Tag: NBA

2024 NBA Finals: Game 3 Thread nba,finals,game,thread,liberty,ballers,front-page

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If ever there was a chance for Dallas to make this a series, tonight is it. The Mavericks are back home and Boston big man Kristaps Porzingis has been ruled out due to dislocation of of the left posterior tibialis, something we’ve definitely all heard of before. Luka Doncic hasn’t been at 100 percent himself, but it’s been the supporting cast letting the Mavericks down thus far, including co-star Kyrie Irving. Can home cooking change things or will Jayson Tatum and company pull off the road upset as 3.5-point underdogs and put a stranglehold on these NBA Finals? Watch to find out and follow along in the comments.

Game Details

Who: Boston Celtics vs. Dallas Mavericks
When: 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Watch: ABC
Follow: @LibertyBallers

2024 NBA Draft: KJ Simpson looks like a Nick Nurse point guard nba,draft,kj,simpson,looks,like,a,nick,nurse,point,guard,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news

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Before the 2024 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 16 and 41. Next up in this series is Colorado’s KJ Simpson.

KJ Simpson was already an All-Pac-12 performer, but he took a huge leap during a stellar junior campaign. The Buffs point guard saw a steady increase in efficiency in each of his three seasons, making him a possible first-round pick.

Profile

2023-24 Stats: 37 games, 35.1 minutes, 19.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.1 blocks, 47.5% FG, 43.4% 3P, 87.6% FT

Team: Colorado

Year: Junior

Position: PG

Height (without shoes) & Weight: 6’0.25” | 187 lbs

Born: August 8, 2002 (21 years old)

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

High School: Chaminade College Prep

Strengths

Simpson had an outstanding junior year. He’s a quintessential lead guard, putting his teammates in their proper place and distributing the ball. He’s also a great scorer for a point guard, using a strong handle and plenty of craftiness around the rim. He took a huge leap as a shooter, knocking down 43.4% from three. What gives you confidence that the improvement is real is that he also made 87.6% from the line. That’s an elite number. His efficiency grew across the board without sacrificing playmaking for others.

Despite his size, Simpson is a strong point-of-attack defender because of his strength, athleticism and absolute bulldog mentality. He’s strong off-ball as well, averaging over 1.5 steals the past two seasons. He’s also an excellent rebounder for his size, averaging nearly six a game last season.

Weaknesses

If Simpson were 6-foot-4, you’re probably talking about a lottery pick. The shooting improvement looks real, he has a high basketball IQ and he tested extremely well athletically at the combine. His height will be the only thing that scares teams off.

Positional Fit

Simpson is a pure point guard. There’s a chance he’ll be able to guard up because of his strength and athleticism, but that will probably take time.

Draft Projection

Late first, early second round

Again, the only real knock on Simpson is size. With Tyrese Maxey already locked in as the Sixers’ starting point guard, it’s fair to wonder if Simpson makes sense. Then again, Simpson looks every bit like a Nick Nurse point guard. Might as well call him KJ VanLowry. He would be tough to pass up in a trade back scenario or if he somehow falls all the way to 41.

Luka Doncic learning in 1st NBA Finals, not conceding to Celtics

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Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic heads to the lockers after Game 3 of the NBA basketball finals against the Boston Celtics, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Dallas. The Celtics won 106-99. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)

NBA Finals 2024 Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks

DALLAS— Luka Doncic winced ever so slightly as he stepped onto the stage to address reporters a day after his Dallas Mavericks fell behind Boston 3-0 in the NBA Finals.

A rough first finals for the 25-year-old superstar, no doubt — an injury-filled postseason punctuated by fouling out for the first time in his playoff career, thanks to a four-foul fourth quarter in a 106-99 loss to the Celtics in Game 3.

Near the end of six seasons filled with comparisons to LeBron James, here’s another for Doncic. Just like the player he idolized as a teenager, Doncic is on the verge of having to weather failure on basketball’s biggest stage before getting more chances to experience the ultimate success.

