How an NFL Stadium Transformed into a Swimming Pool for U.S. Olympic Trials

How an NFL Stadium Transformed into a Swimming Pool for U.S. Olympic Trials

INDIANAPOLIS—It’s so huge you can’t smell the chlorine.

The dominant sensory experience upon entering any pool area is the olfactory assault of chlorine, the chemical that keeps the water clean. More than the sight of the blue water or the sound of splashing, the smell of a pool is pungent and universal. But that’s not the case in Lucas Oil Stadium, which has been repurposed for the next 10 days as the world’s largest indoor swimming venue.

The space is sufficiently vast that unless you’re on the pool deck or in the water, the whiff of chlorine is not part of the package for these U.S. Olympic Trials.

USA Swimming has seen its signature event outgrow the conventional pools that once hosted Trials, like the Jamail Texas Swim Center in Austin or the IUPUI Natatorium, just a few blocks from Lucas Oil. It has outgrown a basketball venue, after a run of four Trials from 2008 to ’21 in Omaha. Now, it’s time to try an NFL stadium on for size.

“We’re taking a swing,” acknowledged USA Swimming CEO Tim Hinchey, as he gave Sports Illustrated a tour of the venue last week. “We’re seizing the opportunity to amplify our sport.”

America has a long history of thinking big in terms of staging non-football competitions in football stadiums. From the UCLA–Houston men’s basketball game in the Astrodome in 1968 to the NHL’s annual Winter Classic to Nebraska playing a women’s volleyball game in front of 92,000 fans last year, we as a nation love creating massive sports spectacles. But this is a new one.

It took some grand gumption to put swimming—one of the centerpiece Olympic competitions every four years, but otherwise a fringe sport—in a place like this.

The idea took root over steak and red wine at Harry & Izzy’s in downtown Indy in 2018. Local business mogul Scott Davison and Hinchey, a pair of old swimmers, were getting aspirational about how to take their favorite sport to another level.

“Are you serious about hosting Olympic Trials in a football stadium?” Hinchey asked Davison.

“I’m dead serious about it,” Davison replied. 

Driving home after dinner, Davison called then-president of Indiana Sports Corporation, Ryan Vaughn. Davison, CEO of OneAmerica Financial, was worried he might have over-promised on behalf of civic leaders.

“Hey, Ryan,” Davison said. “Are we serious about hosting Olympic Trials in a football stadium? Because I just said we are.”

“Damn right we are,” Vaughn said.

So the path toward this event was set. Recent published reports attributed the notion to some blue-sky thinking by USA Swimming chief commercial officer Shana Ferguson during the 2021 Trials in Omaha, but in reality this plan preceded that moment by several years.

(In April 2021, during the pandemic-altered Final Four in Lucas Oil, local sources pointed out the setup of two courts separated by a giant curtain and said the same design was in play for swim Trials. In June of that year, SI was the first to report about plans to move the event out of Omaha and into Indy’s NFL stadium.)

Davison swam collegiately and even coached for a while. He’s still immersed in the sport. He has a two-lane lap pool in his backyard and routinely has Masters swimmers traipsing in and out in the mornings. (“I would have built a one-lane pool, but I like people,” he says.) Hinchey is among those who have gotten in some laps in the backyard.

With those two leading the way and Indy Sports Corp. onboard, plans proceeded and crystalized. USA Swimming took bids from four cities to host this year’s Trials— Omaha, St. Louis and Minneapolis were the other three—and Indy won out.

The city’s centralized geography and hosting history were major factors. Indy has hosted or co-hosted Olympic Trials six other times, and this marks the 100th anniversary of the first one. (Then, like now, the Trials selected a team that would go on to compete in Paris.) The 1987 Pan American Games were in the city, as was the 2002 FIBA World Championship. It also has become an anchor Final Four location, in addition to hosting the 2022 College Football Playoff championship game and the 2012 Super Bowl.

“The Olympic Trials will bolster our reputation as a world-class sports city,” said current Indiana Sports Corporation CEO Patrick Talty.

The Colts, clearly, had to be onboard with the concept. So did the operators of the stadium. The latter was an easy sell.

The construction of the pool in Indianapolis was still ongoing in late May.The construction of the pool in Indianapolis was still ongoing in late May.

The construction of the pool in Indianapolis was still ongoing in late May. / Joe Timmerman/IndyStar / USA TODAY

Stadium director Eric Neuburger is the son of Dale Neuburger, who was the vice president of World Aquatics for 21 years and previously worked with USA Track & Field and the IUPUI Natatorium. Eric was one of the “basket kids” at the 1992 Trials, tasked with carrying swimmers’ sweats, shoes and other belongings off the pool deck after races.

