On this episode of 'Inside The Mavs', Kevin Gray, Mavs Pre/Post Game Host previews GM 3 of the NBA Finals as discusses Kyrie Irving's performance so far in the Finals and if he can help Luka Doncic and the Mavericks turn the series around. Kevin gives his x-factors, keys to victory and more for the Mavs to get back in the Finals against Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown & Celtics & more!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
First, I forget, I don'twant to get any more in details,
but I feel good. Uh.Second one, the intense is the physical
you said intense physicality. I thinkit's up and ouch for sure. You
know, both teams split a lotof games throughout the season, but I
think the physicality has been some pointsfor sure. Luca and Kyrie and the
(00:23):
Mavers have to find a way toget back into this series with the boss
of Celtics, the keys to victoryfor Game three, and what Kyrie says
he has to do to help hisbrother Luka Dacic get back into the NBA
Finals. This is Inside the MAVs. Welcome to Inside the Mask, presented
(01:10):
by Aura. I'm your host,Kevin Gray, maveris pre and post game
host in the Dallas Mavericks Radio Network. Appreciate you joining me for this latest
episode of Inside the Mask. Makesyou a download and subscribe to the podcast
wherever you get your podcast or free. Give it a five star rating,
write a review for it while you'rethere. If you're watching some my YouTube
channel at Kevin Gray Sports, makesure you like a comment on the video
as well, and you can followme on Twitter a's Kevin Gray Sports the
(01:33):
Mavericks trying to find a way toget back into this NBA Finals down two
games to none going into Game three. Luka Doncis, Kyrie Irving and this
Mavericks team trying to end what isa nine game winning streak in the postseason
right now for the Boston Celtics.After the Celtics, of course, got
the one oh five ninety eight winin Game two to take the first two
games of this series, holding homecourt the way that they needed to,
(01:56):
and now the Mavericks, on theanniversary of their first and only championship in
franchise history, need to begin todo the same in holding home court at
the America Airlines Center. Luka Doncicis going to be continuing to play through
pain. As we learned during mediaavailability on Tuesday. Luka Doncis, who
you heard at the beginning of ourshow, says that he feels good,
(02:19):
and then we came to find outhe's feeling good because he had a painkilling
injection given to him prior to Gametwo and is expected to get another one
going into Game three, a playeralready dealing with a myriad of injuries between
the ankle and the knee and thequad and also now the chess contusion,
(02:39):
thorastic injury, whatever you want tocall it. He's dealing with that also,
and when you watch game two thirteenblowbys that he gave up, you
can tell that the injuries are catchingup to him, but at the same
time still playing with the kind ofconfidence that is befitting of Luka Donci,
who of course was another first teamon the NBA selection for the fifth year
(03:00):
in a row. But all ofthat aside, he and Kyrie Irving are
going to have to put the Maverickson their collective backs in order to get
them back into this series. Therole players you're hoping will play better starting
in game three as well. Despitethe fact that you had all five of
your starters in double figures in gametwo, you only had nine points off
(03:23):
your bench, and Christas prezingis,which we'll get to throughout the course of
our episode, outscored your bench twelveto nine in game two by himself.
How effective he's going to be inGame three, only time will tell if
he's even able to play, becauseif he's not able to play due to
the tendon injury that he's suffered inGame two, that changes quite a bit
(03:44):
what Boston has from a depth perceptionwhen it comes to their bench with Al
Horford moving into the starting lineup,but more so for the Mavericks being able
to hopefully begin to punish the Celticson the inside, and that for me,
is one of the big keys tovictory because as if Chriss Prezingis is
not going to be available for therest of this series, the Mavericks have
(04:04):
a distinct advantage inside to be ableto utilize Daniel Gaffer and Derek Lively.
