Locked On Celtics - Daily Podcast On The Boston Celtics Locked On Podcast Network

The Boston Celtics are one win away from winning it all, and there are a few narratives that need to change. After taking some time to join Brian Windhorst in yelling at Luka Doncic, John Karalis of Boston Sports Journal and Tom Westerholm discuss the shifting takes on Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Joe Mazzulla's coaching.

The Celtics took a big hit from the Dallas Mavericks in the first quarter, kept their wits about them, and hung around long enough for Jaylen Brown to get going in the third quarter and help build a lead big enough to hold on for the win. John Karalis of Boston Sports Journal is in Dallas where Boston held on after losing most of their 21 point lead, but not all of it. They are now one win away from their 18th banner.

Kristaps Porzingis suffered a rare foot injury that's been described as a "reverse Curt Schilling," and he's questionable for Game 3 of the NBA Finals. It's possible he can play, but it's possible he'll miss time, even the rest of the Finals. John Karalis of Boston Sports Journal and Tom Westerholm break down the injury and what Boston's options are if Porzingis misses time. Will it be Luke Kornet? Will Oshae Brissett or Xavier Tillman get a shot? Or will Jayson Tatum have to play the five?

We're looking for ways the Mavs can actually slow down the Celtics, and neither of the options -- a zone or just giving up mismatches and daring Jayson Tatum to beat them -- seem like they're going to work for Dallas. So is there a way for them to stop the Celtics attack? John Karalis of Boston Sports Journal and Tom Westerholm discuss that, get into Jayson Tatum's actual brilliance in this series (don't be fooled by poor shooting), and why Joe Mazzulla is doing a great coaching job. Also, why the timing was just right for all of this to come together.

The Celtics followed the same game plan and got a similar result in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, letting Luka Doncic get his, making Kyrie Irving inefficient, and making Dereck Lively ineffective. The result was a win and a 2-0 lead despite their terrible shooting night. John Karalis of Boston Sports Journal explains why this worked again, why this is a loss Dallas will regret, why the Celtics did the right thing by continuing to shoot, and how Dallas might be out of answers.

Are the Mavs already desperate enough to be trying mind games against Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown? Jason Kidd's comments might be that, or they might be some gamesmanship, but whatever it is, it's an acknowledgment that the Mavs need some help from Boston to even the series. John Karalis of Boston Sports Journal says the Celtics should just do what they did in Game 1 all over again and see if Dallas has any answers. They should also tap into the head coaches they have around the team to figure out adjustments they might need to make just in case.