His reaction to the idea of building a pool in his stadium: “Bring it on. I live for this stuff. Swimming has been an important part of my life, so I was all for trying to make this happen. … The emerald-green turf is now diamond-blue water.”

Ferguson relocated from USA Swimming headquarters in Colorado Springs to Indy more than a month ago to oversee construction and sweat the details. While Hinchey has worked the marketing and promotion angles, Ferguson has been the logistical driver.

A few weeks ago, she watched as a fire hydrant on Capitol Avenue was cranked open, sending a million gallons of water gushing into Lucas Oil via pipes to fill the competition pool. Then another million went into the warmup and warmdown pool. Everything else has come together around that most vital element.

“We’re almost there,” Ferguson said last week.

Barring logistical mishaps or complete fan apathy, USA Swimming’s vault into football venues may well re-set the bar for the sport’s Olympic Trials in the future. This could be more than just a one-off big swing; it could be the norm.

“It’s going to be hard to go back,” Davison says.

They’ve built it, using the same technology that created a temporary pool in the CHI Health Center in Omaha, where the Creighton Bluejays play home basketball games. Now will the fans come?

That remains to be seen. With a capacity of 70,000 for football, the Lucas Oil swimming venue was ambitiously constructed with up to 30,000 seats. Reach exceeded grasp. In truth, USA Swimming would be happy to average half that over nine days and nights of competition. 

The stated goal is to break a world indoor attendance record on opening night Saturday, with the 2016 Rio Olympics credited with maximum crowds of about 16,000, according to Hinchey. (The venue for that meet had a listed capacity of 14,997.)

Even a record crowd could look and sound a bit sparse in this setup. The hope for USA Swimming is that the noise and energy of this dramatic and pressurized meet doesn’t dissipate into unoccupied space.

Regardless how many fans show up, this is the biggest stage for a swim meet in history. Even the most seasoned veterans like Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel are destined to have a “wow” moment upon first sight. The pool measures the same as always—50 meters in length with 10 lanes, eight of which will be used for competition—but the scale of everything surrounding it is spectacularly grand.

Out front of the building, a statue of Peyton Manning is dwarfed by a massive mural on the side featuring multi-stroke star Kate Douglass, who has a chance to be one of the stars of this summer for the U.S.

The Colts' stadium will be the biggest stage for a swim meet in history.The Colts' stadium will be the biggest stage for a swim meet in history.

The Colts' stadium will be the biggest stage for a swim meet in history. / Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY

Inside, swimmers will stand on the starting blocks with the names of Indianapolis Colts’ Ring of Honor heroes at their backs. When they finish, they will be churning toward Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James, Eric Dickerson and Tony Dungy.

Swimmers will walk onto the competition pool deck via an entryway with a 70-foot video board overhead. The board will showcase each athlete as they’re introduced for finals.

Another giant, four-sided video board/scoreboard has been placed above the pool, which will come in handy for a couple of interested parties: fans who are seated farther away from the pool than they were in Omaha; and the competitors themselves, who will have a point of reference while swimming backstroke (better than the disorienting feeling of staring up into the darkness of the ceiling). Times also will be displayed on the bottom of the board, which should aid swimmers who have had to crane their necks to find crucial information at the end of their races.

Other competitor-friendly implementations that are new here: 

From the pool deck to the upper deck, the fan experience will be different as well. Fans will have the opportunity to be wined and dined to the extent that their wallets can afford. Suites have been sold out, and there are hospitality areas available for VIPs. 

But the swellest of the swell perks is a “speakeasy” dubbed the Dive Bar—a couple of converted field-level suites with windows that will provide underwater views of the competition pool during warmups before night-time finals.

Whether USA Swimming ends up underwater financially from this big swing remains to be seen. But you can’t change the scale of a sport by thinking small.

“We want to showcase how great our sport is,” Hinchey says from the pool deck in an NFL stadium, his ambitious vision towering around him.

Jayson Tatum Had Classy Answer on Not Worrying About NBA Finals MVP

Jayson Tatum Had Classy Answer on Not Worrying About NBA Finals MVP

The Boston Celtics are up 3–0 on the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals, and could win a championship on Friday night in Game 4.

Forward Jayson Tatum is ready to add a championship to his resume, but not just for himself. He wants to win the title for all of his teammates, too. So, he isn't really focused on the additional accolades winning the finals can bring, like being named the NBA Finals MVP.

