SUMMARY
- Kyrie Irving believes Anthony Edwards' comments on guarding him was only a nod of respect.
- Edwards admitted that he didn't know what to expect from the Mavericks' defenses.
Kyrie Irving is one of the best performers in the NBA today. It has been a while since we’ve seen the veteran compete this deep into the playoffs. And fortunately for him, the Dallas Mavericks have only done him well. So far, his experience in the league has been pivotal in the Mavericks’ run in the post-season. Irving himself believes he has to be his best self for a young team like the Mavericks.
Irving is generally viewed as a threat on the floor due to his flashy style of playing and efficient scoring ability. The 32-year-old point guard is also incredibly good on defense. Ahead of the Western Conference Finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards boldly said that he’s going to guard Irving. The Mavericks veteran recently weighed on Edwards’ comments before Game 1.
“That’s a no fear mentality, and that’s why we love Ant.”
Kyrie Irving speaks on Anthony Edwards mentioning him ahead of their West Finals matchup 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/uE2O7jhKt5
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2024
He said, “I use that as motivation. When I was sitting at home and I saw it, I was like this is a nod of respect. And also I knew what type of game it was going to be in Game 1 and the rest of the season. But also that’s a no-fear mentality. And that’s why we love Ant. So coming out tonight, I knew he was going to pressure me a little bit.” However, Irving made this matchup seem easy as he finished with 30 points against Edwards, while their 22-year-old had only 19 points.
Despite a tough Game 1, Anthony Edwards is determined to overpower the Mavericks’ defense
Following Game 1, Edwards seemed very unlike himself as he understood that the Mavericks were going to make things hard for him. During the post-game press conference, he said, “We didn’t really know what to expect. [I] came off, was open a bunch of times, took the shots. I’ll make them next time.”
ANTHONY EDWARDS GOT HUMBLED REAL QUICK 😂💀
LOOK WHAT KYRIE IRVING DID TO HIM pic.twitter.com/TINc76A7Lr
— Dallas Nation (@TheDallasNation) May 23, 2024
Kyrie Irving wasn’t entirely responsible for limiting Edwards to 6-16 from the field, but it was a collective effort made by the Mavericks team. Edwards is certainly aware that he didn’t have the ideal showing in Game 1. But he’s definitely capable of bouncing back into form and dominating.
Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic get massive praise from Stan Van Gundy
Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic had an impressive night offensively, scoring a combined total of 63 points. They became the second duo ever to record 30 points or more each in a playoff game. Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant were the first duo to do it. Irving and Doncic earned a lot of praise from Stan Van Gundy following the Mavericks’ Game 1 win.
Stan Van Gundy: “Minnesota’s top rated defense is gonna be challenged trying to slow them down arguably the best offensive backcourt in the history of the NBA in Luka Doncic & Kyrie Irving.”
Reggie Miller: “WOAH!”
Agree with SVG? 🤔pic.twitter.com/N8fIOETleE
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 23, 2024
He said, “Minnesota’s top-rated defense is gonna be challenged trying to slow them down arguably the best offensive backcourt in the history of the NBA in Luka Doncic & Kyrie Irving.” The veteran guard currently averages 21.1 points per game in the playoffs, while Doncic has been putting up 27.3 points per game. Kyrie, along with LeBron James also happened to become the first duo to record 40 points each in a single game. That’s another interesting career feat that Kyrie gets praised for.
