Fit was a big reason why a lot of avid spectators did not think the Dallas Mavericks would be here. For one, Kyrie Irving was in search of a team where he could lead to glory as the number one option. Another concern was that Luka Doncic was also fairly ball-dominant. A missed postseason and some adjustments from Jason Kidd later, they are four wins against the Boston Celtics away from getting another taste at the Larry O'Brien trophy.
All of those woes that were hurled at the Mavericks seemed to have dissipated. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving seemed to now take turns playing the role of tormentor against the teams that they have faced. A stacked Los Angeles Clippers squad, an energetic Oklahoma City Thunder, and a hyped-up Minnesota Timberwolves team all had to learn the same lesson. The two have surely thrived with Jason Kidd. So, the next question after this Celtics series is: will these two stay together for a long time?
Kyrie Irving had the answer and it sounded like a different than what he gave in front of the Celtics faithful a few years back, via SportsCenter on ESPN.
“The future is still being written. But I can tell you that with all the extensions that are going around with J. Kidd and Nico. Potentially, with Luka this summer too. I don't mind being complimentary if we're gonna continue to put this band together,” the master of ball-handling said.
Uncertainty with the Mavericks
Irving is not locking anything in at all. He knows that there is a lot in store for him after this postseason with the Mavericks whether they win it all or not. At the end of the day, he is choosing to focus on what is in front of them and that is this NBA Finals matchup with the Celtics.
“We have some great pieces around us. There's always those thoughts that could creep in. Those ‘what-ifs' and ‘what could happen.' You never know from season to season. I just like to let it play out and stay in the present moment. I am enjoying my time here and I've enjoyed my time here,” Irving concluded.
Nico Harrison has already inked a deal with the Mavericks days before the finals. Now, it will just be a matter of getting both Jason Kidd and Irving to stay. They could run it back with a relatively young squad and just move around some pieces to stay competitive.
After all, Irving is averaging 25.6 points on a 49.7% clip from all three levels of scoring. He also helps Luka Doncic facilitate such that they get the offense going. His effort in creating opportunities for his teammates has netted the Mavericks an average of 5.2 assists. Moreover, his defensive acumen has been great whether he is on the ball-handler or anticipating bad passes in lanes. This has gotten him 1.3 steals.
The numbers and fit are there. All the Mavericks have to do is convince him to stay and have a happy environment around him.
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