READ: ‘Fun’ key to Mavs’ bid for unprecedented NBA Finals comeback–Doncic

“I didn’t really study the first finals of some people,” Doncic said Thursday, the eve of Game 4 in Dallas with the Celtics on the verge of an 18th championship, which would break a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most in the NBA.

Doncic did remember the first Eastern Conference finals — two, actually — for Michael Jordan in Chicago a generation ago.

“Obviously, there’s the story of MJ against Detroit,” the five-time All-Star said. “That was a big thing. I think he just learned from it. You’ve got to go through lows first to go on top. I think that’s great experience.”

After finally breaking through against the Pistons, Jordan won the title in his first trip to the NBA Finals in 1991, the start of a 6-0 run in the title series over an eight-season span.

Doncic is at risk of the same fate in his first finals as James, who was swept with Cleveland against San Antonio in 2007. LeBron lost again with Miami — against Dallas, no less — in 2011 before winning back-to-back titles with the Heat.

READ: NBA Finals: Luka Doncic fouls out and Mavericks fall into 3-0 hole

Asked if he thought his game could improve in the offseason, Doncic said, “Oh, definitely, a lot of holes,” before reiterating he would learn plenty from his first finals. Then he paused.

“But we’re not in the offseason yet,” Doncic said. “They’ve still got to win one more game. Like I said, we’re going to believe until the end.”

The end is near for Dallas because Doncic didn’t get enough help from co-star Kyrie Irving in the first two games, or from his supporting cast in any of the first three.

Still, the Slovenian sensation has had his own difficulties, particularly in Game 3. The Celtics relentlessly targeted Doncic’s defense, which has been solid to good overall in these playoffs.

The four fouls came so quickly in the fourth quarter, his sixth forced a challenge that Dallas lost with 4:12 remaining. The Mavs were on a 20-2 run when Doncic was disqualified, and scored again to get within a point before Boston held on to avoid blowing a 21-point lead with 11 minutes remaining.

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic NBA Finals Mavericks vs Celtics

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) looks on as referee John Conley (79) gives a review on a play against the Boston Celtics during the second half in Game 3 of the NBA basketball finals, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Dallas. Doncic fouled out in the fourth quarter. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)

With a long history of complaining to officials, Doncic made a point earlier in the playoffs to go back to having fun. He’s had trouble sustaining it, and didn’t have kind words for the refs after fouling out in regulation for the first time in his career.

“I just really want to win,” Doncic said. “Sometimes I don’t show it the right way, but at the end of the day, I really want to win. I’ve got to do a better job showing it a different way.”

Doncic is 3 for 3 on miserable fourth quarters in the finals, with more turnovers (four) than baskets (three) and zero 3-pointers. Before the rare foul-out (the third of Doncic’s career), he sat most of the fourth with the Celtics comfortably in front in Game 1.

Dallas’ best closer hasn’t been closing in this series, and added a chest contusion to a postseason litany of ailments that included a sprained right knee and a sore left ankle.

Although the chest injury — sustained in Game 1 — was the only one on the latest injury report, it’s significant enough that Doncic confirmed to ESPN the network’s report that he had been taking a pain-killing injection by acknowledging he would probably have another one before Game 4.

“My message to him is he’s not alone in this,” said Irving, who bounced back from a sluggish offensive start to the series with 35 points in Game 3. “He’s played as best as he can despite the circumstances, just injuries and stuff. He’s been giving it his all. It’s not all on him.”

The spotlight in still on him, just as it was for Jordan in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and James before the first of his four titles nearly 20 years ago.

“I think the history is there for us to learn from, when you look at great players and the struggles,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “But the great ones, they use that going into the next season or the next couple seasons to try to get back there because now they understand experience is a big thing.”

Doncic won’t do that until this season is officially over.