Lively, who's at a tough stretchso far to begin this series, to
really start to put pressure on theinterior of Boston because without Porzingis they don't
have their rim protector and shot blockeron the defensive end, where he's been
great in terms of week side helpand being able to provide that wall of
(04:27):
defense for Boston. And on theoffensive end, of course, Porzingis is
a terrific shooter from deep can putthe ball on the floor and as a
mismatched nightmare with his ability to shootover smaller defenders, which we saw in
Game one when he was able tohave the twenty points in as effective as
he was, but If he isnot available, that is going to bode
(04:48):
well for the Mavericks. If heis available, how much effective will he
actually be given the kind of rareinjury that he's dealing with, and what
that means for Boston in terms oftheir death. Could you see Luke Cornett,
could you see Xavier Tillman provide somebig man minutes behind Al Horford who
will have to play more extended minutesand at thirty eight years of age,
(05:08):
it's going to be a little bittougher for him, even though he's played
well at times during this postseason.Being in the starting lineup, the Mavericks
have to find a way to ensurethat they're keeping themselves not only in this
game, but being the aggressors fromthe outset, and that starts with Kyrie
Irving. Kyrie Irving has struggled sofar in the first two games of this
(05:30):
NBA Finals, of course, playingin Boston, where he is now zero
to twelve in his last twelve games. Playing against Boston, it seems like
they have his number. But nowcoming home to what will be a raucous
American Airline Center crowd in Dallas whowill show him all the love that he
needs to have in order to hopefullycome out and play aggressive on the offensive,
in which you started to see someof which in Game two in the
(05:55):
first quarter in the first half,where he went five of ten in the
first half, not shooting the ballwell from three. But now coming home
playing with Luka Doncis, with theserole players who you feel like will be
more comfortable back at home, theywill have an opportunity and specifically Kyrie Irving
to be able to put his stampon this game. In fact, I
asked Kyrie Irving, how was hehelping Luka Dodgis, who was experiencing this
(06:19):
O two deficit for the first timein an NBA Final situation. Knowing that
Kyrie Irving has come back from athree games to one deficit yes with Lebron
James to win that championship with Clevelandback in twenty sixteen, I asked Kyrie
Irving, how are you helping him? And how are you helping each other
be able to manage the situation?And to Kyrie's credit, as you take
(06:41):
a listen and watch, Kyrie tookaccountability for his play thus far. Kyrie.
A lot's been made about the bondthat you and Luca have formed throughout
the course of this season, youhaving been in this position before, being
down and coming back to winning NBAFinals. How are you helping him manage
this situation? How are the twoof you helping each other, especially knowing
what you're trying to accomplish over thesenext couple of games, especially here at
home. Yeah, well, itstarted with me just telling ma Hermano just
(07:05):
I got to play better for him, alongside him, and you know,
in order for us to you know, accomplish our goal, we both have
to be playing well and we bothhave to be doing the little things and
doing whatever it takes to win.So easy conversation, but it started with
me reaching out, just letting himknow that, you know, it's my
it's my fault, taking accountability fornot playing particularly well. But also I
(07:29):
got to continue to trust my guysaround us or around me, and you
know, I have fun in theprocess. We've gotten this far because we've
been a great team, not becausewe've just put it on me and Lucas.
It's been a total team effort,total organizational effort to get thus far.
So we just got to keep trustingin that. So pretty simple conversation,
So a simple conversation with Luka Doncicand letting him know that I've got
(07:53):
to be better playing with him andalongside him to give him the best chance
for us to win, because wehave to do the little things in order
to win. And that's going tobe a massive sign in Game three and
beyond in this series. Can theMavericks do the little things to be able
to win games? You saw howthe little things killed them in Game two,
going sixteen of twenty four from thefree throw line, committing fifteen turnovers,
(08:18):
and not having the poise that we'veseen them have down the stretch of
games, and unfortunately giving the Celticstoo many opportunities, especially with second chances,
to be able to get some easybaskets. More on this game when
it comes to what the Mavericks havegot to do to climb themselves back into
this series, including getting the verticalgame going when it comes to their sinners,
(08:41):
and most importantly, Kyrie Irving turningthings around in this series. But
before we get there, let's hearfrom today's sponsor of our video and our
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(10:28):
as we get you ready for Gainthree of the NBA Finals between your
Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics.Can the Mavericks climb themselves back into this
series and will need to do sobeginning in Game three? Talking about the
keys to victory and what has toturn around for this Mavericks team, and
one of the things that has toturn around immediately is they got to start
making shots. You've seen so farin this series, especially from the three
(10:50):
point line, this team is notbeing able to shoot the ball well.
