Kyrie Irving praises Celtics’ ‘special’ defense in NBA Finals originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
Kyrie Irving didn’t play well in the first two games of the 2024 NBA Finals, and 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 these first two games in the series. The Mavs needed him to step up in Game 3 in Dallas on Wednesday night, and he responded very well. The veteran guard scored 35 points and made four of his six 3-point attempts. But ultimately it wasn’t enough for the Mavs, who lost 106-99 and fell into a 0-3 series deficit.
Boston has held Dallas to under 100 points in each of the first three Finals games so far.
The Celtics, unlike the Mavericks’ previous playoff opponents, have the ability to guard Irving and teammate Luka Doncic one-on-one and rarely double-team either. Irving was asked during a press conference on Thursday about this aspect of the Celtics’ defense and he praised them.
“Yes, it’s very special to watch from afar, but also as a competitor, as a pitcher, to experience it at this level, it’s an incredible teacher for me,” Irving told reporters. “I take this as a moment to learn how difficult it is to win, especially against a great team that will guard you the way they are defending us.
“Frustration is natural, just because you want to hit every shot when you’re in the finals. You don’t want to make mistakes. You don’t want to not play well. You give them partial credit, but there’s also a focus and preparation that you need to have .
“Obviously hindsight is 20/20, but looking back at the first two games and how some of my shots were a little under pressure, more so than in other series, and the physicality is a little different.”
There are still a few 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 leaving the franchise as a free agent in 2019. Irving believes the Celtics’ familiarity with his skill set is a benefit to them. He then praised Boston some more.
“These guys on the Boston team know my game too. They know it well. So they’ve been able to plan for me the last few years,” Irving said.
“So getting over that hurdle is something that’s been on my mind for a while now, 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 that’s what helps us grow.
“Going out there and competing with the best of the best, facing Jrue (Holiday) and 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 on the wing. Defense showed me what I need to keep working on and also learn to think the game better.
“I’m going against the best of the best and that’s what I’ve always dreamed of. Whether we win or lose, it’s the growth I see 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. Reporting is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.