"Finals MVP or whatever, a champion is a champion. That's the goal," Tatum told Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes. "I want for my teammates what I want for myself. I want everybody to shine. There's enough attention for all of us. And so, I want everybody to give us theirs."

Tatum added that because the Celtics recently lost in the NBA Finals, back in 2022 to the Golden State Warriors, he wants to win this title to prove the doubters wrong. Critics will emphasize that while Tatum has earned some of the top achievements in the NBA, he still doesn't have a championship.

"Because I've been here before, and I know what it felt like to lose [in the Finals] and that was the worst feeling ever," Tatum said. "That was the worst summer I ever had. I made the All-Star team five times. I'm All-NBA first team year after year. The only thing they said I haven't done is win. ... I just vowed to myself that if I ever got back to the Finals, then I would literally do whatever I needed to do to ensure that we have a different outcome."

If the Celtics win the franchise's 18th title on Friday, the organization will lead NBA history for the most titles as the Los Angeles Lakers have 17. The Celtics last won in 2008.

Patrick Cantlay Shoots 65, Leads Early in Opening Round at U.S. Open

Patrick Cantlay Shoots 65, Leads Early in Opening Round at U.S. Open

PINEHURST, N.C. — Patrick Cantlay is on the short list of the best golfers without a major title. He’s off to a good start to remove his name from that list.

The eight-time PGA Tour winner and ninth-ranked player in the world shot 5-under 65 Thursday morning at Pinehurst No. 2 in the opening round of the 124th U.S. Open, leading by one over Ludvig Åberg with the afternoon wave still set to tee off.

Cantlay, a 32-year-old California native who played collegiately at UCLA, is making his 30th major start. He has never missed a cut in the U.S. Open, with high finishes of T14 the last two years.

Xander Schauffele, his closest friend on Tour, won his first major last month at the PGA Championship. Cantlay finished T53 that week at Valhalla Golf Club.

On Thursday Cantlay made six birdies against just one bogey at perilous Pinehurst No. 2, where domed green complexes repel shots in all directions and act as the course’s primary defense against the game’s best players. Cantlay had just 23 putts.

Two-time U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka, for example, shot 33 on the front nine and got to 3 under through 10 holes but gave all that back with three bogeys in a four-hole stretch and shot even-par 70.

Åberg, a 24-year-old Swede ranked sixth in the world, shot 4-under 66 in his first U.S. Open round. Pavon, a native of France who was a surprise winner earlier this year at Torrey Pines, got to 5 under through 10 holes with eagles on both of Pinehurst's par 5s but made two bogeys the rest of the way to shoot 67.

Tony Finau, who has won six times on Tour and is also in the best-without-a-major conversation, shot 68.

Sam Bennett, Corey Conners, Sergio Garcia, S.H. Kim and Aaron Rai all posted 1-under 69s from the morning wave. Garcia, a player on LIV Golf, is making his 25th consecutive U.S. Open start after making the field as alternate from last week’s 36-hole final qualifying. His 69 featured 17 pars and one birdie—good for the sixth bogey-free round in four U.S. Opens played at Pinehurst No. 2.

Tiger Woods shot 4-over 74, playing for the first time since missing the cut at last month’s PGA Championship. Phil Mickelson, who like Woods played at Pinehurst’s first U.S. Open in 1999, shot 9-over 79 with nine bogeys and no birdies.

This U.S. Open has the highest purse ever for a major championship, at $21.5 million with $4.3 million to the winner.

Tom Brady Reveals His Biggest Concern About Broadcasting NFL Games

Tom Brady Reveals His Biggest Concern About Broadcasting NFL Games

1. Tom Brady joined me this week for a brief interview on the latest SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast.

The conversation focused on the seven-time Super Bowl winner’s transition into the Fox broadcast booth this upcoming season.

I asked Brady what he thinks his biggest challenge will be when he joins Kevin Burkhardt on Fox’s A-team in September.

“The important part for me would be how do I continue to make it fun for people to enjoy the viewing experience,” said Brady.

“Sometimes I get a little too serious because I see myself as ‘quarterback Tom Brady’ as opposed to ‘let’s enjoy a great game of football Tom Brady.’ Sometimes I become a little too critical. So I’m trying to make sure I have the right tone. I’m very specific of how I think the game should be played. I want to see the game evolve and grow.”

I told Brady it was fascinating to hear him say being too critical could be a problem for him in the booth because outside of Troy Aikman, analysts across the NFL are far from critical.