And what concerned me coming out ofGame two is that Boston didn't shoot the
ball well from three, particularly themselves, but they found other ways to get
easy buckets, whether it be intransition, but also on second chance opportunities
to make timely threes, especially downthe stretch. You saw those two back
(11:11):
breaking threes that the Celtics made withDrew Holliday and Derek White, the first
one coming off a turnover between PJ. Washington and Luka Doncis. Even the
three point that Peyton Pritrid hit atthe end of the third quarter took what
was a six point deficit and turnedit into nine after the Mavers that tried
to claw their way back into it. You've got to find a way to
(11:31):
make some more shots, especially fromthree. You look at Game two in
particular, Luka Doncis went four ofnine from downtown, shooting forty four percent
from three. Everyone outside of Lukadonct shot a whoppingly bad two of seventeen
from three. So I'm looking atPJ. Washington, I'm looking at Dereck
Jones Jr. I'm looking at JoshGreen and others to be able to knock
(11:54):
down some threes, to be ableto give them some opportunities, especially knowing
that Boston is a team who hasn'tlost on the road this postseason. They're
going to take and make their fairshare of threes and continue to do what
they do even in the loss.In Game two, the Celtics took thirty
nine to three pointers, they onlymade ten of them. The Mavericks took
(12:16):
twenty six three pointers and made sixof them at a twenty three percent clip.
You're not gonna win any games inthe NBA Finals shooting twenty three percent
from the three point line, andthen marry that with the idea that you
missed eight free throws. Going sixteento twenty four from the free throw line
at under sixty seven percent, that'snot going to cut it because in games
(12:37):
like this against as team as goodas Boston, who won sixty four games
during the regular season, your marginfor air is extremely thin. You can't
turn the ball over fifteen times,you can't miss eight free throws, and
you can't shoot twenty three percent fromthe three point line. Jason Kidd and
this team has talked about the amountof open shots and good looks that they've
(12:58):
gotten. They simply have him them. That will have to change going into
Game three and beyond in this series. If it can the Mavericks will climb
themselves back into it. Additionally,they've got to get the vertical game going
with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively.The Celtics have done a terrific job of
taking away the live threat and thevertical game of the Dallas Mavericks so far
(13:22):
in this series. Joe Mozoula nothaving it the head coach of the Celtics,
you've seen at times with the Mavericks, will be able to get a
couple of those plays made in termsof lob dunks to Daniel Gafford or Dereck
Lively, Joe Mossoula immediately calling timeoutsto ensure that his team understands that that
is not something that they're going tolive with. Knowing how effective Gafford and
(13:43):
Lively can be in the middle,that could change going into Game three,
especially with the injury to Christos Porzingis, because if you can find a way
to start punishing them inside, openingthings up for those corners when you've got
to start collapsing on those big menwho are making those shots. Because the
Celtics have shown the ability to notonly stay home on the shooters when it
comes to PJ. Washington, DereckJones Junior and others. They're also great
(14:07):
with their switching. They believe intheir abilities to defend one on one and
be able to handle themselves when itcomes to their individual defensive principles. If
you could start finding a way toaffect the middle of the basket, in
the paint area, in the restrictedarea and start getting your easy buckets,
now you're forcing the Celtics to haveto start defending some of that, which
(14:28):
should open up some of the areason the outside for guys to build to
hopefully knock down some shots when theyget the opportunity to do so. And
if you're a guy like Maxi Kleebut who is much beligned so far in
this series, even if we seeTim Hardaway at some point in this series,
take the shots that are available toyou and are open and have confidence
taking those shots. We've seen toomany times already in this series, just
(14:50):
to the first couple of games withMaxi's had opportunities at times not willing to
take those shots. You cannot passup open shots in this game and in
this series against Boston because they certainlywill not do that themselves. So one
You've got to do the little things, which means taking care of the basketball,
eliminating the turnovers, the fifteen thatyou had in Game two, being
(15:13):
able to knock down your free throws. Missing eight free throws in the NBA
Finals, especially knowing how then themargin of error is is inexcusable, especially
at this time of the year,even with the struggles that we've seen the
mavers have from the free throw line. And then you've got to find a
way to start making some shots andbeing able to be a little bit more
consistent from the outside because if youcan, you start to shift the pressure
(15:37):
over to the Celtics. And mostimportantly for me, when you start looking
at this series, yes, JasonTatum has turned himself into a terrific facilitator.
