DALLAS — When the Dallas Mavericks traded Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets in February 2023, the goal was to create the one-two punch they needed to advance to the top of the playoffs and ultimately compete for a championship. The goal was to find a superstar to replace Luka Doncic who could build a team. Championship. With a 117-116 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 on Saturday, the Mavericks advanced to the Western Conference Finals and moved one step closer to their title hopes.
Looking back on their partnership, Doncic said: when he came [he’s been] Just supporting everything I've done, everything we've done. He helped me grow a lot and see the game from a different perspective. '' He continued, “And obviously, it's great to play with a player like him on the court. Just go out there and have fun. He was a great leader. Always a positive energy.”
When the Mavericks brought Doncic and Irving together, there were many vocal doubts, including ESPN giving the trade a “D” grade. “What?” Doncic asked in response to ESPN's question about his early results. Irving followed up by joking, “From being a starter in the All-Star Game to becoming a *** player.''
“Honestly, I don't really care. We just enjoy playing with each other,” said Doncic, who posted an efficient 29-point triple-double in the Game 6 win. “We enjoy playing on this team, so we don't really care what other people say.”
The early months of the Doncic-Irving partnership last season were rocky, with Dallas holding a draft pick after going 5-11 in 16 games with both superstars, due in part to injuries to both superstars. I chose that. They struggled to defend, rebound and execute in the clutch as a team. In any case, the belief was that with patience, the two would be able to establish natural synergy as a foundation, with a shared understanding that roster changes were necessary. The move would keep the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, which would ultimately result in a trade down to bring in standout rookie center Derek Lively II, and a Game 6 pick. He recorded 12 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 assists in 30 minutes of play. . Irving remained committed to Dallas by signing a three-year, $120 million contract shortly after free agency began this summer.
“It was amazing to see. [Him having] +26 in a playoff game is insane, and he's been great so far.
This is a rookie,” Doncic said of Lively. “He has incredible potential. I'm really happy the Mavs drafted him.”
Although they were not involved in any postseason play last season, the two took advantage of a full training camp, a 12-day international trip to Abu Dhabi and Madrid, and a full regular season to build chemistry together. Built. Doncic averaged 33.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds and finished third in MVP voting. Irving, on the other hand, overcame multiple injury absences to average 25.6 points, 5.2 assists and just 5.0 rebounds on shooting splits in a 50-40-90 season. Both players helped lead the Mavericks to a 50-win season. Dallas went 35-16 in the 51 games in which both players shared the floor. With Doncic and Irving, the Mavericks posted a 120.3 offensive rating, 109.8 defensive rating, and a 10.5 net rating in 1,297 minutes played. They went 26-29 last season, but went 23-9 this season in clutch games.
Doncic and Irving working together offensively over time has clearly provided more comfort. Even subtle details like when to start attacking in a game and how to handle late-game situations were part of a time-consuming adjustment process for Doncic and Irving. Doncic committed to playing faster by focusing on conditioning, rather than predicting playing weight as he plays more in the post. With more throw-ahead passes and transition pushing, Dallas has gone from being one of the slowest teams last season to ranking in the top 10 in pace.
Additionally, Doncic worked more on his catch-and-shoot jump shot in the half court and improved his performance when playing off the ball before the season started. After Vlatko Cancar's anterior cruciate ligament injury and not playing the forward role for the Slovenian national team, Doncic spent more time as a winger at the FIBA World Cup, further aiding his adaptation process. It only benefited him when he returned to the Mavericks. Since then, he's moved around more in the halfcourt between zooming actions, wide actions, and horns elbows, continuing to expand his two-man game with Irving when the situation calls for it.
The Mavericks got off to a strong start in the regular season, but injuries hurt their momentum and they finished with a 26-23 record as the trade deadline approached. Dallas, which has become aggressive in trading for P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, often portrayed Doncic as less of an aggressor, with only Lively as a rim protector and Derrick Jones Jr. as a pesky on-ball defender. From a small group, they established a solid defense and finished with a record of 24 wins and 9 losses, securing the fifth seed in the Western Conference. They defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, mirroring a series of wins and losses against Oklahoma City.
