DALLAS – Kyrie Irving, the sidekick of Luka Dončić, has struggled to make his mark in the NBA Finals so far. He has been heavily guarded and has been unable to find his rhythm, resulting in a lackluster shooting performance of just 35.1% and zero made 3-pointers in the first two games. Additionally, Irving has been limited in his ability to draw fouls and has found himself in defensive positions that make him vulnerable to getting into foul trouble. If he doesn’t turn things around quickly, the Dallas Mavericks could be facing elimination on Friday night. Recognizing his poor performance, Irving has taken responsibility and reached out to Dončić, acknowledging that he needs to step up his game.
Both Irving and Jayson Tatum from the Boston Celtics have been struggling offensively, but the Celtics have a more well-rounded and experienced team. While Tatum can afford to have off shooting nights, he is still contributing by facilitating on offense, moving the ball, defending well, and grabbing rebounds.
On the other hand, Irving is under pressure to score, and the Celtics have made it a priority to shut him down. After a practice session with the Dallas Mavericks, Irving acknowledged that he hasn’t been playing up to his standards and expressed his frustration. Being back in Boston, he feels a strong desire to perform well for his teammates, but the chants and boos from the crowd at TD Garden may have affected his focus.
“Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla expressed his expectations for the player, stating that he needs to be more aggressive and fight for those missed easy shots. Mazzulla emphasized the importance of being detailed in individual defense rather than completely shutting him down, acknowledging the player’s ability to impact plays.
Considering the player’s track record, it seems unlikely for him to have three consecutive bad shooting games, as he did not have back-to-back sub-20 point games during the regular season. He has shown resilience in the playoffs, adapting his game to become a distributor when his shooting wasn’t on point during the Oklahoma City series.
It’s important to note that he had exceptional performances against the Minnesota Timberwolves’ defense, scoring 30 points in three out of the five games.
The Celtics appear to be cautious in their approach to guarding Irving, recognizing that they can only do so much to contain him without triggering any negative consequences.”
“The key to our success is team defense. It’s not just one individual, it’s everyone,” emphasized Jrue Holiday. “We make it a collective effort to defend our opponent, using multiple defenders to make it challenging for them.”
Holiday has been outstanding throughout the series and is already being considered for the Finals MVP. However, his task could become even more crucial if Kristaps Porziņģis’ availability for Game 3 remains uncertain, as he was listed as questionable on Tuesday.
For Kyrie Irving, having one less defender in the paint and fewer long arms contesting his shots could significantly impact his performance. He acknowledges that the Celtics are implementing specific strategies to make it tough for him, and he needs to find ways to overcome them.
“We’re aiming to make it difficult for him,” stated Celtics guard Derrick White. “He’s undoubtedly a fantastic player, so we’re focused on forcing him to take tough shots. We anticipate him stepping up his game, which will present us with an even bigger challenge.”
He has been quick off the ball, especially when playing alongside Dante Exum, but the Celtics’ defense has not been shaken by the shooters’ lack of success. Even if this changes in Game 3, the most likely way to turn the tide of the series will be for Irving to single-handedly dismantle the Celtics’ defense.
Looking back at 2016, when Irving was with LeBron James in Cleveland, it’s tempting to draw comparisons. That team was down 2-0 and then 3-1 against the 73-win Golden State Warriors before staging a comeback.
However, this is a different Irving now, and the Celtics team he is facing is good but not necessarily a dynasty. The Mavericks, on the other hand, are a young team that could benefit from Irving’s leadership rather than just his scoring ability as he was asked to provide eight years ago.
The one constant, though, is the mental resilience needed to stay focused and not give in to negative thoughts or impulses.
“We had the opportunity to face failure together. We experienced the ups and downs as a team. In 2015, we fell short,” Irving reflected on the Cavaliers team. “But in 2016, many of us returned and we emerged as champions. That gave us a strong internal motivation. We also understood the level of competition we were up against and their impressive performance.
If we look at where we are now with a healthy perspective, it feels like we are a team gaining valuable experience. We’re learning from our mistakes at this level and now we have the chance to bounce back. That’s all you can ask for in a basketball season.”
Dallas might be going through a similar process, just like the Celtics did two years ago when they faced the Warriors in the Finals. However, as Irving has emphasized, there are no guarantees to reach this stage again.
Therefore, he is approaching the deficit with a sense of gratitude, appreciating the opportunity to grow and improve.
“When asked about the situation of being down 0-2 and having the opportunity to respond in Game 3 versus being eliminated from the playoffs, I would definitely choose the former,” expressed Irving. “It’s a matter of perspective. We are the last remaining teams. This is a strategic game, much like chess.”
Irving’s next move is scheduled for Wednesday.