He had the twelve assists in Gamenumber two, being a willing playmaker
and passer and doing the little thingsto be able to win. It's about
the sacrifice that the boss of Celticshave been making, not just out the
(16:00):
regular season, but what they're doingin the postseason, putting aside egos to
be able to do whatever is necessaryto win. That's exactly what the Mavericks
have to do. Going into Gamethree, it doesn't matter who gets it
when they get it, everyone hasto collectively be on the same plage to
play together in a way that's cohesiveand connected on both ends of the floor.
(16:21):
Because that's the way that Boston isplaying right now. And when you
look at Jason Tatum, when youlook at Jalen Brown, and then of
course what Drew Holliday was able todo in game two with the twenty six
points and the eleven rebounds that theyhad. They have a lot of different
ways with the shooters that they haveon the outside at times to put a
small guy in the dunker spot,whether it be Derek White or Drew Holliday,
(16:42):
and they are able to finish atthe rim as well. And the
cutting and the IQ that we haveseen from Boston has been an extremely high
level. So if you're the Maverickson the defensive end, you've got to
be able to win your one onone mattress in terms of your defendee.
But most importantly, you've got tostay tied together and connected with your communication
and your rotations on the defensive end, because if you don't, Boston will
(17:06):
make you pay with a variety ofoffensive players that they have and the creativity
at which they get those players open, whether it be Tatum as a playmaker,
Jaylen Brown being able to get downhilland make things happen, or Drew
Holliday being able to facilitate offense aswell. He's been the personification of doing
whatever it takes to be able towin a game. And Drew Holliday right
now, for a lot of folks, is the NBA Finals MVP through the
(17:27):
first couple of games. But ifyou're the Mavericks, is about matching the
intensity and bringing that much more fervorand intensity to Boston in Game three and
beyond, because you have to bethe one to punch them in the mouth.
You get the crowd into it.Don't have to have the crowd pump
energy into you. You give thecrowd something to be able to continue to
(17:48):
take with them throughout the course ofthe game, especially in the first five
minutes of Game one, because ifthe Mavericks find a way, especially the
way that we saw them close outthe Minnesota Timberwolves in Game five, Luka
Doncic punching the Timberwolves in the mouthof those twenty points in the first quarter,
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving taking turnsbeing able to lead this team offensively,
(18:10):
but also guys taking advantage of theopportunities when they have them. When
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving is ableto facilitate offense, and even a guy
like Dante Exum, who you sawin Game three knockdown an open three pointer,
which Jason Kidd talked about during thecourse after Game two, his ball
handling responsibilities will continue to increase tohopefully take some of that pressure off of
(18:32):
Luca and Kyrie, especially for Lucadealing with the injuries that he's dealing with
right now, a number that we'vedetailed a little bit earlier on in the
show. So if you're the Mavericks, you're taking care of your business in
terms of the little things. You'reeliminating second chance opportunities where in Game two
you actually out rebounded Boston forty threeto forty one. In fact, you
(18:56):
have three more defensive rebounds than theydid, but Boston had ten offensive rebounds.
These second chance opportunities and the timelyones that they had allowed them in
Game two to be able to getten second chance points, and you've got
to be able to cut them offin the fast break where the Celtics doubled
up the Mavericks fifteen to seven inthat department. So if you can find
(19:18):
yourself being able to get yourself backin transition and again running the Celtics off
the three point line. One ofthe things that makes it difficult to be
able to get yourself in position,especially in terms of running your offense,
because it slows you down is thefact that you're constantly pulling the ball out
of the basket and you're watching theCeltics make a bunch of shots from the
(19:40):
outside. That is a deterrent forthe Celtics to be able to slow down
their opponents offensively. So if you'rerunning the Celtics off the three point line,
making them take tough, contested shots, and you're able to start to
push the pace, which we've seenthe Mavericks be a top ten paced team
all season long. Now you're beingthe ones putting the pressure on the Celtics
to be able to respond on thedefensive end, and when you don't have
(20:03):
that anchor, potentially in Chriss prezingisto be able to handle things on the
defensive end. Now you're getting yourselfmore opportunities for easy baskets to be able
to take some off the pressure ofhaving to make tough contested floaters, jumpers
in the mid range, and abunch of threes where we know at times
the Celtics will force you into playingthat math game because of the amount of
(20:26):
threes that they will take and makethroughout the course of the game. So
this comes down to the Mavericks abilityfor their two superstars, namely Kyrie Irving.
