This season’s NBA Finals have moved forward without fully meeting fans’ expectations, and 12B Sports VR46 officials also believed the series would become a hard-fought battle lasting at least six games. Reality has gone in the opposite direction. The Boston Celtics currently hold a commanding 3-0 lead over the Dallas Mavericks, and the possibility of the series ending in a sweep has grown stronger. Some fans have even voiced regret, saying it might have been more entertaining if Minnesota had reached the Finals instead.
As the Celtics’ dominant performances are compared with Dallas’ lack of answers, many people have naturally looked back to two years ago, when the Golden State Warriors defeated Boston to win the championship. At that time, the Celtics were also seen by many experts as title favorites, yet the Warriors turned the tables and lifted the trophy. So what separates today’s Mavericks from that Warriors team? Among fans, the debate has even grown into the question of whether Luka Doncic falls short of Stephen Curry.
To answer that, it is necessary to compare the tactical style and roster structure of both teams. The Celtics back then were already a strong defensive side, much like they are now. Although they did not have Jrue Holiday, Marcus Smart and Grant Williams were central pieces of their defense. Even so, the Warriors were able to take control against that defense because their overall defensive strength was far greater than what the Mavericks currently offer. Golden State had several players such as Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, and Draymond Green who could defend on the perimeter and switch across matchups.
By contrast, Dallas currently lacks perimeter defenders who can truly compare with those three. That defensive gap gives Boston’s dual stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, more room to operate, and those openings quickly turn into points. In 2022, the Warriors forced Boston’s main scorers into uncomfortable spots, drew mistakes, and created many fast-break chances from those errors. Golden State’s tactical system was also not built around just one or two players. It had a complex structure that allowed everyone to be involved in the attack.
Curry and Klay Thompson wore down the Celtics’ defense with constant off-ball movement, while the ball flowed naturally from one option to another. This year’s Mavericks, however, have shown a simpler attacking pattern centered on Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Against a well-organized defensive team like Boston, that approach is easier to read. The current Celtics seem confident that if they can slow Doncic, they can disrupt the entire rhythm of Dallas’ offense.
According to 12B Sports VR46 analysis, the Celtics who faced the Warriors at that time could not find a clear weakness in Curry. On the contrary, Curry held up well defensively with strong physicality, and that has become a major point of separation in comparisons with Doncic. In this series, Doncic has become the main target of Boston’s pressure, while his repeated defensive weaknesses have shaken the overall stability of the Mavericks.
In the end, the difference goes beyond individual star power. In defensive capacity, tactical variety, and collective organization, the Warriors clearly stood above the Mavericks. As the saying goes, the past is gone but the lesson remains, and the NBA Finals through 12B Sports VR46 perspective once again show that harmony, depth, and team balance matter far more than simply leaning on star talent.