‘Fun’ key to Mavs’ bid for unprecedented NBA Finals comeback

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Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks reacts after fouling out in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Three of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center on June 12, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.   (Getty Images via AFP)

LOS ANGELES – Dallas superstar Luka Doncic says the Mavericks must set aside the enormity of the task facing them in the NBA Finals and get back to having fun if they are to mount an unprecedented comeback against Boston.
The Slovenian fouled out with just over four minutes remaining in game three on Wednesday and could only watch from the bench as the Celtics thwarted the Mavs’ late rally for a 106-99 victory and a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series.
Dallas head into game four on Friday knowing no team has come back from 0-3 down to win an NBA playoff series.
If they are to become the first, Doncic said, they must forget their frustrations with the officiating, forget history and play the freewheeling game that saw them cut a 21-point deficit to one in the fourth quarter in game three.
“Go back to playing fun,” Doncic said of the message after Dallas studied the game three film on Thursday.
“We talk about how we come back from (21) points in the fourth quarter in the Finals. We were having fun. We were defending. We were running. Our pace was great. Just taking good shots.”
Doncic fouled out for just the third time in his career and for the first time in the post-season, but he’s made a habit of appealing to and arguing with game officials throughout his NBA career.
He’s said before it’s a habit he should break, and he admitted again on Thursday that complaining to game officials — sometimes to the detriment of his attention on the game in progress — was counter-productive since officials will always “have the last word”.
“I just really want to win,” Doncic said. “Sometimes I don’t show it the right way, but at the end of the day, I really want to win. I’ve got to do a better job showing it a different way.”
Doncic has been outstanding offensively in the Finals, averaging 29.7 points, nine rebounds and six assists over three games despite playing with a longstanding right knee sprain and sore left ankle and a painful chest injury sustained in game one that reportedly required pain-killing injections to allow him to play.
In the fourth quarter, however, he’s averaging 2.7 points and shooting just 20 percent from the field.
But Doncic has been ineffective on the defensive end, his weaknesses showcased in his sixth, disqualifying foul on Wednesday when he was whistled for a blocking foul as he tried to defend Jaylen Brown.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said Doncic needs to play smarter defensively and “understand that we’re there to protect him and help him if he does get beat.”
Star teammate Kyrie Irving — who won a title with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 — had the same message for first-time finalist Doncic.
“He’s not alone in this,” said Irving, whose shooting struggles in games one and two in Boston increased the load on Doncic. “He’s played as best as he can despite the circumstances, just injuries and stuff.
“He’s been giving it his all. It’s not all on him.”

Celtics hold off Mavericks for commanding 3-0 NBA Finals lead

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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, left, is hugged by guard Jaylen Brown after they defeated the Dallas Mavericks 106-99 in Game 3 of the NBA basketball finals, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

SCHEDULE: NBA Finals 2024 Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks

DALLAS — Jayson Tatum scored 31 points, Jaylen Brown had 30 and the Boston Celtics held off a furious Dallas rally to reach the brink of a record 18th championship with a 106-99 victory over the Mavericks on Wednesday night for a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals.

Brown finished with eight rebounds and eight assists as the Celtics extended their franchise record with a 10th consecutive playoff victory and moved to 7-0 on the road this postseason. They can win the series and break a tie with the Lakers for most NBA championships with a victory Friday in Dallas.

Boston also improved to 10-1 in these playoffs without Kristaps Porzingis after the 7-foot-2 Latvian was ruled out about two hours before the game because of a rare tendon injury in his lower left leg sustained in Game 2.

The status of Porzingis for the rest of the series appears in doubt, but it might not matter. None of the previous 156 teams to face a 3-0 deficit has rallied to win an NBA playoff series.

The Mavericks almost pulled off a crazy comeback to avoid the big hole — 13 years after the only other rally to match it in the NBA Finals sparked Dallas’ run to its only title against Miami.

LIVE UPDATES: NBA Finals Game 3 Celtics vs Mavericks

Boston led 91-70 at the end of a 20-5 run early in the fourth quarter before Dallas answered with a 22-2 spurt to get within a point with 3 1/2 minutes remaining.

Problem was, Luka Doncic picked up his sixth foul with 4:12 remaining when a challenge was unsuccessful before Kyrie Irving, who scored 35 points, hit a jumper to get Dallas within one.

Tatum and Brown saved the Celtics from there, with some help from Derrick White, who scored 16. Those three combined for the remaining 13 Boston points to get the Celtics within a victory of their first title since 2008, and just the second since 1986.

