In the NBA Finals, Kyrie Irving must step up for the Mavericks.
The Dallas Mavericks are in a difficult situation. They currently trail the Boston Celtics 0-2 after Game 2 of the NBA Finals, which makes it even harder for them to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
In both of the series’ games, the Mavericks have faced a well-oiled Celtics machine. Boston has demonstrated that they can provide the offensive firepower necessary to win games in this series with their five-out blitz. Whoever steps up in the scoring department will get things started, doesn’t matter.
After coming off the Celtics’ bench in Game 1, Kristaps Porziņģis scored 20 points in just 21 minutes of play. In Game 2, the team’s top scorer was none other than Julius Holiday, who scorched for 26 points. Jaylen Brown manages to score over 20 points a game with efficiency during all of this.
In both of the series’ games, at least five players for the Celtics have scored double digits in points. Since the Celtics’ offense may realistically come from anywhere, it has been difficult for the Mavericks to defend them.
Dallas, meantime, hasn’t enjoyed the same luxury.In this series, Luka Dončić has proven to be dependable as always. In spite of several persistent injuries reappearing, he has averaged at least 30 points per game. The ensemble hasn’t been as trustworthy.
Kyrie Irving, Dončić’s co-star, has had particularly noteworthy troubles. Upon arriving in the NBA Finals, Dončić has become a one-man show after the two dominated their journey there. That has to alter if the Mavericks are to have any chance of winning this series.
Irving’s Challenges During the NBA Playoffs
Irving has started the series against the Celtics horribly, considering how crucial he has been to the Mavericks’ success during these playoffs. Considering that the second-best player on the team is performing below expectations, it’s understandable why the Mavericks are behind 0–2.
| Irving’s Stats in the NBA Finals | |
|---|---|
| PPG | 14.0 |
| APG | 4.0 |
| FG | 6.5 |
| FGA | 18.5 |
| FG% | 35.1 |
| 3P% | 0 |
Irving is undoubtedly making the amount of shots he needs to, but they aren’t falling frequently enough or they are being swarming by the Celtics defense. Of all his on-field difficulties, going 0 for 8 after two games from beyond the arc seems especially concerning.
What Makes The Mavericks Winning?
The combination of Dončić and Irving’s dominance has carried them this far.
Throughout these playoffs, the dynamic tandem of Dončić and Irving had been so good that they were getting calls to be the best backcourt ever. The first two games of this series have seen a swift and quiet cessation of that chatter.
Although Dončić has always taken the brunt of criticism and focused on improving his own game, he hasn’t been the problem.
| Dončić’s Stats in the NBA Finals | |
|---|---|
| PPG | 31.0 |
| RPG | 10.5 |
| APG | 6.0 |
| SPG | 3.0 |
| FG% | 51.1 |
| 3P% | 38.1 |
Luka has suffered two losses thus far, but his stats are impressive. There has not been any defensive coverage by the Celtics to impede his output. Dončić has persisted in finding a way despite the Celtics having talented players at their disposal.
A Dončić solo performance will never be sufficient to win the series against a team as strong as the Celtics. In order to get back to the NBA Finals, Irving needs to relive his magic from this postseason.
| Irving’s 2024 Playoff Stats: Series By Series | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Clippers | Thunder | Timberwolves |
| PPG | 26.5 | 15.7 | 27.0 |
| APG | 4.7 | 6.2 | 4.6 |
| SPG | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.6 |
| FG% | 51.4 | 44.0 | 49.0 |
| 3P% | 44.9 | 42.3 | 37.5 |
The Mavericks have faced some formidable defensive teams. Irving has only had a little trouble scoring in one series, and that was against the Oklahoma City Thunder. When he did, Irving compensated by elevating his playwriting.
A true test of the Mavericks’ ability to overcome formidable defensive players should have come in the Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After finishing first in the regular season, Minnesota was able to maintain its strong defensive rating throughout the postseason. Despite all the obstacles, Irving excelled in that series.
The Mavericks need that Irving if they hope to become just the sixth team in finals history to overcome a 0–2 deficit.