“I think there’s a high expectation of how I expect the game to be played because I was there and I saw Coach [Bill] Belichick and I saw Hall of Famers and I played with them and played against them and I played in big games. There’s just a certain expectation level that I see for really great performers,” said Brady.

During the podcast, Brady also explained why he wanted to get into broadcasting, why he took a year off before joining Fox and revealed the game show he’d want to be on as a contestant after playing a game show host in a new Hertz commercial.

You can listen to the SI Media With Jimmy Traina below or on Apple and Spotify.

You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Sports Illustrated‘s YouTube channel.

2. One more thing about Brady: The Patriots held a big celebration Wednesday night as the quarterback's jersey was retired and he was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame. The event was streamed on the Patriots’ website.

I don’t understand what the point is of the NFL having its own network if the NFL Network isn’t going to air something like the Brady celebration. Jay Z performed. Peyton Manning, Belichick and many others spoke. Brady gave a speech.

How does this not air on the NFL Network?

3. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst went viral overnight for calling out Luka Doncic’s performance in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday during an appearance on SportsCenter With Scott Van Pelt. While Windhorst is getting all the attention, my favorite part was SVP’s reaction to Windhorst lighting into Luka.

4. Netflix has released the trailer for its upcoming series, Receiver, which debuts on July 10 and will feature Justin Jefferson, Davante Adams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle.

5. Dan Le Batard landed the first interview with Dan Hurley after he turned down the Lakers job to remain at UConn and Hurley addressed the speculation that he used L.A. for leverage by calling it “one of the worst takes he’s ever heard.”

6. Longtime Eagles radio voice, Merrill Reese, has been announced as the 2024 winner of the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award.

The Hall of Fame describes the award as follows: “Each year, the Hall of Fame recognizes an individual who has dedicated their career to improving radio and television in professional football.”

Somehow, Brent Musburger has never won this award.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: For my wrestling fans who are reading.

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on AppleSpotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on Twitter and Instagram.

Celtics' Kristaps Porziņģis 'Has a Chance' to Play in Game 4 vs. Mavericks

Celtics’ Kristaps Porziņģis ‘Has a Chance’ to Play in Game 4 vs. Mavericks

The complicated and rare lower body injury Kristaps Porzingis suffered in Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals clearly did not affect the Boston Celtics all that much.

After it was reported Porzingis was dealing with a "torn medial retinaculum," the Latvian big man was ruled out for Game 3 shortly before tip-off. The Celtics leaned on Al Horford, as they had for the many games Porzingis missed earlier in the postseason, and turned to Xavier Tillman Sr. for backup duty and he delivered. Boston ultimately prevailed in Game 3, 106-99, to take a nigh-insurmountable 3-0 lead in the Finals.

The Celtics will look to finish off the sweep in Friday's Game 4 and early reporting suggests Porzingis could be healthy enough to help. On Thursday, The Athletic's Shams Charania said Porzingis "has a chance" to suit up for Game 4.

After Wednesday night's victory the Celtics are 10-1 without Porzingis this postseason. They have shown time and time again that they can win without their starting center. But Boston's Game 1 win over Dallas showed how impactful Porzingis can be when he's healthy and cooking. The Celtics won that contest by 18, the only game they've won by double-digits so far.

Wins are wins but Porzingis's presence provides a fairly large buffer for Boston. He averaged 20.1 points and 1.8 blocks per game during the regular season. That production can be compensated for by the extremely strong roster the Celtics boast but there's a trickle-down effect with Porzingis out there and healthy that makes everyone else's lives much easier.

Game 4 tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET in Dallas.

Top Shelf Picks: Best NHL Bets Today (A Side, Total, and Prop Bet for Game 3)

Top Shelf Picks: Best NHL Bets Today (A Side, Total, and Prop Bet for Game 3)

After two days off, the Stanley Cup Final is set to resume on Thursday night when the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers face-off in Game 3 with the Panthers holding a 2-0 series lead.

If you're looking for some bets to place for tonight's game, you've come to the right place. I have a bet locked in on the side, total, and a player prop. Let's jump right into them.

All odds listed in this article are via BetMGM Sportsbook

Oilers -135 vs. Panthers

I'm going to bet the Oilers to get the job done and keep this series alive. They have been fantastic on their home ice throughout the postseason with a 6-3 record and an average goal differential of +0.99 per game. We've already seen they can dominate the Panthers between the blue lines. Despite losing Game 1, they were the better team from start to finish and had the advanced metrics heavily in their favor.