In a game that seemed over early in the fourth, the score was stuck on 93-90 for more than three minutes. That included when Doncic was called for a blocking foul on a driving Brown.

The Mavericks had nothing to lose with the challenge, since it meant trying to save their superstar from disqualification.

READ: NBA Finals: Porzingis out of Game 3 due to rare tendon injury

Without Doncic, Dallas managed to get within two before Brown hit a pullup jumper with a minute to go. P.J. Washington Jr., Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr. each missed a 3-pointer in the final minute as Irving’s personal losing streak against his former team reached 13 games.

An energized Dallas crowd was ready for its first finals game in 13 years, with Super Bowl-winning quarterback and Mavs fan Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs frequently getting out of his seat near midcourt.

The Mavericks used the needed boost coming off two losses in Boston, taking their biggest lead of the series while running out to a 22-9 lead. Doncic and Irving drove for buckets while also hitting a 3 apiece.

The Celtics answered with a 21-9 finish to the first quarter. Sam Hauser hit two of his first-half 3s — on three attempts — to help wrap up a run that started with four points from Brown and a 3 from Tatum.

Defense dominated the start of the second quarter, Boston holding a 5-2 edge nearly six minutes in before Irving and Tatum traded 3s to start a scoring burst.

NBA Finals: Celtics’ Porzingis out of Game 3 due to rare tendon injury

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Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis celebrates after scoring against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 2 of the NBA Basketball Finals, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

DALLAS — Kristaps Porzingis did not play for the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night because of a rare tendon injury in his lower left leg suffered in the previous game.

The Celtics announced about two hours before tipoff that Porzingis was out for that game against the Dallas Mavericks, but coach Joe Mazzulla later left open the possibility of the center being ready for Game 4.

“The medical team and the staff decided it wasn’t what was best for him,” Mazzulla said about Game 3. “It’ll just be a day-to-day thing, see how he is tomorrow and the next day. … He didn’t look right. That was it. I was not involved in it. It was out of his hands.”

READ: NBA Finals: Porzingis a big problem for Mavericks team that cast him off

The 28-year-old Porzingis had missed 10 consecutive playoff games because of a right calf strain before returning last week for the start of the NBA Finals, and helped the Celtics take a 2-0 series lead against his former team. He jump-started the Celtics with 11 points and two blocks in the first quarter of their Game 1 win, then had 12 points in the game in which he got hurt.

Porzingis has said he felt something after bumping knees Sunday night with Dallas center Dereck Lively II but kept playing. He left the game in the final minute of the third quarter and played only about 3 1/2 minutes in the fourth.

The 7-foot-2 Latvian has a tear in the tissue that holds tendons in place. The Celtics said it was unrelated to the calf strain he sustained in Game 4 of the first round against Miami on April 29.

Al Horford, who turned 38 last week, started at center against the Mavs, like he has since Game 5 against the Heat. He scored the first five points for the Celtics, on a short jumper and a 3-pointer.

READ: Porzingis returns, Celtics open NBA Finals with big win over Mavericks

After the team announced the injury Tuesday, Porzingis said he was going through constant treatment and doing everything the medical staff told him. He said he would do whatever he could to play, but acknowledged that he “can’t trick them into allowing me to play.”

Mazzulla had said then that the team was taking that decision out of Porzingis’ hands.

“I’ve appreciated just his approach. Throughout the whole playoffs … He’s never missed any meeting, he’s always been out there, done everything he can to play,” Mazzulla said before Game 3. “Sometimes it’s an unfortunate situation. It’s nothing that he can do.”

With Porzingis missing Game 3, he still hasn’t played a game in Dallas since being traded by the Mavericks nearly 2 1/2 years ago.

Porzingis was the fourth overall pick by the New York Knicks in 2015, and was an All-Star before a torn ACL forced him to miss all of 2018-19. They traded him to Dallas in January 2019, a deal involving seven players and two first-round draft picks. Dallas traded Porzingis to Washington on Feb. 10, 2022, and the Wizards sent him to Boston in a three-team trade last summer.

When the Wizards played at Dallas in January 2023, Porzingis was inactive after playing in 12 of their previous 13 games. He also didn’t play for the Celtics this past January, when they visited American Airlines Center the night after he had 32 points, six rebounds and five blocked shots in Houston.