Luka Dogich has continued to give asmuch as he can based on what
he's dealing with in terms of hisinjury, and at times, like we
saw in Game two, he didnot play well in terms of protecting the
(20:47):
basketball. I want you to hearme when I say Luca Dogs didn't play
well from the standpoint of protecting thebasketball. Even with the eleven assists that
he had in the game, theeight turnovers were absolutely deadly for the Mavericks.
If he cuts down on the turnoverseven with the amount of uses that
he is going to see in Gamethree, and then Kyrie Irving being able
(21:10):
to be much better than what hehas been so far in the series.
He was zero three from downtown inGame two, seven of eighteen. Overall,
from the field, his offensive aggressivenessand intensity from the outset will be
a difference maker for the Mavericks andthe way that they play off of his
energy and his focus will tell usa lot about not just Game three,
(21:32):
but for the rest of this seriesas well. You've got to see a
different Kyrie Irving who you saw marchingoff the floor in Gage two saying we'll
be back in Boston from Game five. People are remembering that and they're looking
at that saying, Okay, areyou going to put your money where your
mouth is and perform on the levelthat we know that you're capable of,
(21:52):
especially when we saw you. Yes, I know it was seven years ago.
But at the same time, whenthe pressure has been on Kyrie Irving
to perform on this stage, hehas delivered. It is time for him
to deliver on this stage once againto help this team climb out of this
O two hole. And it startswith winning one possession at a time,
one minute at a time, andbeing able to stream together consistent good possessions
(22:18):
on both offensive and defense to beable to start to put some pressure on
Boston because right now, the Celticslook way too comfortable. They look like
a team that does exactly what itwants to do and attacking the Mavericks on
both offense and defense. You've gotto find a way to introduce even that
much more physicality potentially to try andthrow them off this game, but most
(22:38):
importantly, sharing the basketball, takingcare of it and knocking down shots.
And I believe the Mavericks can dothat starting in Game three, and if
they do, they will get backinto this series and be able to find
themselves playing much better as the restof this NBA Finals goes on. But
those are the keys for the Mavericks. Get back to the vertical game,
(23:00):
protect the basketball, being able toeliminate second chance opportunities when you have the
opportunities to do so, and mostimportantly, your superstars now have got to
shoulder the load and get the properhelp from the role players, whether be
PJ. Washington, Dereck Jones Junior, also Josh Green Jay, whomever you
(23:21):
want to call on in terms ofthat role player role in being able to
play better at home. As theold adage goes, when it comes especially
to the NBA Playoffs, it hasto be a full team effort in order
to get back into this series.If that is going to be the case
for the Mavericks, yes, theywill find themselves clawing back into the NBA
(23:44):
Finals and trying to do something that'sonly been done five times, which has
come back from an too hole towin an NBA Finals. Unfortunately, the
Mavericks have some history in that,of course, back in two thousand and
six when the Miami Heat did thatto them. Kyrie Irving on the other
side of that when his Cavaliers teamwas able to do so and be able
(24:07):
to go on to win the NBAFinals. So, at the same time,
history and hopefully some good juju onthe side of the Mavericks, who
are celebrating their thirteen year anniversary oftheir one and only championship back in twenty
eleven, they'll need to call uponthat history and that aura if you will
to be able to find a wayback into this NBA Finals. They can
(24:30):
do it. They've been a resilientteam all year long. They found ways
to win when it felt like allhope was lost. Now they have a
chance to prove that on this NBAFinal stage, and I'm expecting epic performances
from Luca Doncis and Kyrie irving toget the Mavericks back into the NBA Finals.
That'll do it for this episode ofInside the Mask. Thank you again
(24:52):
for joining me here on this latestepisode. Make sure you download and subscribe
to the podcast wherever you get yourpodcasts for free. Give it a five
star rating, write a review forit while you're there. You're watching this
on my YouTube channel at CAMA GraySports, make sure you like a comment
on the video. Let me knowhow you're feeling about this NBA Finals.
