3. Size still wins in the NBA
The Los Angeles Lakers won the 2019-20 NBA championship behind the greatness of Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Both were exceptional throughout the run to the Lakers' 17th title, which is a big reason why they're still teammates in 2024.
One of the most important elements of the Lakers' success that season, however, was the addition of bigs who could provide depth and size down low.
As the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks prepare to clash in the NBA Finals, both teams have taken a similar approach. Boston parted ways with Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart to bring in Kristaps Porzingis, while Dallas took chances on Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and PJ Washington.
The result has been Boston allowing the fewest second-chance points of any team this postseason, while Dallas ranks No. 4 in points allowed in the paint.
Looking back to 2020, no team scored more points in the paint than the Lakers that postseason. In the Western Conference Finals, Davis and Dwight Howard led a balanced rotation of defenders who managed to do the unthinkable and hold Nikola Jokic in check.
As the Celtics and Mavericks have proven, investing in the interior is still a viable path to competing for a championship just four years later.