Heading into Game 1 on Thursday, much of the Finals discourse has focused on the team’s stars. Will it be Jayson Tatum or Luka Doncic taking the title of Best Player Today? Who will prevail over their former team: Kristaps Porzingis or Kyrie Irving? Will Jaylen Brown complete his disrespect tour with a Finals MVP?
Alas, as our Rich Jensen is fond of reminding us, basketball is a team sport and a player's stat line is just as much a reflection of the team's strategy as it is their individual prowess and in this year's Finals, it might also represent the opposing team's strategy even more.