The Dallas Mavericks had started strong in Game 4 tonight. They continued with the upper hand throughout the four quarters to finish the matchup with a solid 122-84 win over Boston. As for the Cs, let’s just say, it was cringe-worthy. Now, you might be wondering about the choice of words here. A loss, nay a failure, like this usually follows terms like ’embarrassing’, ‘mortifying’, or ‘disappointing’. So, why? Charles Barkley has the answer to that question.

As Chuck and his fellow hosts discussed the affairs of the evening post-game, the veteran analyst had a few words for the ‘Beantown’. “I’m not going to give any diss to the Mavs. Congratulations, good win!”, Barkley said as a preamble. And then, “That was embarrassing by the Celtics. Like they actually thought the Mavs were gonna quit.”

“They [Celtics] came out nonchalant and lackadaisical. … But, if you’re the Celtics,” side-eye here, “Obviously, I still feel very good about them winning the series,” of course, Chuck! “But that was so unprofessional. The way they played that game tonight.” 

Boston had to know that Luka Doncic and Co. wouldn’t go quietly into the night. The Slovenian phenom did not battle through all those injuries, simply to bow out. He did not just use his mental prowess, but his elbows, his shoulders, his hands, everything he could to clinch this victory. Dallas did not make their stand against top teams like the fourth-seeded Clippers, top-seeded Thunder, and No. 3 Timberwolves to hand the ring over to Boston without making them work for it. So, it’s only right they return the favor by giving them a worthy opponent.

Hence, the kind of subpar performance the Celtics showcased tonight was, at best, as we said, cringe-worthy.

“A group that has nothing to lose”: Jason Kidd makes the Mavs’ stand clear

The Dallas Mavericks were one of the teams that fought against a lot of narratives to reach the Finals for the first time since 2011. All the criticisms, especially surrounding Kyrie Irving’s hot-and-cold days and Doncic, being a defensive liability, were all broken down one by one as the Mavs backcourt duo emerged as a lethal threat. Game 4 saw a desperate Dallas squad giving it their all, come what may.

“It’s real simple … They’re trying to close the door. The hardest thing in this league is to close the door when you have a group that has nothing to lose. Tonight, you saw that,” Kidd said post-game. The hearty screams of delight that filled the American Airlines Center were proof of what the Mavs were capable of. Luka’s 25 of 29 points came in the first half alone. With Irving adding 21 and Dereck Lively II putting up a double-double, the ‘Big D’ made sure to let the Celtics know to not undermine them.

Tonight’s final 38-point gap stands as the third biggest in an NBA Finals game to date. Their predecessors were the 1998 Utah vs Chicago 96-54 and the 2008 Celtics vs Lakers 131-92. Well, with a Game 4 win, the ‘North Star State’ managed to force a Game 5 at TD Garden. However, Boston still holds the advantage here. They could easily finish the business at 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday.

And we can be sure that the Celtics we saw tonight won’t be the crew then. Do you think “Luka Magic” and a bit (a lot, perhaps) of Irving “Wizardry” would turn the tables on the Cs? Or will the Celtics complete the narrative and win the franchise’s 18th title? Let us know what you think.

But before you go, be sure to check this video of Leonardo Armato’s take on Caitlin Clark vs Angel Reese.

Don’t forget to check back in for more such updates from our ES Fancast!