“It’s the start of the season, and we gotta start over.” Yes, it took Jayson Tatum seven years and five Conference Finals appearances to get there. But he finally lifted the Larry O’Brien trophy this summer. However, the adrenaline rush has now cooled off, the confetti has been swept, and it’s almost time for the new season to tip-off. Can the Celtics reach the mountaintop once again? Well, JT certainly believes so and he even predicted who his opponent will be in next year’s Finals. And it might be a Déjà vu moment for the fans!

Posed by an intriguing question “Which two teams will be in the NBA Finals next summer?” Tatum obviously named the Boston Celtics as one of the teams without missing a beat. But he initially seemed a little hesitant to reveal who he thinks would come out of the West. With a slight nudge from host Jimmy Fallon, JT finally claimed, “It’s going to be a rematch. We’re going to play Dallas again.”

Yes, the Mavs got dominated by the Cs in this year’s finals and lost the series in only five games. But what could make them back-to-back Western Conference Champions are the upgrades they have made in their roster this summer. Obviously, the biggest one was signing Klay Thompson on a three-year $50 million deal. While Thompson had an underwhelming showing this past season, he still managed to average 17.9 points on 38.7% efficiency from deep range. And his numbers could improve playing alongside Kyrie and Luka as he will get more open shots because of the attention the two stars demand.

Apart from Klay, the Mavs also added solid role players, including Spencer Dinwiddie, Naji Marshall, and Quentin Grimes, all of whom can contribute to the Mavs’ pursuit of a title. Moreover, Luka and Klay have similar expectations to what Tatum predicted on The Tonight Show.

Luka Doncic and Klay Thompson are hoping to dethrone Jayson Tatum and Co.

While Tatum has predicted the Mavs to conquer the West, the superstars in Dallas are aiming a step ahead. Despite the disappointment from this year, Luka has complete faith in his team, “Just stay together, man. I think just having Kai on my team — I mean, on our team, he’s unbelievable. Just help him. We said, we’ll fight together next season, and we just got to believe.” In just a year, Luka and Kyrie became one of the most lethal duos in the league. And their chemistry will only get better going forward.

Moreover, that’s what pushed Klay to choose the Mavs over staying in Golden State, “Playing with Luka and Kyrie, that’s what was attractive, especially watching their championship run. I was really shocked to see the chemistry with their teammates.” And he too has high expectations for his debut season with the team, “I think we have a chance to do something really special and win a championship.” But it will be easier said than done as the Celtics are fully prepared to defend their throne with their core group intact. Well, one thing is certain. If JT’s prediction comes true, it will surely be a must-watch series for all hoop fans. Do you agree?