“This group has been together for about five months,” Doncic said. “I think we can do a lot more. Big trades, big adjustments, and… just keep bringing those things.” Ta.
Dallas had established a resilient team since early March that hadn't lost back-to-back games involving Doncic and Irving. The team went 16-2 in 18 games with the NBA's best defense and earned a top-five seed. This is to rest key players for the final two games of the regular season. The group won Game 5 of the series on the road and took control before moving on to the next challenge. Whether it's Doncic's toughness through a series of injuries or Irving's development into a hyper-selfish superstar willing to sacrifice shot attempts, both superstars have improved on the defensive side of the ball by shutting down shooters. He fulfilled his role by accepting and following difficult missions. And they stand their ground even when the other team is trying to corner them.
“I think we just stick together. We always talk on the bench and we're together [and have] “Positive energy. Today was a perfect example of that,” Doncic said.
The Mavericks' advance to the Western Conference Finals marks Irving's deepest playoff run since he reached the playoffs with LeBron James in Cleveland seven years ago. Irving and James reached the NBA Finals three years in a row together, winning once before Irving was traded to Boston. The Celtics reached the Eastern Conference Finals in his first season, but he was sidelined with a knee injury. Kevin Durant's toe on the 3-point line in Game 7 of the Nets' 2021 semifinal series against the Milwaukee Bucks prevented what would have been a game-winner and ultimately ended the season. The loss in overtime could have been prevented.
Irving appreciates having Doncic by his side for the first time in the playoffs. “I think this guy pushed me to keep working on my game and keep growing as a young leader,” Irving said. “The big word we can all agree on is maturity. I had a lot of issues mentally and mentally before coming to Dallas. [and] Emotionally. They opened their arms and embraced me. ”
“I haven't had a perfect journey, so I came into this environment and didn't know how I would function on the court,” Irving continued. “But off the court, I knew I could eventually open up to him. This guy can be a big teddy bear off the court. [He’s] It's a big competitor. [he is] A teddy bear who likes to compete. ”
Irving further said: I enjoy watching him become a father. It's fun to watch him grow as a person first, and then the basketball staff will figure it out. We all know how skilled he is, his numbers, etc., but I'm a teammate who will help him grow into a man and accomplish what he wants to accomplish, and I'll be next to him. I want to be your brother. I know he feels the same way. ”
“The mission for us is still the same. When we step on the court, we enjoy competing with each other,” Irving concluded.
Irving's performance in the series against the Thunder wasn't just about scoring. His defensive effort and leadership were outstanding and drew praise from many. Irving said after the Mavericks' Game 5 win that he would do as needed, scoring 22 points on 23 shots in Game 6, including a key three in the fourth quarter. He made two point shots and helped Dallas come back from a 17-point deficit. His defensive contributions were critical, with Kidd praising it as the best defense he's seen from Irving in the postseason. The success of both players was evident when they were on the court, posting an offensive rating of 119.2, defensive rating of 108.0, and net rating of 11.2 in 12 games.
“If you look at his series, he certainly didn't have that offensive explosiveness,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd noted. “He was the glue of this series. He kept everyone together. He kept everyone positive. Yes, that was the hardest. But it gets harder and harder. And That’s what great people enjoy.”
When Doncic reached the deep playoffs for the first time two years ago, he didn't have a superstar teammate with Irving's playoff experience. The success of both players was evident when they were on the court, posting an offensive rating of 119.2, defensive rating of 108.0, and net rating of 11.2 in 12 games. Now, the Mavericks will be in another series without home court advantage. In 2022, Dallas dominated Phoenix in Game 7 before losing to Golden State. Now, with the addition of Irving, the Mavericks are looking forward to facing the winner of the Denver-Minnesota series starting Wednesday night.
After winning his second playoff series, Doncic sat next to Irving, looking satisfied and eager for the next challenge.
read more: Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving react to ESPN's scoring of Irving's trade after Game 6
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