The Boston Celtics are the final team that stands in the Dallas Mavericks’ way of winning a second NBA title. Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd says the Mavericks are the “underdog” going into the NBA Finals. Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson elaborate on Kidd’s statement.
Shannon Sharpe, aka Unc, and Chad Johnson, aka Ochocinco, recently touched on Jason Kidd’s “We Like the Underdog role” on the Nightcap podcast. Johnson also offered an intriguing perspective on the Mavericks‘ reputation as “underdogs.”
“You know, it’s hard to say that the Mavs are the underdogs. Obviously, I’ve been paying attention to the Mavs throughout the playoffs. They’re playing really well with Kyrie and Luka arguably being the best backcourt duo in a very very long time.” “I don’t see them as underdogs. I respect Kidd for trying to keep his team humble, and for trying to keep his players humble, but they’re definitely not the underdogs. I think it’s based on preference as far as basketball fans go. Some will probably pick Boston, some will probably pick the Mavs as the better team.”
Jason Kidd’s remarks on Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic
As per YahooSports, Jason Kidd stated the following:
“We like the underdog role, we have to be. Boston’s been there before. We’re just a group of guys, that some people say, that just got put together and will play on the playground. It’s cool to see this group come together for a short amount of time and believe, and we got a great group of young men.”
Dallas Mavericks guards Kyrie Irving (2) and Luka Doncic (77) spa hands following a second quarter play against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, February 13, 2023.
Although Chad Johnson acknowledged that Jason Kidd like to keep his players and squad in low profile, the Dallas Mavericks are by no means an underdog this season. The Mavericks have performed admirably in a seven-game series against some of the top Western Conference clubs, regardless of their regular season record.
Dallas defeated the Clippers’ All-Star team, and the Oklahoma City Thunder—the greatest club in the West this year—followed suit. After that, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving defeated the Wolves, who had just defeated the defending NBA champions, to set the stage for an incredible run to the NBA Finals.
