The Dallas Mavericks responded in a big way in Game 4. Down 3-0 and facing elimination against the Boston Celtics, they put forth a spirited effort on both ends of the court. It resulted in one of the biggest blowouts in NBA Finals history, as they won 122-84. It was also a second strong performance by Kyrie Irving.
If the Dallas Mavericks are going to extend this series, they need Kyrie Irving to have a strong game. He has put together two good performances in a row and third will be integral to avoiding elimination at least one more game.
With the series now flipping back to TD Garden for Game 5, all of the pressure is on the Boston Celtics. They do not want to travel back to Dallas for a Game 6, giving the Mavericks all the momentum in the series.
Kyrie Irving needs to play better than he did in Games 1 and 2 in Boston for his team to have a chance. He averaged only 14 points per game in the first two contests, shooting 35.1 percent from the field and missing all eight of his 3-point attempts.
The relationship that Kyrie Irving has with the city of Boston is a complicated one. He is public enemy No. 1 on the Dallas Mavericks given how poorly his tenure with the franchise unfolded. Heading into hostile territory, he knows what he needs to do to quiet them down.
“I mean, let’s just call it what it is,” Irving said. “When the fans are cheering, ‘Kyrie sucks,’ they feel like they have a psychological edge, and that’s fair. Of course, if I’m not making shots or turning the ball over, that makes it even more of a pressing issue that they can stay on me for.
“I think in order to silence even the self-doubt, let alone the crowd doubt, but the self-doubt when you make or miss shots, that’s just as important as making sure I’m leading the team the right way and being human through this experience, too, and telling them how I feel.”
In the two games in Dallas, Kyrie Irving averaged 28 points and made 50 percent of his shots. Replicating that performance in Game 5 would go a long way to helping the Dallas Mavericks win the game.
He is no stranger to big moments. During the Cleveland Cavaliers’ historic run against the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals, it was Irving who hit the game-winning shot. The stage certainly isn’t too bright for the former No. 1 overall pick, who needs to play better on Monday night for his team to have a chance to win.
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