LOS ANGELES — On Sunday, the Dallas Mavericks will face the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. This will allow Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to make their postseason debuts in the backcourt.
With a team defense that has made significant improvements, the Mavericks have formulated a composition that has led to an 18-9 record since the NBA All-Star break. That includes a defensive rating that includes a 16-2 record for the league's best teams to earn a top-five seed.
December 6, 2023. Dallas, Texas, USA.Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, 77, celebrates with Dallas
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The Mavericks powered toward a 50-win season while emphatically answering remaining questions from observers who may not have watched Doncic and Irving play side-by-side regularly throughout the season. . Despite having a record of 5 wins and 11 losses against both superstars last season, there was a lot of confidence in this pairing from the beginning. This season, they played 1,297 minutes, outscored their opponents by an impressive 10.5 points per 100 possessions, and posted a 36-16 record in 51 games.
“We knew it from the beginning,” Doncic said. “It's Kyrie Irving. We all know how he can play basketball. We knew it from the beginning.”
Ever since the backcourt partnership of Doncic and Irving began, it has been well understood that a strong supporting cast is needed, especially one that can defend at a high level. The Mavs currently have multiple rim protectors in Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively II, but they also have the option of deploying wing defenders like Derrick Jones Jr., P.J. Washington, and Dante Exum. Additionally, with Maxi Kleber as a switching option in the small-ball lineup, Dallas has assembled an impact group.
Doncic averaged 33.9 points, 9.8 assists, and 9.2 rebounds in 70 games, finishing the season in good position to make the All-NBA First Team for the fifth straight year. This result could not have come at the expense of Irving, considering his backcourt partner averaged 25.6 points, 5.2 assists, and 5.0 rebounds. After training camp, a 12-day international preseason trip with stops in Abu Dhabi, Madrid, and the entire regular season at their disposal, the synergy is clear.
“There's a mutual respect there. When he takes over the game, when I take over the game, we allow each other to do that,” Irving said. “We also needed moments where moms could challenge each other.
“I can look at Luka and say, 'Hey, level up a little bit,' and he can say, 'Come on, Kai.' He'll say it in his own words.” Irving explained.
Irving has a long history of success alongside some of the NBA's best players, including Kevin Durant and LeBron James. Irving has the ability to create advantages off the dribble, attack from the catch, and pose a versatile threat with any screening action, while also being an active screener himself and possessing a post arsenal. combine to make him an exciting talent on and off the field. ball.
“For him to be able to play with the stars in this league, we can put him up there with four of the best players in the world and talk about him,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. I will be leaving,” he said. “That's the way he plays the game.
“We've given him four MVPs, and he's going to continue to be a player that everyone will be talking about because his game is so great. This season has been incredible for him. And we're going to need his leadership, his experience, and (knowing) what it means to be a champion as we move forward.”
Between having a next-level perspective on the game and holding himself to high standards, Irving credits these traits that have led his superstar pairings, including his current tandem with Doncic, to success. I believe.
“It was both,” Irving said. “I played with a lot of high-level thinking players, a lot of high-level players and a lot of players who put pressure on themselves to be successful.
“It can help or hinder certain partnerships. “I've learned how to take a more mature approach to people's emotions,” Irving explained, “even when I win. Lose or draw, I'm going to love you. And when you say that to someone, it's important. Win, lose or draw, we're still brothers. is.”
The next challenge facing the Mavericks includes a first-round playoff game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Doncic has already faced the Clippers' superstar teams of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the past two postseasons, with both losses. What's the biggest difference Doncic sees in this roster compared to the past? “We have Kai,” Doncic explained simply.
Irving, known as “Mr. Fourth Quarter,” is a proven performer even when the stakes are high. Doncic praises Irving's commitment to making big plays every time he steps on the court and his dedication to continuing to be a leader on and off the floor.
“He's always on a mission, you know?” Doncic said. “He's been playing great. On the court and off the court, he's helping a lot of people. He's talking to us. So he's been a great addition. We're grateful to have him. I’m really happy.”
His ability to rise to the occasion is a sentiment he shares about Doncic from Irving's perspective. Doncic averaged 32.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists in 28 playoff games, ranking him second only to Michael Jordan in postseason scoring averages. Irving believes Doncic's “champion pedigree” is needed to be the leader who can lead the team to a title.
“It's a big game against some of the best players in the league and we can really raise the bar,” Irving said. “We want the best players to challenge us and I think that's the pedigree we need for a championship.”
In gleaning insight from his past partnership with James, Irving emphasized a mutual respect in which each knew where they wanted the ball and when to attack the defense, especially when to take over. Irving feels his current partnership with Doncic benefits from this same phenomenon.
“He was fluid about where he was going on the court, and he knew where he wanted the ball,” Irving said of playing with James. “There was a mutual respect there. When he took over the game or I took over the game, we allowed each other to do that.
“You never saw us collide with each other, but we challenged ourselves and everyone else on the team to be better,” Irving explained. “That's why we were able to be successful in 2016, and me and Luca are doing the same thing here. If you have someone who's up for a challenge, just getting that person positive goes a long way. ”
Irving embraces his partnership with Doncic because he can trust his superstar teammate to not be afraid to “empty the clip” in tough moments, accepting that they'll be in the trenches together. He likened it to a partnership between partners.
“When the going gets tough, you know there's someone in the trenches ready to fire all the ammunition. You need people who aren't afraid to empty the bullet,” Irving said. he said.
From an X's and O's perspective, Doncic and Irving's methods have been further enhanced. Doncic has fully embraced playing faster by maintaining a high degree of physical conditioning and utilizing his passing ability by making throw-ahead passes to maximize the athleticism of his supporting cast. Dallas has moved from 29th to 7th in pace this season, while also increasing its average fast break points by 4.8 points per game.
Doncic and Irving strengthen the half court. The Slovenian superstar spent the NBA offseason refining his catch-and-shoot jumper, but is already a dynamic off-the-catch attacker and has greatly improved as a spot-up threat to play in the flow. He became a more impactful player on handoffs and handoffs. Off-ball screening action like a pin down.
The Mavericks have continued to utilize the importance of Doncic and Irving in the half court as a counter to any defensive scheme. Switching to a two-man game has proven to be a reliable threat if the second half ends and Dallas wants to force a switch. Offenses can increase their use within the half court by expanding their use of zoom actions, placing one of them above the elbow with the horns set, or using a double drag screening action with the superstar as the screener. We succeeded in moving superstars. , posting up Doncic and pulling Irving one pass away to draw a double team, or running a stacked pick-and-roll, all of these approaches allow defenses to make difficult decisions quickly.
Irving is highly motivated to perform in this year's postseason. He believes that his performance over the past six seasons has not reached his ultimate goal. He sees a significant opportunity for this year's Mavericks team to change its trajectory.
“It took a long time to get to this point,” Irving said. “I know what it feels like to have failed for the past six years and not achieved team goals or individual goals. So I'm using that energy to prepare for what's coming and to help them I dig deep into the will to guide some of them and have them guide me, too, because I'm going to need a lot of help as well.”
The Mavericks will face the Clippers, who are uncertain about Kawhi Leonard's injury status. He is suspected of having inflammation in his right knee, but has missed the final eight games of the regular season and has yet to participate in the contact portion of practice. A composition in which Doncic and Irving are supported by a strong defense will be a great opportunity to test their potential.