And that's much more. This hasbeen Inside the MAVs, presented by Aura
First, I forget, I don'twant to get any more in details,
but I feel good. Uh.Second one, the intense is the physical
you said intense physicality. I thinkit's up and ouch for sure. You
know, both teams split a lotof games throughout the season, but I
think the physicality has been some pointsfor sure. Luca and Kyrie and the
(00:23):
Mavers have to find a way toget back into this series with the boss
of Celtics, the keys to victoryfor Game three, and what Kyrie says
he has to do to help hisbrother Luka Dacic get back into the NBA
Finals. This is Inside the MAVs. Welcome to Inside the Mask, presented
(01:10):
by Aura. I'm your host,Kevin Gray, maveris pre and post game
host in the Dallas Mavericks Radio Network. Appreciate you joining me for this latest
episode of Inside the Mask. Makesyou a download and subscribe to the podcast
wherever you get your podcast or free. Give it a five star rating,
write a review for it while you'rethere. If you're watching some my YouTube
channel at Kevin Gray Sports, makesure you like a comment on the video
as well, and you can followme on Twitter a's Kevin Gray Sports the
(01:33):
Mavericks trying to find a way toget back into this NBA Finals down two
games to none going into Game three. Luka Doncis, Kyrie Irving and this
Mavericks team trying to end what isa nine game winning streak in the postseason
right now for the Boston Celtics.After the Celtics, of course, got
the one oh five ninety eight winin Game two to take the first two
games of this series, holding homecourt the way that they needed to,
(01:56):
and now the Mavericks, on theanniversary of their first and only championship in
franchise history, need to begin todo the same in holding home court at
the America Airlines Center. Luka Doncicis going to be continuing to play through
pain. As we learned during mediaavailability on Tuesday. Luka Doncis, who
you heard at the beginning of ourshow, says that he feels good,
(02:19):
and then we came to find outhe's feeling good because he had a painkilling
injection given to him prior to Gametwo and is expected to get another one
going into Game three, a playeralready dealing with a myriad of injuries between
the ankle and the knee and thequad and also now the chess contusion,
(02:39):
thorastic injury, whatever you want tocall it. He's dealing with that also,
and when you watch game two thirteenblowbys that he gave up, you
can tell that the injuries are catchingup to him, but at the same
time still playing with the kind ofconfidence that is befitting of Luka Donci,
who of course was another first teamon the NBA selection for the fifth year
(03:00):
in a row. But all ofthat aside, he and Kyrie Irving are
going to have to put the Maverickson their collective backs in order to get
them back into this series. Therole players you're hoping will play better starting
in game three as well. Despitethe fact that you had all five of
your starters in double figures in gametwo, you only had nine points off
(03:23):
your bench, and Christas prezingis,which we'll get to throughout the course of
our episode, outscored your bench twelveto nine in game two by himself.
How effective he's going to be inGame three, only time will tell if
he's even able to play, becauseif he's not able to play due to
the tendon injury that he's suffered inGame two, that changes quite a bit
(03:44):
what Boston has from a depth perceptionwhen it comes to their bench with Al
Horford moving into the starting lineup,but more so for the Mavericks being able
to hopefully begin to punish the Celticson the inside, and that for me,
is one of the big keys tovictory because as if Chriss Prezingis is
not going to be available for therest of this series, the Mavericks have
(04:04):
a distinct advantage inside to be ableto utilize Daniel Gaffer and Derek Lively.