NBA Finals Game 3 Celtics vs Mavericks

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2024 NBA Finals schedule (Game 3)

8:30am – Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks

FULL SCHEDULE HERE.

Kyrie Irving channeling 2016 as Mavericks plot NBA Finals rally

Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks looks to pass the ball during the third quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Two of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFP

DALLAS – Kyrie Irving is drawing from the experience of Cleveland’s 2016 NBA Finals comeback as he attempts to help dig the Dallas Mavericks out of an 0-2 hole against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.

The Mavericks host their first game of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, desperate for victory after dropping the opening two road games of the best-of-seven series in Boston last week. FULL STORY

NBA Finals: Porzingis has rare leg injury, uncertain for Game 3

Kristaps Porzingis Boston Celtics NBA Finals

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis talks with reporters before basketball practice, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Dallas, in preparation for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

DALLAS — Kristaps Porzingis hasn’t played a game in Dallas since the Mavericks traded him nearly 2 1/2 years ago, and now it is uncertain if he will play there in Game 3 of the NBA Finals for the Boston Celtics.

Porzingis has a rare tendon injury in his lower left leg, which occurred in the third quarter of Boston’s 105-98 victory for a 2-0 series lead. The team said Tuesday that he was day-to-day, and Porzingis said he will do everything he can to play Wednesday night. FULL STORY

NBA Finals: Mavericks need more 3s to fall in rally bid vs Celtics

Luka Doncic Dallas Mavericks NBA Finals

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic shoots free throws during basketball practice, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Dallas, in preparation for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

DALLAS — Luka Doncic’s message is simple for the struggling 3-point shooters around him, and with Dallas trailing Boston 2-0 while coming home for the NBA Finals.

“Just one thing: Keep shooting,” the Mavericks superstar said. “We all believe in those shots. That’s how we came to the Finals. That’s how we played the whole season. We believe in those guys.”

Dallas faces several daunting numbers going into Game 3 on Wednesday night. FULL STORY

Celtics control NBA Finals despite Jayson Tatum’s shooting woes

Jayson Tatum Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks NBA Finals

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) questions a call during Game 2 of the NBA Basketball Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

DALLAS — There have been two versions of Jayson Tatum so far in these NBA Finals.

Version One is shooting a dismal 12 for 38 from the field, just 31.6%, the worst percentage by far of any starter in the series between his Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. Version Two is second in the finals in total rebounds, leads the series in assists and, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, is currently favored to win the NBA Finals MVP award. FULL STORY

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Celtics control NBA Finals despite Jayson Tatum’s shooting woes

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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) questions a call during Game 2 of the NBA Basketball Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

DALLAS — There have been two versions of Jayson Tatum so far in these NBA Finals.

Version One is shooting a dismal 12 for 38 from the field, just 31.6%, the worst percentage by far of any starter in the series between his Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. Version Two is second in the finals in total rebounds, leads the series in assists and, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, is currently favored to win the NBA Finals MVP award.

Add them up, and the Celtics seem completely satisfied what they’re seeing from Tatum, as usual. The Celtics have a 2-0 lead in the finals going into Game 3 in Dallas on Wednesday night, meaning the NBA’s best team all season is halfway to an 18th championship.

READ: NBA Finals: Porzingis has rare leg injury, uncertain for Game 3

“I understand that I do need to be more efficient,” Tatum said Tuesday. “I do need to shoot the ball better, I would not disagree with anybody on that. But I’m not letting it bother me. I’m still trying to find ways to impact the game and dominate the game in other areas.”

Getting too deep into Tatum’s numbers in this series — or even when adding the 2022 NBA Finals to the totals — isn’t a great idea, simply because of the sample size. He’s been in a total of eight finals games. It’s not enough to draw conclusions.

That said, while the shooting is almost shockingly bad — no player in the last 60 years, with as many shot attempts as Tatum has all-time in NBA Finals play, has shot worse than his .354 clip — he’s on pace to do something historic. If his averages of 17 points, 10 rebounds and 8.5 assists hold up through the rest of the series, he’d be the second player to finish a finals with those numbers.

