The bracket for the NBA Finals is officially set with the Dallas Mavericks crushing past Minnesota Timberwolves, but Charles Barkley is still not convinced that anyone can beat the flawless Boston Celtics. The doubted duo Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have finally shown what they are capable of in the mighty Western Conference. However, Barkley made two points on Inside the NBA today which he believes can help Celtics deliver their next championship. 

The Mavs defeated the Wolves in game 5, 124-103, with Irving and Doncic dropping 36 points each. Despite this dominant display, Barkley believes the above duo’s offensive production will not be the same against the Celtics. He said on live TV, “I still haven’t seen anything to make me think the Celtics are not going to win the championship.”

Ernie Johnson pointed out the possibility of Kristaps Porzingis not returning to the lineup. Barkley still believes the Celtics would be the stronger side. Why so? The Sixers icon took notes from Stan Van Gundy and Reggie Miller, who believe the Celtics have four players that can guard Doncic and Irving. Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown are elite on-ball defenders. 

Doncic and the Mavs escaped the defense against the teams on the West with just a screen and a mismatch. Anyhow, that might not be the case against the Celtics. Barkley said, “They got four guys that can guard Luka and Kyrie. And Luka and Kyrie can’t guard those guys on the other end in my opinion.” Barkley is not scared of the Mavericks, but that’s not the case with everybody. 

 Many fear the Celtics and believe they have the best chance to win the title this year. However, a Boston Celtics champ is doubting his own team when Doncic is put in the conversation.

2008 champion from the Boston Celtics finds Luka Doncic to be scary on the court 

Paul Pierce, aka The Truth, who played for the Boston Celtics, has been supporting them ever since. He and Kevin Garnett delivered the last championship for the Celtics back in 2008. In a conversation before game 5 today, Pierce shared his thoughts about Doncic. 

He told KG, “Luka scares the living hell out of me… This is when we saw him live… The way he controls the game when you’re actually there… It was like goddamn.” Pierce did not hesitate to compare him with Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, to delve deep into his killer mentality. 

KG was also on the same page as Pierce, and notably, he had a contradicting take to that of Barkley. KG pointed out that Doncic doesn’t care who defends him. The Slovenian guard plays the game at his own slow pace, which makes him unguardable. Who is right here? KG or Barkley? We will only know when Doncic faces off against the Celtics. 

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato had to say about the marketing genius, watch this video: