So far, the Mavericks’ decision to re-sign Kyrie Irving is paying off, Tim MacMahon of ESPN writes. The Mavs currently rank sixth in the Western Conference standings and are considered a dangerous playoff matchup due to their dynamic backcourt.
“I feel like a lot of people misjudged me,” Irving told MacMahon. “Dallas gave me a chance to just focus on the main thing, which is being the best basketball player when I stepped foot here, and then off the court still support me.”
Irving has often come through in the clutch in close games this season, MacMahon notes. Irving feels an on-court connection to Luka Doncic.
“He’s a winner. I’m a winner,” Irving said. “He’s a big gamer. I’m a big gamer. We like going against the best. That’s where I feel like we connect.”
We have more on the Mavs:
- Grant Williams doesn’t like talking about it, but injuries could be the cause of his inconsistent first season with the club, according to Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News. Acquired in a sign-and-trade with Boston, Williams lost his starting job after missing one game with a right knee bruise and two more with soreness in the same knee. He also missed a game early this month with a right ankle sprain. “You’ve got to stay disciplined, keep the work and keep being mindful of every little thing that’s going on. No matter the health, no matter what’s going on off the floor, you have to approach every single day like it could be your last,” Williams said. “No matter if I’m 100%, 60% or 50%, I’m gonna give this team all I have. If it’s 50, hopefully that 50 was valuable enough to help us get a win.”
- First-round pick Olivier-Maxence Prosper could be the answer to the team’s defensive issues, Noah Weber of TheSmokingCuban.com argues. The team could use his rebounding and positional size, Weber writes, noting that Prosper is 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and solid frame. “I want to guard the best players in the world,” Prosper said. “This is just a stepping stone towards that. I believe I will be that [a defensive anchor] for the Mavs.” Prosper has appeared in 23 games but none since Jan. 5.
- Breaking down the roster and the team’s assets, ESPN’s Bobby Marks explains in his video trade guide (Twitter link) why it’s unlikely the team can put together a package for a starting power forward like the Wizards’ Kyle Kuzma or the Trail Blazers’ Jerami Grant.
Mavs are a 2nd round exit at best with Kyrie…
If they even make the playoffs. They’re in the play in as it stands.
Exactly…
A lot of hype for 6th spot and both Luka and Kyrie have been healthy for their standards.
Since when did Kyrie’s other teams NOT allow him to focus on the main thing? As always, a narcissist finds a way to blame everyone else but themselves for things that went wrong.
And I wouldn’t exactly call missing 16 of the team’s first 43 games a success, especially given his injury history. The Mavs have held up because they made good moves in the offseason.
As it stands right now Dallas is an 8 seed.
How is that “paying off?” The Mavs are a mess.
Luka took ti the WCF he can do it again. But they need more. Lively was a great pick. Play Prosper and see what he has.
“I’m a big gamer”, says the guy who ranks outside the top 100 for clutch true shooting almost every season of his career.
Kyrie’s entire clutch reputation is built on the one shot in the 2016 finals.
Too true…
He’s made an entire narrative off of that one time in band camp… lol
Nobody misjudged you Kyrie. And the fact that you still fail to claim any responsibility only confirms how right everyone was!!!
Mavs-Wizards trade. Kuzma and Gafford for Grant, Holmes, Prosper, Hardy, and Mavs 2027 first rounder.
Wizards get 3 young’s with potential and a first round and Mavs get the power forward and back up center they need.
Bruce for Hardaway Jr & Maxence-Propser with w pick works too.
Bruce for Prosper, Holmes, Powell and a first works too. Either or.