If they can repeat their Game 1 performance and find a way to pop a few goals, they'll be in a great spot to win tonight.

UNDER 5.5 (-115)

I've bet the UNDER in the first two games and I see no reason to back away from that. It's hit in both games and the advanced metrics so far this series have supported the idea both teams are playing a defensive style of hockey.

The Oilers have an expected goals mark of 2.4 per 60 minutes while the Panthers are at 2.33 per 60 minutes. That's a combined expected goals of just 4.73 per game, well below the set total for Game 3 of 5.5. Both teams are also averaging fewer than 10 high-danger scoring chances per game.

Connor McDavid OVER 3.5 shots on goal (-105)

Big players make big plays in big game and that's what I expect from Connor McDavid tonight. He has recorded at least five shots in four of his last six games and he needs to put his team on his back tonight if he wants to get them back in this series.

I'll bet him to record at least four shots on goal tonight.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

You can check out all of Iain's bets here!

Big 12, Conference USA Considering Selling Conferences’ Naming Rights, per Report

Big 12, Conference USA Considering Selling Conferences’ Naming Rights, per Report

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark presented members of the conference with a lucrative first-of-its-kind revenue-generation proposal, Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reports.

At a meeting of Big 12 administrators in Dallas in late May, Yormark proposed for the first time that the conference could sell its naming rights, just as stadiums and bowl games have done. Action Network's Brett McMurphy reported that the Big 12 is in talks with the insurance company Allstate to take over the naming rights. The conference would potentially be named "The Big Allstate Conference" or "The Allstate 12 Conference" if an agreement is reached. (The conference had 14 teams in the 2023–24 academic year and will expand to 16 teams for the ’24 football season.)

The unprecedented sponsorship would generate “hundreds of millions of dollars” for the conference, Dellenger reports, and is expected to generate bids from several companies.

Conference USA is “deeply exploring” a similar move, Dellenger reported later Thursday, in which the league would potentially change its name to “Globe Life Conference USA” or “Globe Life Conference” as part of a multimillion dollar deal with the Texas-based insurance company.

The news comes during a period of immense change for college athletics. The settlement in the House v. NCAA case paved the way for college athletes to receive direct compensation and has schools searching for additional revenue streams to pay players.

The Big 12 is also reportedly considering another unorthodox way to raise funds. Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports reported Thursday that the conference is considering an investment from Luxembourg-based private equity company CVC Capital Partners. The firm would invest between $800 million and $1 billion in exchange for a 15–20% stake in the conference.

The Big 12 is losing its two most high-profile members with the departure of Texas and Oklahoma, who are joining the SEC. Four former Pac-12 schools (Arizona, Arizona State, Utah and Colorado) will officially join the Big 12 on July 1.

UConn’s Dan Hurley Denies Using Lakers Head Coaching Job as a Leverage Play

UConn’s Dan Hurley Denies Using Lakers Head Coaching Job as a Leverage Play

Days after Dan Hurley announced he was turning down the Los Angeles Lakers head coaching job to stay at UConn, the Huskies coach shed more light on his decision during a recent appearance on the Dan LeBatard Show.

Amid speculation that Hurley only entertained the Lakers’ reported interest in him to secure a more lucrative contract at UConn, Hurley calmly stated that he “doesn’t need” the leverage.

“One of the worst takes I’ve heard is that this was a leverage play by me to improve my situation at UConn,” Hurley said on Thursday. “I don’t need leverage here. We’ve won back to back national championships at this place. This was never a leverage situation for me.”

“I’ve had a contract in place here for a couple of weeks, and the financial part in terms of salary has been done for a while,” Hurley continued. “But the idea that this was some conspiracy to get me a sweeter deal at UConn is lazy.”

Hurley added that it was “truly a gut-wrenching decision” to turn down the Lakers’ six-year, $70 million contract offer. He also insinuated that he might have left UConn had the Lakers offered more money.

“To say that it's not a motivating factor—the finances—to leave a place, it's definitely a thing,” Hurley said. “The family connection with my wife and my sons… To leave all that behind, there probably is a number. I don't know what that is.”

The back-to-back NCAA champion signed a six-year, $32.1 million deal with UConn in 2023 and is expected to ink a new contract that will make him one of the highest-paid coaches in college basketball. Hurley’s new deal is “very close to the finishing line,” Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont told reporters on Tuesday

Heading into the upcoming season, the Huskies are seeking a third consecutive national title to become the first team to clinch the three-peat since UCLA won seven straight from 1967 to ‘73.

