DALLAS — Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks are looking to bounce back in the NBA Finals, but it's been a rough start for Irving.
In the first two games against Boston, Irving hasn't been at his best. His 3-point attempt from the corner hit the side of the backboard, he dribbled the ball off his foot for a turnover, and he's struggled to finish at the rim. The former Celtics player was relentlessly booed by Boston fans, who went as far as chanting "Kyrie sucks" and "F*** Kyrie," and even beating up an effigy wearing his jersey.
"First thing is just accepting that I haven't played well or up to my standards," Irving admitted on Tuesday. He’s known for his incredible shot-making and ball-handling skills, but he's averaged just 14 points on 35.1% shooting from the field and has missed all eight 3-pointers he's taken in the first two games. This is a stark contrast to his performance in the Western Conference finals, where he averaged 27 points, shot 49% from the field, and 37.5% from beyond the arc.
The Mavericks need the Western Conference Finals version of Irving for Game 3 on Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
Irving acknowledged the emotional challenges of playing in Boston, where he spent two turbulent seasons. "Being back in Boston, there's such a level of desire that I have inside of me to play well," Irving said. "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."
Despite the boos and harsh treatment, Irving maintains that outside the court, he receives a lot of love and respect from Boston fans. "When I leave out of here and I walk around Boston, I don't hear a lot of the things that I hear when I'm playing on the court," he said. "There's a lot of mutual respect."
Reflecting on his time in Boston, Irving admitted he didn't handle things well. "I failed miserably while also not knowing how to compartmentalize or accept the emotions that come with failure," he said. He mentioned dealing with personal challenges, like his grandfather's death, which affected his time there. "I've been able to accept what I cannot change but also change the way that I look at things to be more positive," he added.
Irving has faced criticism and controversy throughout his career, including his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine and promoting an anti-Semitic film, which led to a suspension. Yet, he's tried to maintain a positive attitude, even placing blame on himself for Dallas’ two losses to Boston. "Failure is the best teacher at times. It can inspire you to do great things," he said. "We understand who we're up against, the competitive level, the nature of the Finals."
The Mavericks will need Irving to step up if they want to make this series competitive. He'll need to aim for around 25 points, five assists, and shoot 50% from the field and 40% from 3-point range.
Boston has been tough on Irving, using a variety of defenders like Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum, who all have the size and skill to challenge him. The Celtics often have centers Al Horford or Kristaps Porzingis in the paint, making it difficult for Irving to find open shots or passing lanes.
"I can be a lot more fundamentally sound, technical on my shots," Irving said. "They're sending specific strategies against me to make it difficult." With eight different defenders rotating on him, Boston's versatility and size have been clear obstacles.
"We know what we're in for," Irving said. "But now we have to raise it to an even higher level, and it starts with me."
Coach Jason Kidd remains hopeful: "We truly believe that he'll knock them down, and hopefully that puts us in a position to win."
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