Kyrie Irving’s Hall-of-Fame career has been characterized more often by what he’s said than what he’s done, which is saying something, at that. No need to haul that old baggage out of the attic now. Except to say that what he said Tuesday tells you how far he’s come and the Mavs still need to go.
No matter what you may think of Kyrie’s soliloquies, there’s no arguing with him about this:
“We have to raise it to an even higher level,” he said going into Game 3.
The Mavs need to do a few things better to avoid a loss Wednesday to the Celtics that would effectively end their title chances. Take care of the ball. Make their free throws. Play with an edge. They don’t necessarily have to “punch them in the mouth,” as Dereck Lively II said Tuesday, but it’d help if they reasserted themselves as the more physical team.
And it’d be nice if someone off the bench hit anything.
But the facts are that, while the Mavs typically don’t turn it over much, they’ve been the sorriest bunch at the line of any team in the playoffs, not just the Finals. And while it’s certainly possible that Jaden Hardy or Dante Exum or even Tim Hardaway Jr. makes a 3 or four, they haven’t gotten consistent offensive production from anyone off their bench since COVID.
For a little historical perspective, the biggest playoff advantage the title team held over these Mavs? Jason Terry’s 17.5 points in relief.
But with everything that went wrong at TD Garden, the one thing the Mavs could reasonably hope to get right Wednesday is their second-best player.
So far in the Finals, Kyrie has put up a total of 28 points and 8 assists. He had more turnovers (3) than assists (2) in Game 1, when he scored just 12 points and finished a miserable minus-19. He was better in Game 2, but another 16-point, 6-assist line probably won’t give the Mavs a shot at squaring the series in Game 4.
For the Mavs to avoid a sweep, Kyrie must rise to his level of play in the Western Conference finals, when he scored 30 or more in three games, all wins, by the way.
Of course, he’s not a given to go off like that. Not like Luka Doncic. But he’s better than he’s been so far. The Celtics have practically conceded it. They’ve played the Mavs’ superstars straight up, the rationale being that they’d take their lumps from those two and deny anyone else a chance to beat them.
Joe Mazzulla’s plan worked better than he could have dreamed. Kyrie struggled against pretty much anyone who guarded him in Boston. But some of it has been self-inflicted, too, as the Celtics’ coach indicated when he said Kyrie has “missed some easy shots.”
Bad enough that one of the game’s best finishers can’t work his magic around the rim. Even worse when he’s shooting 35.1% in general and has yet to make a 3.
What was his problem?
Maybe history.
“First thing of that is just accepting I haven’t played well or up to my standards,” Kyrie said. “Being back in Boston, there’s such a level of desire that I have inside of me to play well. Wanted to be there for my teammates. As a competitor, it’s frustrating. But I don’t want to let that seep in or spill over to any other decisions I have to make there as a player.”
Kyrie’s openness and accountability might provide a jolt to anyone who knew him only from his previous NBA history, much of it unhappy. By all accounts, he likes it in Dallas. Likes his teammates, coaches and general manager, Nico Harrison.
Maybe what he likes most of all is the one thing many thought wouldn’t work in Dallas: playing next to Luka. Turns out they don’t just share a basketball. If LeBron James was Kyrie’s big bro, Luka is his kid brother.
Mi hermano, Kyrie calls him.
Somewhere between Boston and Dallas, Kyrie told Luka that in order for them to get where they want to go, they both have to go big, not just one of them.
“Easy conversation,” Kyrie said Tuesday. “But it started with me reaching out, just letting him know it’s my fault, taking accountability for not playing particularly well.”
Even if Kyrie plays like he did against Minnesota, it may not be enough. Will it help if Kristaps Porzingis can’t play? No question. But it’s not as if Boston isn’t used to his absence, either. The Celtics are on one of the great playoff runs in NBA history. Dominated the last two games despite a shooting slump from Jayson Tatum even worse than Kyrie’s.
If Tatum finds his shot anytime soon, this could be a short series. If Kyrie is back to normal, the Mavs have a shot. Whatever happens in the next few days, his new normal gives them a future.
Twitter/X: @KSherringtonDMN
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