The Celtics’ path to victory may lie in managing expectations, treating NBA Finals like any other games - The Boston Globe (2024)

For Tatum, this series is an opportunity to cement his label as an all-time great Celtic, and to atone for his subpar performance against the Warriors two years ago.

The environment is different. In 2022, the Celtics won Game 7 in Miami on May 29, returned to Boston for a quick respite and then headed to San Francisco for Game 1 of the Finals on June 2. This time, the Celtics will have had nine days without a game when they face the Mavericks on Thursday.

“It’s a lot that myself and we can learn from that experience, being in the Finals,” Tatum said Saturday. “This go around is a lot different. Obviously we’ve been there before, we came up short. It’s a great opportunity to make it to the Finals again. You don’t always get a second chance and [I’m] really looking at it as a second chance. Try to simplify things as much as we can. It’s another series we’ve got to win.”

Mazzulla has stressed eliminating expectations for any series. The Celtics will win how they win, whatever way that is. They eked out three wins in sweeping the Pacers. Against Dallas, there will continue to be no expectations for how this series needs to be won. In other words, the Celtics need to be good at everything.

“They present a ton of challenges but the keys remain the same,” Mazzulla said. “Staying open-minded to the things we have to do throughout the series. We talk about every series is different. Every game is different. It will be a challenge for us and we have to be ready for it.”

The past few days have been spent ramping up practice after a few days off. Kristaps Porzingis participated Saturday and appears in line to play Game 1. Time off has allowed the Celtics to nurse injuries, regain footing after playing every other day against Indiana, and scout the differences between the Mavericks on March 1 (when the Celtics won by 28 points) and the team that beat higher seeds in its three playoff series.

“Understand that moment that we’re in,” Tatum said. “Having nine days off is kind of good for your body, for everybody to get healthy. But we’re in the NBA Finals and we’re also anxious and excited to play. I wish it did start a little bit earlier. A lot of guys have been here before. We understand the magnitude of the moment, guys starting sharp, guys staying fresh.”

Players from that 2022 team remember the quick turnaround. They were celebrating in Miami and then inundated by international media a few days later in San Francisco. Were they tired? Perhaps. Did they wear down under the intensity of the Finals? Golden State may have had something to do with that.

But there will be no excuses about a lack of preparation or rest this time. The Celtics have been eyeing the Mavericks since they took control of the Western Conference finals. Doncic and Irving present challenges the Celtics have yet to see in the postseason. Dallas is riding high after dominating Minnesota in five games. Doncic, like Tatum, wants to verify his greatness with a championship. Irving wants to prove he’s still an elite player and his misdoings are in the past.

Both teams have motivations and agendas.

“[The Mavericks are] playing their best basketball right now, playing at a high level,” Celtics center Al Horford said. “It’s going to be fun. For us, it’s very beneficial (to have time off) just because there’s a lot of emotions, a lot of hard work that goes into these playoff series. They definitely take a toll on you. I definitely think it’s good for us to get this time.

“The first time (in 2022), it felt like a roller coaster, just a lot going on, increased coverage in media, all the responsibilities we had and everything that came with it. This time around we all have an understanding. We know what things are like and I feel like we’ll be able to manage it better.”

The time off has allowed the Celtics to take a deep breath and reflect. They have to be prepared for the ultimate challenge.

“That whole thing is about not having a sense of entitlement,” Mazzulla said. “You just can’t be entitled to think you’re going to win a game or you’re going to be a harder playing team. You can’t go into this thinking it’s going to be an easy road. It just takes what it takes. As long as you’re open-minded to the journey and the process and all the details that go in and then at the same time you’re able to respond when things don’t go your way.

“That’s what you have to be ready for in any fight. That’s life.”

Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.