Kyrie Irving has pulled a disappearing act in the first two games of the Finals, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post writes.
The Mavericks guard has scored a total of 28 points on 13-for-37 shooting in the series after pouring in 30-plus points six times earlier in the postseason, Bondy notes.
“A lot of shots were hitting the back rim. That could piss you off as a competitor, but it’s all part of the game of basketball,” Irving said, adding, “A little disappointed in myself not being able to convert a lot more on my opportunities that I have in the lane. Obviously, I’m going against Jrue Holiday and Jaylen Brown a few times, but I feel like I have the upper edge on certain possessions where I’ve just got to convert. They are pushing me to my left hand a little bit more. I have to be aware of some of their adjustments, like I was in Game 1. … Offensively, I have to play better.”
We have more on the Mavs:
- Despite posting a triple-double in Game 2, Luka Doncic put the blame on himself for the 105-98 loss, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. Doncic committed eight turnovers and missed half of his eight free throws. “I think my turnovers and my missed free throws cost us the game,” Doncic said. Coach Jason Kidd disagreed with his superstar’s assessment. “He was really good (Sunday). Unfortunately, we just couldn’t get over the hump,” Kidd said. “I thought our defense was really, really good. We’ve just got to take care of the ball.”
- While the West is generally considered the toughest of the two conferences, P.J. Washington says the Celtics are superior to any of the teams they’ve faced in the playoffs. “They’re just better,” he said, per Tim Cato of The Athletic. “At the end of the day, they are better than all the teams we’ve played. It’s the Finals, and we’ve just got to be better.”
- Following along that theme, John Hollinger of The Athletic writes that of the seven best players in the series, all but two are playing for the Celtics. He concludes the only way Dallas can rally to win the series is if the Celtics beat themselves.
Luka needs more than what Kyrie can offer…
He needs a Pippen…
They already have Pippens. Wings who defend and score a little and are sidekicks.
Luka needs Kyrie Irving just to step up and be Kyrie Irving. Dallas needs another closer so Luka doesn’t have to do everything himself.
Pippen wouldn’t help him, he would be Derek Jones Jr. Defensively would be great but offensively just a guy with maybe 15 or so. Yes Pippen is a lot better than Derrick Jones but I think you catch my drift. Luka needs a closer, not a to do it all wing.
Luka and or the coaching staff could change the way they think a bit in my opinion. Look at Tatum, shooting like shaq from deep but trust’s others and its paying dividends to date this finals. Obviously roster construction plays a part. Push the ball a bit. Move the ball, player movement etc. Everything Dallas do is off luka and kyrie iso or pick game, Boston can switch everything. Kyrie refused to play like that in Boston, I’m glad he left. Try something different or more of the same on the way. Who’s stopping luka on the block or high post? Problem with that is mavs bigs can’t shoot. They’d have to go Kleber @ 5, Jones @ 4 with Hardaway jr and kyrie locked and loaded ready to react if luka gets doubled. Not many smarter basketball brains than J.Kidd I’m sure he’ll have something up his sleeve, or not?
I catch your drift…
But there’s an overlap in positions and play with Luka and Kyrie…
A Pippen type, who can operate as a secondary playmaker and make big shots on top of stellar defence is what is needed…
That’s certainly true. In the NBA it’s all about wings and you can’t have too many great Wings who defend and play-make and all the rest of it. They will only help you that’s for sure.
Do you go and cry about Kyrie every time he is mentioned? Good grief get a life. I noticed you went ghost after I posted his playoff numbers after you claimed he had nothing to do with the Mavs being in the finals. But hey it’s a new day and you still decide not to let facts get in the way of your story. Comical.
I’m sorry I made you cry, I have a life and don’t live for your childish words…
Kyrie needs Luka, Luka needs someone better than Kyrie…
I’m crying? You are literally crying about Kyrie every article he is mentioned haha hypocrisy knows no bounds. “I have a life” yes we know complaining about Kyrie on every post hahaha great life you have got there. Facts > fiction. Give it a try sometime.
lol the nba media went from best scoring backcourt all time to Doncic needs help. lol
Don’t forget the Mavs bigs we’re going to destroy Boston, a kid and Gafford. Neither can shoot and the lob threat been a total non event so far. A slow paced team who rely largely on a pick game probably isn’t the best match up for Boston’s versatility on D. Mavs other guys should be better at home though that said.
Yes good call by both of you. I have the Mavericks but it doesn’t look good. Defense wins championships and Jrue Holiday sure has been a tremendous two-way pickup for Boston.
Luka needs help…
The Mavs need more than scoring out of Kyrie as well…
In Luka we trust!
Kyrie is just proving his most overrated “super star” in nba history the media and fans make it seem like the guy can carry a rebuilding team to a championship but the truth is he doesn’t elevate a team around him, he didn’t make to the playoffs until 2 hall of famers in Lebron and Klove came to Cleveland, we all know what happened in Boston the young guys played better without him
Yeah I guess the media made Kyrie have 6 30 point playoff games this postseason. I guess the media made Kyrie the highest PPG scorer in the second half of this postseason. Can we please make it to where you have to pass a breathalyzer before posting on here?
Very true… His time in Boston showed him to be over rated…
He sure does have some crazy fans…
So you just skip over facts and go to calling others crazy? Why can’t you respond to the 6 30 point games in the playoffs since he did nothing to get them there according to you? Get some facts and then talk. Until then you will be nothing but a troll and a clown.
Kyrie is doubled every touch by two 6’3 guards. Both all nba defense. You are dismissed.
‘
Buddha, yes, true !! The wings aren’t going to beat you and the big men aren’t going to beat you on their own.
It’s going to be Luka and Kyrie and the Celtics have attempted to put them both on lockdown. It’s a little more difficult with Luca at 6-7 and he can rise above the six- four guards with his fade-away, but doubling Kyrie perhaps takes away some of his quickness when there’s another guy there once he gets past the first man.
Pretty good coaching by Boston but let’s see what adjustments the Mavericks make at home. Look forward to game 3 that’s for sure.
The Post article has the wrong premise.
They should have written; The #1 Defense in the NBA is shutting down Kyrie.
The rest is noise.
This series shows that people just put way too much stock in regular season numbers. Minnesota’s defense isn’t that amazing, they are just tall, which is an advantage moreso against non-dynamic offenses… 95% of regular season games are against bad teams with non-dynamic offenses.
In the playoffs, I will always take athletic and versatile defenders like Jrue, Tatum, and Brown over Karl “please don’t run” Towns.
Coming into the series I was pretty confident Boston’s defense would shine. My only doubt was on the scoring. Won’t take much of an adjustment for Mavs to outscore Boston. In fact if they shot the same free throw percentage Boston did, the series would already be tied. Or if Kyrie shot his career average, or his playoff average. So this series is far from over.