DALLAS — Kyrie Irving is one of the best players in the NBA. He is still searching for consistency in the 2024 NBA Finals, especially on the offensive end of the floor.
Irving is shooting just over 35 percent from the field in the series so far. He has also gone 0-8 from three-point range. Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum addressed Irving's slump and the team's gameplan against the Dallas Mavericks star.
“I mean, that's part of it,” Tatum said on Tuesday in reference to whether Irving's struggles are a result of the Mavs star simply missing open shots. “You never completely shut a guy as talented as him out. You've heard it a million times, with great players you just try to make things difficult. Show them different coverages, just want to make them work for everything. They are going to make shots, they are going to miss some shots.
“You just don't want it to be easy for them to be comfortable. And that's with any talented player.”
Tatum admitted that part of Irving's struggles have been related to him missing some open looks. However, he added that the Celtics are doing everything they can to make things difficult on Irving.
As Tatum mentioned, keeping a superstar like Irving quiet for an entire series is almost impossible. But the Celtics can continue to play an aggressive brand of defense on him.
Will Kyrie Irving bounce back in 2024 NBA Finals?
Irving admitted on Tuesday that playing in Boston gave him some extra motivation to play well. Perhaps the pressure played a role, although Irving is a player who has handled pressure well in the past.
Luka Doncic has performed well in the NBA Finals, but Dallas will need Irving to get back on track in order to upset the Celtics.
“Just accepting that I haven't played well, or up to my standards or as well as I would have liked,” Irving said on Tuesday. “Being back in Boston there’s such a level of desire that I have inside me to play well. I wanted to be there for my teammates. As a competitor it's frustrating… (I) will continue to feed my teammates confidence. Have been down 0-2 before, lost a series, won a series.
“So I know what it takes… Understanding how to prepare for something like that mentally, spiritually, emotionally, physically. But first, it's just respecting your opponent and then most importantly just putting your best foot forward when we go out there. It's as simple as that.”
Kyrie Irving's track record suggests that he will bounce back soon. He is far too great of a player to continue to struggle in the big moments. Before the NBA Finals, Irving enjoyed a number of impressive games throughout the 2024 playoffs. So one has to imagine he will find his rhythm soon.
Perhaps just making a couple of three-point shots will help Kyrie get his confidence back. And once Irving gets going in a game, all defenders can do is “pray,” which is what Jrue Holiday admitted before the series began.
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