The Mavs are 0-2 in the Finals so far. As they head back to Dallas, here’s what you need to know ahead of Game 3.
DALLAS — For the first time in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks have lost back-to-back games and it could not come at a worse time.
The Mavs came up short in both Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals in Boston and must now climb out of a 0-2 series hole against the silly good Celtics.
As the series heads to Dallas, here are a few things to look for going into Game 3:
1. Oh Kyrie, where art thou?
As reporters spoke to Mavericks players in the locker room after the Game 2 loss, Kyrie Irving walked by on his way to the shower and said loud enough for everyone to hear: “We’ll be fine.”
The Mavericks are not fine — if Kyrie doesn’t break out of his mini-slump.
I don’t know if it’s the TD Garden or Boston fans or the Curse of the Leprechaun Logo… but Kyrie loses his powers against the Celtics as if they’re the Monstars.
He’s now 0-12 in his last 12 games vs. the Celtics since wiping his sneakers on the logo in May 2021.
But, let’s not lose ourselves amongst the narratives. It’s basketball. The ball either goes in the hoop or it doesn’t.
Kyrie had plenty of good looks in Games 1 and 2 in Boston — the ball just hasn’t gone through the net as much as it normally does.
The 32-year-old shot 6 for 19 (32%) from the field in Game 1. He upped that to 7 for 18 (39%) in Game 2.
For context, Kyrie made 50% of his field goal attempts during the regular season.
Luka Doncic dragged the Mavs to the Western Conference Finals in 2022 but it was clear he couldn’t win a title by himself. Dallas needed Kyrie (and a bunch of other newcomers) to break through and reach the Finals.
But this series is over if the Mavs co-star continues to disappear into the role of an extra.
2. The Celtics are inevitable
Boston was not some random team to come out of the Eastern Conference.
This Celtics team had a historically good season in the NBA and their dominance has been on display throughout the playoffs.
In the Finals, their biggest strength is flexing: numbers.
The Celtics can beat you with multiple different guys, not just two.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are the “stars” but Jrue Holiday is a past champion and one of the NBA’s best defensive guards of the last decade.
And even if you stop those three.. you gotta deal with Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Derrick White… and Payton Pritchard buzzer-beaters.
The Celtics just have too many guys step up. And the Mavs, so far, have just had one.
3. Finals experience showing
Nearly every player in the Celtics rotation has prior experience in the NBA Finals.
The Mavs rotation, meanwhile, only has one: Kyrie Irving.
The Celtics experience has shown up on the big stage while the Mavs have shown an incredible lack of poise.
Missed free throws and careless turnovers doomed the Mavericks in Game 2, along with a bunch of missed open three-pointers.
The Mavs must eliminate the self-inflicted and fundamental mistakes because they can’t beat themselves AND the Celtics.