The other is LeBron James, who did it four times.

“Criticism is the ultimate beauty,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “It’s a sign of ultimate respect. It’s just a beautiful thing. I really love the way Jayson has handled that. It’s just a testament to who he is.”

READ: NBA Finals: Celtics hold off Mavericks for 2-0 lead

It is good news for the Mavericks that they’ve done well on Tatum through two games.

The bad news, of course, is that it hasn’t mattered much. Tatum fills up the box score in other ways, and the Celtics won both games at home to open the series.

“I think he’s one of the best players in the world,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “You’re trying to just make it tough. That’s all you can do, is hopefully guard the first move, guard the second move, guard the third move and contest. Guys are doing that at a high rate, trying to make it tough on him.”

Shooting-wise, these two games in the finals represent the worst two-game span of Tatum’s season. He was barely better in games against Denver and Houston in mid-January, shooting 31.7% in those.

The next game after that little stretch saw Tatum score 39 points. The Mavericks should know that one well; it was against them. So, they’re likely pretty certain that Tatum’s shooting won’t stay cold for long.

“Over time you learn how to deal with all the extra noise and attention, whether it’s positive or not so positive,” Tatum said. “You know, I’m a fair, smart person. I know when I’m doing things at a high level. I know when I need to do certain things better. So I’m not, like, oblivious to what’s going on. At the same time, just keeping the main thing the main thing and focusing on trying to win the next game. That’s what’s most important at this time.”

Irving channeling 2016 as Mavs plot NBA Finals rally

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Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)

DALLAS – Kyrie Irving is drawing from the experience of Cleveland’s 2016 NBA Finals comeback as he attempts to help dig the Dallas Mavericks out of an 0-2 hole against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
The Mavericks host their first game of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, desperate for victory after dropping the opening two road games of the best-of-seven series in Boston last week.
For Irving, the situation is eerily familiar to his experience with the Cavaliers eight years ago, when Cleveland went 2-0 down to the dominant Golden State Warriors before rallying and eventually winning the series 4-3 with victory in game seven.
Irving, who famously shot the game-winning three-pointer in the series decider against the Warriors in 2016, sees parallels between his past and present.
“It took a lot of will to win in 2016,” Irving said.
“We had time to fail together. We had time to go through our trials together. We lost in 2015.
“A lot of guys came back in 2016 and we won. So there was an inner motivation there. We also knew who we were going against, how well they played.”
Instead of being daunted by the challenge posed by the top-seeded Celtics, Irving wants his teammates to view their situation as “an opportunity to respond.”
“That’s all you can ask for in a basketball season,” he said.
“If you asked me in September or October, would I want a chance to be down 0-2 and having a chance to respond in Game 3 or be out of the playoffs, I think I would choose the former. It’s as simple as that.
“We’re the only teams left. This is about chess. That’s all it is.”
If the Mavericks are to haul themselves off the canvas, Irving knows he will need a more productive game after misfiring so far.
In games one and two against Boston, Irving scored a mere 28 points and was 13-of-37 from the floor, and 0-of-8 from three-point range.
“First thing is just accepting that I haven’t played well or up to my standards, as well as I would have liked,” Irving said.
Irving also believes that the scorelines from the first two games of the series don’t do Dallas justice.
“The margin of their victories hasn’t really displayed the full story in terms of the Celtics beating us,” Irving said.
“We just have to continue to lean in on each other, especially when it gets tough out there. We’re going against a great team.
“We know what we’re in for. But now we have to raise it to an even higher level, and it starts with me.”
Dallas coach Jason Kidd, meanwhile, hopes the home support can emulate the raucous atmosphere he experienced as a player in 2011 as a member of the Mavericks last championship-winning team.
“This is an incredible atmosphere,” Kidd said. “To win that championship in 2011, the city is incredible. They love their Mavs.
“To win it then and now to be here in 2024 is special because you don’t really get an opportunity to do that.
“I understand the opportunity that I have to be the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. It’s a dream come true.
“But we’re trying right now to figure out how to win one game, and that’s the next one tomorrow night.”