Kyrie Irving gave the Mavericks the best version of himself

Kyrie Irving has had one of the most eventful careers of any player since he hit perhaps the greatest shot in NBA history to win Game 7 of the 2016 Finals against the Golden State Warriors, who won 73. I have experienced.

Over the next seven seasons, Irving won only one playoff series, with the exception of his final year with LeBron James in Cleveland, where he played in the NBA Finals against Kevin Durant's Warriors. was defeated. Irving requested a trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers that summer to become his team's No. 1 player.

After two injury- and drama-filled seasons in Boston, Irving unceremoniously dumped the Celtics and joined Durant in Brooklyn. With Irving assembling a superstar duo in a new field, this appeared to be an admission that leading his team was much more difficult than he looked.

However, injuries and off-court drama once again robbed Irving of the opportunity to play meaningful basketball during his three years there, ultimately leading to a trade request and a move to Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. Became. Questions about Irving's value were the main topic of conversation as Dallas struggled to secure a draft pick and the season was a complete failure as they tried to secure a contract extension for him.

Injuries and questionable decisions off the court led most NBA fans and analysts to believe Irving wasn't worth anywhere near the maximum extension, but Dallas ultimately relented and signed him to a three-year contract. is. But Irving is a special player and has proven everyone wrong so far.

Irving will be more reliable in Dallas in 2024

His talent has long been overshadowed by injuries and off-court issues.

Despite Irving's incredible performances nearly every time he stepped on the floor, his final six seasons in the NBA were marked by his play on the court rather than away from it. Since the 2017-18 season, Irving has played in only 290 of a possible 472 games and finished just two of the five playoff games he played in.

After a great start to his career in terms of both quality of play and reliability, Irving struggled to be on the court with consistency over the next six seasons, depriving fans of the great basketball he showed. His off-court distractions and injuries were so bad that NBA fans doubted he would ever return to the elite level he was in from 2011 to 2017, but this season Irving has completely come into his own. Concentrated and focused.

Irving is having one of the best seasons of his career.

Stay healthy and show your artistry on the court every night

First, Irving was healthy in 2023-2024, at least by his standards. He has appeared in 47 of the team's 69 games, giving him a chance to reach the 60-game mark for the second time in his last five years. Additionally, as of March 21, he has played in 20 consecutive games, his longest streak since the 2015-16 season. Irving gave his all for the Mavericks all season and was a major factor in their solid 40-29 record.

Perhaps more importantly, Irving was his usual admirable self on the floor, averaging 25.3 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.3 rebounds on ridiculous splits of 49.0/40.5/90.9. He's been one of the most talented high-volume scorers in the NBA this year, and is the perfect compliment to Doncic, giving Irving the occasional break while he breaks down defenses himself.

Irving is a second option on a team where top-class forwards control the offense, and he always performs best when he can pick his position and attack more favorable matches. While Irving has been the team's most successful alongside LeBron, Doncic is a microcosm of James' approach.

The incredible basketball artistry that Kyrie Irving displays every night is truly amazing to watch, and it's on full display this season. It was perhaps the most impressive game-winner of all time, a left-handed floater from 6 feet out over Nikola Jokic that beat Denver at the buzzer.

Can Irving and Doncic lead the Mavericks to a title in 2024?

Two superstars give Dallas a chance to compete in a tough Western Conference

Dallas has had a great season thanks to the individual brilliance of its two superstars, but as of March 21, its 40-29 record is only good for a seventh seed in the West. . The Western Conference is extremely deep, with eight teams at least 10 games over .500, putting Dallas in a tough position regarding seeding.

If the Mavericks are unable to overtake the Kings for the No. 6 seed, they will need to get through the play-in game to advance to the playoff field. However, they are currently a half-game behind Sacramento, with Dallas having the third-easiest strength on their upcoming schedule. If they can reach the 6th line and make the playoffs, their chances of advancing in the West Division will increase tremendously.

Despite the relative lack of teammate help compared to other candidates, Dallas has a better duo than other teams that can compete with players like Jokic and Murray or Durant and Booker. He will participate in any series. Any NBA prospect should fear Dallas in the clutch, having recorded the league's second-best clutch offensive rating this year. No one wants to have a shooting competition with them late in the game.

The Mavericks also gained momentum after adding Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington at the trade deadline. The two address some important size, athleticism and shooting questions for Dallas and give the team a legitimate playoff rotation. If the rest of the Mavericks can give Doncic and Irving the help they need, Dallas could be a real threat to anyone in the West.

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