DALLAS (AP) – A smiling Luka Doncic pumps his fist as he sits next to Kyrie Irving to answer questions about the Dallas Mavericks' second trip to the Western Conference Finals in three seasons. Ta.
Doncic's co-stars did not play in the game that ended in a five-game losing streak to eventual champion Golden State two years ago. Irving hasn't played this deep in the playoffs since playing alongside LeBron James in Cleveland seven years ago.
Given all the turmoil and controversy surrounding Irving since then, much of it self-inflicted, don't think the eight-time All-Star didn't have an idea in the locker room.
“I had to give an impromptu speech, but I was trying my best not to let the tears fall from my eyes, because it feels like it's been a long time just to be back in this position,” Dallas said. Irving said after being ousted. Seeded Oklahoma City won Game 6 Saturday night, 117-116.
“That was a long time ago,” Irving said. “Looking back, making it to the conference finals three years in a row and then not being able to go back for a little while meant that parts of my career that I took for granted became a burden as a competitor. That made the celebration even better.”
It wasn't just the conference finals. James and Irving appeared in three straight NBA Finals together, going 1-2 before Irving was traded to Boston.
The Celtics reached the East Finals in 2018, the first season with Irving, but he missed the entire postseason due to a knee injury.
Teaming up with Kevin Durant in Brooklyn didn't work out for various reasons until a trade request landed Irving in Dallas.
The series win against the Thunder wasn't about Irving's offensive superiority. Instead, the score-first guard played what coach Jason Kidd called the best defense Irving had seen in the postseason.
Irving hit two big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Mavs rallied from a 17-point deficit in the second half of their clincher against the Thunder. But intangibles always seemed to take precedence.
“If you look at his series, yeah, he didn't have that offensive explosiveness,” Kidd said. “He was the glue of this series. He kept everyone together. He kept everyone positive. Yes, that was the hardest. But it gets harder and harder. And That’s what makes it fun for great people.”
The first two months of the Doncic-Irving pairing last year were a dud for the players. He has made 13 All-Star appearances during that time. Same goes for Dallas, who decided to tank at the end of last season to keep their draft picks even though they had a mathematical chance of making it to the play-in tournament.
This plan worked, as they acquired center Derek Lively II, who made a big impact as a rookie. But the roster still doesn't seem quite right, as the Mavs were over .500 in just three games to open February after blowing a 25-point lead in a loss to Milwaukee.
This time, the trade deadline efforts paid off, with the additions of P.J. Washington Jr. and Daniel Gafford shortly after the loss to the Bucks, giving Dallas a boost on both ends of the court.
The Mavericks moved into fifth place in the West Division with a record of 24 wins and nine losses, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers with the same win-loss record they had when they defeated Oklahoma City in the first round.
“This group has been together for about five months,” Doncic said. “We're able to do more and more things. Big deals and big adjustments. Just keep bringing it.”
When Doncic reached the deep playoffs for the first time two years ago, he didn't have a partner with Irving's playoff pedigree.
The 25-year-old superstar remains the headliner, and the Mavs will have to play without home court advantage for the third time in three series this postseason.
The same goes for the second round in 2022, with Dallas defeating Phoenix in Game 7 for a stunning victory. The Mavs were never a threat to the Warriors.
Now, it's time to see what Irving's addition will mean against the winner of Denver vs. Minnesota starting Wednesday night. The Nuggets and Timberwolves will play Game 7 on Sunday night.
From Irving's perspective, the 32-year-old is more concerned with what it means to him to be next to Doncic, who averaged 31 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.2 assists in his playoff career, for the first time in the postseason. .
“We all know how skilled he is, his numbers and all that, but I'm a teammate who helps him grow into a man and accomplish what he wants to accomplish, and I'm a teammate of his. I want to be the brother next door,” Irving said. “I know he feels the same way.”
Doncic certainly looked happy sitting next to Irving after his second win in a playoff series.
