The Mavericks are counting on Kyrie Irving to step up if they aim to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy, and the All-Star guard seems determined to deliver on those expectations.
Following a tough performance in Sunday night’s Game 2 loss to the Celtics, Irving assured fans as he left the court that he would return to TD Garden for Game 5, signaling his confidence in extending the series.
Irving’s history with Boston has been a point of contention among Celtics fans since the Finals began, stemming from his rocky departure from the team. This history has fueled the intense reception he has received not just in Boston, but also during his subsequent tenures with Brooklyn and Dallas.
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Reflecting on his past ahead of the Finals against his former team, Irving admitted he wasn’t at his best during his time in Boston. “I know sometimes in sports, it’s literally about the end goal and result in what you accomplish, and that’s one thing,” he shared. “But we’re still human. At the end of the day, I wasn’t my best self during that time. When I look back on it, I just see it as a time where I learned how to let go of things and learned how to talk through my emotions.”
Irving’s performance in the first two games of the series has also not been up to his usual standards.
With the series shifting back to Dallas, the hope is that Irving, a former NBA champion, can elevate his game and help the Mavericks come back from their current deficit.
