There is no question that Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are the ones driving this Dallas Mavericks team to the finish line. Their performances throughout the playoffs have been great. It’s clear that this season, they have managed to grow into one of the best duos in the league. However, in game four, both of them struggled quite a bit. It’s time for Doncic and Irving to lay this series to rest and prepare for the Boston Celtics.
Kyrie Irving Scoring Trouble
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The biggest issue Kyrie Irving had throughout the game was simply scoring. He has been averaging 22.0 points per game all playoffs, yet in game five, he only managed to have a 16-point night. It seemed like he went from easily floating down the middle of the paint and scoring to being locked down. The Minnesota Timberwolves defense had woken up a bit more and realized letting Kyrie have a 30+ night would end their season.
As seen through the rest of this series and all of the other rounds, for Dallas to win, they need both of their stars to score. If the Timberwolves put the clamps on Irving again, they have a decent shot at taking game five, too.
Also Read: It Takes Two: Teammates Luka Doncic & Kyrie Irving Have Been a Dynamic Duo for Dallas
Luka Doncic is Absolutely Gassed
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By the end of the game, Dallas didn’t have a fully there Luka Doncic. Rewinding the tape shows that within the last five minutes of the game, Doncic started to sag on defense a bit. Doncic was starting to plant his feet in the paint, only shifting slightly to get into a better defensive position. He had some solid pushes against Anthony Edwards’ drives, but there were times when he was just rebounding the made baskets.
This Timberwolves Team is fast and the Dallas Mavericks’ All-Star Doncic is the opposite of that. He’s still an incredible athlete who has been playing amazing defense this whole series, but it’s starting to get to him. It’s evident in the clip where he’s leaning over and gripping his knees to catch his breath that Luka Magic is starting to feel the burn.
Also Read: Luka Doncic Drives Dallas Mavericks Towards Playoff Triumph
Dallas Mavericks Need to Win Game 5
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This team can’t go another game in this series. The Mavericks are going to be facing off against the East Conference juggernaut that is the Boston Celtics. They need all of the rest they can get, and that won’t happen while running around trying to shut down Anthony Edwards and company. Also, giving this Timberwolves team any confidence is dangerous.
Some people believe the Mavericks will be more prepared and ready to go since they’ve played longer than Boston. However, the Celtics have proven that rest can lead to dominating, something they’ve done all playoffs. Plus, these ten days give Kristaps Porzingis a chance to return. The Mavs need a chance to catch their breath. It’s time for Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to regain control and bring the Dallas Mavericks to the Finals.
Also Read: What to Know About Dallas Mavericks Explosive Veteran Kyrie Irving
About the Author
Elizabeth is an avid watcher of all thing’s sports. However, the Boston sports teams will always be her number one. Her favorite sport to watch is basketball, but she also enjoys professional wrestling, soccer, and baseball. She also loves writing about anything ranging from sports articles, short stories, and poems. She hopes to one day write her own sci-fi series and adventure series. You can find her on X @edellapiana1 to check out more content.
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