This article was originally written in English by Nick Goss para NBCSports Boston.
Kyrie Irving did not play well in the first two games of the 2024 NBA Finals, and he was one of the reasons the Dallas Mavericks lost both matchups to the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.
Irving scored a total of 28 points on 13-of-37 shooting (0-of-8 from 3-point range) in those first two games of the series. The Mavs needed him to step up in Game 3 in Dallas on Wednesday night, and he responded quite well. The veteran point guard scored 35 points and made four of his six three-point attempts. But in the end it wasn’t enough for the Mavs, who lost 106-99 and fell to an 0-3 deficit in the series.
Boston has held Dallas under 100 points in each of the first three games of the Finals so far, becoming the first team in NBA history to score at least 100 points and hold its opponent under of 100 points in his first three games of the Finals.
The Celtics, unlike the Mavericks’ previous playoff opponents, have the ability to defend Irving and teammate Luka Doncic one-on-one and rarely double-team either of them. Irving was asked during a press conference Thursday about that aspect of the Celtics’ defense, and he praised them.
“Yes, it’s very special to see it from afar, but also as a competitor, as a player, to experience it at this level is an incredible teacher for me,” Irving told reporters. “I use it as a moment to learn how difficult it is to win, especially against a great team that will defend you the same way it protects us.
“Frustration is natural, just because you want to make every shot when you’re in the finals. You don’t want to fail. You don’t want to not play well. You give them partial credit, but there’s also a focus and preparation you have to have.
The Boston Celtics are getting closer to winning the Finals after defeating the Dallas Maverick on Wednesday in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
“Obviously hindsight is 20/20, but looking at the first two games and how some of my shots were a little pressured, more so than other series, the physicality is a little different.”
There are still some players on the current Celtics roster who played with Irving in Boston several years ago. He has also played against the Celtics more than 15 times since he left the franchise as a free agent in 2019. Irving believes the Celtics’ familiarity with his skill set is a benefit to them. He then went on to praise Boston some more.
“These guys on the Boston team also know my game. They know it well. So they’ve been able to plan around me for the last few years,” Irving said.
“So overcoming this hurdle is something that’s been on my mind for a while, watching them, just like everyone has been watching Boston all year, be the best team in the league. Obviously we knew we would have our challenges, but this It is what helps us grow.
“Going out and competing with the best of the best, facing Jrue (Holiday), Jaylen (Brown) and JT (Jayson Tatum) and seeing their ability to cover up some of their mistakes or trust each other to make the right plays. In The defensive side has shown me what I need to continue working on and also learn to think about the game in a better way.
“I’m going to go up against the best of the best, and this is what I’ve always dreamed of. Whether we win or lose, what I see is growth and how I can continue to be a better leader for my teammates.”
Irving and the Mavericks will try to avoid elimination Friday night in Game 4 at the American Airlines Center. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30pm Eastern Time.
2024-06-14 02:31:52
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