for going 0-2 against the Nuggets.

3. If D. White and Holiday are the 4th and 5th best players, then this is a very good team. (If Holiday is actually the 3rd,^rd If he is and could be the Celtic's best player, the same could be said about having Kristaps Porzingis and D. White at the 4.^Number And 5^Number I'm not the only one who's noticed the quality of the Celtics' No. 3-5 players. Kevin O'Connor at The Ringer just posted a list of 10 players he calls the Derrick White All-Stars, players who could basically complete the roster of any championship contender.

4. On that same theme, I don't mean to criticize Irving (well, maybe I do), but if a 32-year-old Kyrie is the second-best player on a team, that team might not be a championship contender, especially if that team is the Mavs. I'm not sure Mavs fans can identify a third-best player. How about P.J. Washington?

5. Spurs fans may feel the same way about their team. We know who the best player on the Spurs is. Devin Vassell is arguably the second-best player on a championship-contending team, and I believe Devin can be the second-best player on a championship-contending team. I hope Jeremy Sochan develops into a solid third-stringer. But for the Spurs to really compete for a championship, it would be much better if Sochan were a Derrick White All-Star. Fifth The best player. That means the Spurs need to draft or acquire a player who can be the Spurs' third and fourth best player. Luckily, Victor Wembanyama already fills the hardest position to fill: the true number one position.

Finally, as is my custom, I would like to close this season with a list of my “favorite memories,” just like the “shining moments” at the end of March Madness. I hope these “favorite memories” will sustain me (and you) in the bleak wilderness of the NBA offseason. Some are long ago, some are recent. Upon reflection, many of these are both “favorite memories” and things I would like to see again once NBA games resume.

Michael Cooper was on the defensive.

Joker's Triple Double,

The late Jerry West dribbled to the right and took a clutch jump shot.

The Spurs swept the Miami Heat in the Redemption Finals.

Robert Horry spotted up in the final minute of a playoff game and

Danny Green!! Blocking the opponent's fast break,

Al Horford was all smiles after winning the final game of a season for the first time since college.

Wilt Finger Rolling,

Stephen Curry runs all over the court, using multiple screens, and waits for an opening to catch the ball, shoot, and make a three-point shot from long distance.

DFish lost to a guy who was bigger, faster, more agile and more talented than him (though Tony still out-fightered him).

Damian Lillard Dame Timing,

Spurs' young players develop

Mike Breen bang bang,

Jalen Brunson and the Knicks competed;

Luka Doncic created

Jimmy Butler in the Playoffs: “Just hitting the ball” (Butler explains why he became Jimmy in the Playoffs)

Magic Johnson runs down the middle, passes this way, wait, no, passes that way.

Patty Mills sprints to help a teammate up after the teammate charges at her.

Rick Barry's behind-the-scenes work,

Giannis Eurostep,

Oui Frenchman in tears,

Dark Step Back,

My man Manu Ginobili dunks on Bosh,

Earl the Pearl's Spin Dribble

The audience joins in and the shooters get excited.

Pistol Pete from behind

The great Duncan blocked shots, controlled the ball, threw long bounce outlet passes,

Dr. J's dunk,

LeBron (or Giannis, or Bam) chasing a seemingly unopposed breakaway layup.

Popovich will continue coaching for at least one more season.

Victor made his debut (yes, that's French) and performed far better than even the most optimistic predictions.

And in honor of the NBA champion Boston Celtics, the champions celebrated by enjoying each other's company one last time as the season came to an end.

So, these are my favorite basketball memories. They will keep me going through the offseason. But I'm also looking forward to the NBA Draft and the progress of the Spurs next year.

This concludes Coach Lee D's report. Thank you for staying with us until the end.