Derrick White Called Coach Mazzulla a 'Sicko' After Boston's Game 3 Win

Derrick White Called Coach Mazzulla a ‘Sicko’ After Boston’s Game 3 Win

The Boston Celtics had a little scare in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. After a Derrick White three-pointer put Boston up 91-70 with 11:07 remaining in the fourth quarter the Dallas Mavericks went on a 22-2 run to make it a one-point game with 3:37 left in regulation. It must have felt like watching a train crash in slow motion for everyone in Boston, but according to White, there's one person might have enjoyed it: head coach Joe Mazzulla.

White, who had 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots, talked to the press after the game and was asked about how Mazzulla acted down the stretch as the lead disappeared. As Mazzulla said before the game, “The closer you think you are to beating someone, the closer you are to getting your ass kicked." White confirmed that Mazzulla probably enjoyed it because it would allow him to keep telling the team that they have to stay focused.

"Yeah, Joe is consistent the whole time," said White. " And I mean, he's probably so happy that it happened like that so he can just continue to tell us that. He just stays consistent. He just makes the right calls and we trust him completely. Yeah. Seemed pretty true today."

Asked a followup about whether Mazzulla was really enjoying it White said, "He's a sicko, so probably."

The ultimate compliment for any coach. With a 3-0 lead in the Finals, Mazzulla currently has a 121-43 record in the regular season and won 26 of the first 37 postseason games he's coached. Whatever he's saying or doing, it seems to be working. No matter how sick in the head he may seem.

Mavericks vs. Celtics NBA Finals Game 4 Betting Odds, Prediction and Pick

Mavericks vs. Celtics NBA Finals Game 4 Betting Odds, Prediction and Pick

The Boston Celtics are a win away from an 18th NBA title and can do it on the road in Dallas in Game 4 on Friday night. 

The Celtics used a second-half surge to get past the Mavericks in Game 3 and will look to maintain its defensive form en route to a title-winning Game 4 on Friday night. While Kyrie Irving got on track in Game 3, Dallas couldn’t get a top effort from star Luka Doncic, who fouled out for the first time in his postseason career in the loss. 

Despite leading 3-0, Boston is a small underdog on the road. Will Dallas extend the series back to Boston, or is this series a wrap? 

Here’s the full betting preview: 

Spread

Moneyline

Total: 211.5 (Over -106/Under -114)

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

Celtics Injury Report

Kristaps Porzinigs - foot - questionable

Mavericks Injury Report

Luka Doncic - ankle, knee, chest - probable

Celtics vs. Mavericks Key Players to Watch

Boston Celtics

Jayson Tatum: Tatum isn’t scoring all that efficiently, shooting about 36% from the field, but has been able to do it all by averaging nearly nine rebounds and seven assists to go with 21 points per game. He has been invaluable on defense, playing the Mavericks' lob threats at centers and switching on the likes of Doncic. 

Can he put together one more comprehensive effort to lock in a title?

Dallas Mavericks

Luka Doncic: Doncic played his worst game of the series in Game 3, fouling out for the first time in his postseason career, shooting only 40% from the field with 27 points and six rebounds, each series lows, and six assists. Can Doncic lock in to start a historic comeback?

The Celtics were the better team heading into the series, and have justified it through three games, winning three games in different ways, and effectively ending the series. No team has come back from down 3-0 and I’m not counting on Dallas to be the first.

Boston has won with a barrage of three-point makes (Game 1), an off-shooting night (Game 2), and a come-from-behind effort in which the team pulled away late (Game 3). 

The Celtics offense hasn’t been humming for the entirety of the series, but the defense has been at its best from the opening tip. 

While Doncic has been able to score at times, and Irving found his footing in Game 3, the Boston defense has made most shots difficult for the two offensive-minded guards and shut off the water for everybody else on the Mavs. 

Dallas role players are shooting 26% from three on an average of about 12 threes per game. The Celtics have dared the Mavericks to try and win two-on-five on offense and it hasn’t worked. 

I ultimately think there are too many answers on the Boston side for this team that it is the preferred side. The Mavericks don’t have a way to generate clean looks for the likes of Doncic and Irving that a win would result from a cold shooting night from the Celtics. 

However, Boston is only shooting 33.9% from three-point range this series while getting plenty of clean looks. The Celtics are winning while shooting more than two percent worse from distance in the regular season. 

Boston is the clear side, I’ll bet on a sweep. 

PICK: Celtics ML (-104)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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