The NBA Finals kick off this Thursday at the Boston Garden, where the hosts are favourites not only because of their history (17 titles, tied with the Lakers for the most NBA championships) but also because of their current form, having topped the regular season standings in the world's premier basketball league under coach Joe Mazzulla.

Behind them, but aware of their unique opportunity to repeat their 2011 title, are the Dallas Mavericks. Founded in 1980, the team has two key players who provide offensive firepower and scoring ability. 

Luka Doncic, undoubtedly the most prolific offensive player in recent years, is averaging 29.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists, even including his rookie year (when all big stars tend to have lower numbers due to rotations and strategies that start rookies on the sidelines). However, his record against the Celtics is a mixed 5-6. 

Luka is often indefensible and will be the focus of the offence (first and second offensive setups, minimum, in addition to double-teams and a defensive system centred around him), but he won't be alone. Former Celtics player Kyrie Irving is a potent offensive weapon, especially from three-point range.

"They're the best team in the NBA," said Doncic. "They have by far the best record, some incredible weapons on the offensive and defensive end, so we're going to have to play some really hard and amazing basketball to beat them," the former Real Madrid man admitted, putting the pressure on his rivals.

For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum will be looking to avenge the 2-4 loss to Golden State in 2022. "There's a lot that I can learn and we can learn from the experience of being in the Finals, and this go-round is a lot different," Tatum said. "I'm really just looking at it as a second chance and trying to simplify things as much as we can."

The team from the capital of Massachusetts will be looking to reign supreme in the NBA, sharing 17 titles with the Lakers, who joined them in 2020 during the pandemic bubble. Boston last won the title in 2008.

The Mavericks will be playing in their third final, having won in 2011 and lost to Miami's Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade in 2006. This will be the first final for the Texans without German Dirk Nowitzki, although they will have another unconventional white European player in Luka Doncic, who averaged 33 points in the regular season and 28.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists in the playoffs.

Irving (22.8 points in the playoffs) will be the emotional heart of the series after his stint in Boston and an unsuccessful return to the playoffs with Brooklyn. He knows what it takes to win a championship ring (he did it in one of the most memorable Finals in 2016, when the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors to win 4-3).

"I'm better at consolidating emotions now," Irving said. "You call it animosity. We call it hate. We call it, 'It's going to be hell in Boston.

"The last time in Boston (in the playoffs with Brooklyn), I don't think it was the best... everybody saw me flip off the birds and kind of lose my cool a little bit.

"I wasn't at my best then. I've grown since then... I'm looking forward to it. I'm going to take the brunt of it, all the shouting and all the comments. It wasn't a good reflection of who I am and how I like to compete at a high level," the 6'2" (1.8m) guard concluded.

Boston will counter with two of the NBA's best defensive guards in Jrue Holiday and Derric Williams.

"You can't really stop them. You just try to make it tough for them," White admitted. "They're going to take tough shots and they're going to make tough shots. You just have to trust that what we're doing is going to work for 48 minutes."

Tatum is averaging 26.0 points and 10.4 rebounds in the playoffs, while Brown is averaging 25.0 points, with White and Holiday providing strong defensive support. The team leads the NBA in three-pointers made and baskets made. The Celtics are 9-0 when making 14 or more three-pointers, a key defensive challenge for the Mavericks.

"Boston shoots the three at a high rate," said Mavs coach Jason Kidd. "They've got a lot of talented players. They've been here before, they've got the experience. They're well coached. This is another great test."

Dallas centre Dereck Lively isn't worried about the experience factor. "They have a lot of tradition, but that doesn't matter. What matters is who's going to come out harder on the court," Lively said. "It's going to be a dogfight out there, but we'll just keep swinging and see what happens."

Boston will be favoured because of their history and current form, as well as having beaten the Mavericks in both regular season meetings this year.

They will be hoping to get Latvian centre Kristaps Porzingis back from a right calf strain that sidelined him for 10 games in the first round against Miami on 29 April.

"He's been working extremely hard to get back and help us in any way he can," White said.

"When KP is at his best, he has been tremendous for us," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. "We expect that from him."

The NBA Finals are approaching and promise to be as exciting as ever, with an extra twist this year. If the Celtics win, they will once again dominate the NBA, as they have for many years in the history of the 76 championships contested (including this year).

On the other hand, Luka Doncic, often questioned for his unconventional style and physique (as well as being white and European), could finally establish himself as an NBA star, not just any star, but one who can compete with the greats of history. This would be a significant shift for an American public often reluctant to embrace international figures despite their impressive statistics. A championship ring could change everything for him, and for an NBA where homegrown players have been losing ground for years.

Games: 

Game 1: 6 June at Boston, 8.30 p.m.

Game 2: 9 June at Boston, 8 p.m.

Game 3: 12 June at Dallas, 8 p.m.

Game 4: 14 June at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Game 5*: 17 June at Boston. 8:30 p.m.

Game 6*: 20 June at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Game 7*: 23 June at Boston, 8 p.m.

*If necessary

All times Eastern