Lively, who's at a tough stretchso far to begin this series, to
really start to put pressure on theinterior of Boston because without Porzingis they don't
have their rim protector and shot blockeron the defensive end, where he's been
great in terms of week side helpand being able to provide that wall of
(04:27):
defense for Boston. And on theoffensive end, of course, Porzingis is
a terrific shooter from deep can putthe ball on the floor and as a
mismatched nightmare with his ability to shootover smaller defenders, which we saw in
Game one when he was able tohave the twenty points in as effective as
he was, but If he isnot available, that is going to bode
(04:48):
well for the Mavericks. If heis available, how much effective will he
actually be given the kind of rareinjury that he's dealing with, and what
that means for Boston in terms oftheir death. Could you see Luke Cornett,
could you see Xavier Tillman provide somebig man minutes behind Al Horford who
will have to play more extended minutesand at thirty eight years of age,
(05:08):
it's going to be a little bittougher for him, even though he's played
well at times during this postseason.Being in the starting lineup, the Mavericks
have to find a way to ensurethat they're keeping themselves not only in this
game, but being the aggressors fromthe outset, and that starts with Kyrie
Irving. Kyrie Irving has struggled sofar in the first two games of this
(05:30):
NBA Finals, of course, playingin Boston, where he is now zero
to twelve in his last twelve games. Playing against Boston, it seems like
they have his number. But nowcoming home to what will be a raucous
American Airline Center crowd in Dallas whowill show him all the love that he
needs to have in order to hopefullycome out and play aggressive on the offensive,
in which you started to see someof which in Game two in the
(05:55):
first quarter in the first half,where he went five of ten in the
first half, not shooting the ballwell from three. But now coming home
playing with Luka Doncis, with theserole players who you feel like will be
more comfortable back at home, theywill have an opportunity and specifically Kyrie Irving
to be able to put his stampon this game. In fact, I
asked Kyrie Irving, how was hehelping Luka Dodgis, who was experiencing this
(06:19):
O two deficit for the first timein an NBA Final situation. Knowing that
Kyrie Irving has come back from athree games to one deficit yes with Lebron
James to win that championship with Clevelandback in twenty sixteen, I asked Kyrie
Irving, how are you helping him? And how are you helping each other
be able to manage the situation?And to Kyrie's credit, as you take
(06:41):
a listen and watch, Kyrie tookaccountability for his play thus far. Kyrie.
A lot's been made about the bondthat you and Luca have formed throughout
the course of this season, youhaving been in this position before, being
down and coming back to winning NBAFinals. How are you helping him manage
this situation? How are the twoof you helping each other, especially knowing
what you're trying to accomplish over thesenext couple of games, especially here at
home. Yeah, well, itstarted with me just telling ma Hermano just
(07:05):
I got to play better for him, alongside him, and you know,
in order for us to you know, accomplish our goal, we both have
to be playing well and we bothhave to be doing the little things and
doing whatever it takes to win.So easy conversation, but it started with
me reaching out, just letting himknow that, you know, it's my
it's my fault, taking accountability fornot playing particularly well. But also I
(07:29):
got to continue to trust my guysaround us or around me, and you
know, I have fun in theprocess. We've gotten this far because we've
been a great team, not becausewe've just put it on me and Lucas.
It's been a total team effort,total organizational effort to get thus far.
So we just got to keep trustingin that. So pretty simple conversation,
So a simple conversation with Luka Doncicand letting him know that I've got
(07:53):
to be better playing with him andalongside him to give him the best chance
for us to win, because wehave to do the little things in order
to win. And that's going tobe a massive sign in Game three and
beyond in this series. Can theMavericks do the little things to be able
to win games? You saw howthe little things killed them in Game two,
going sixteen of twenty four from thefree throw line, committing fifteen turnovers,
(08:18):
and not having the poise that we'veseen them have down the stretch of
games, and unfortunately giving the Celticstoo many opportunities, especially with second chances,
to be able to get some easybaskets. More on this game when
it comes to what the Mavericks havegot to do to climb themselves back into
this series, including getting the verticalgame going when it comes to their sinners,
(08:41):
and most importantly, Kyrie Irving turningthings around in this series. But
before we get there, let's hearfrom today's sponsor of our video and our
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(10:28):
as we get you ready for Gainthree of the NBA Finals between your
Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics.Can the Mavericks climb themselves back into this
series and will need to do sobeginning in Game three? Talking about the
keys to victory and what has toturn around for this Mavericks team, and
one of the things that has toturn around immediately is they got to start
making shots. You've seen so farin this series, especially from the three
(10:50):
point line, this team is notbeing able to shoot the ball well.
And what concerned me coming out ofGame two is that Boston didn't shoot the
ball well from three, particularly themselves, but they found other ways to get
easy buckets, whether it be intransition, but also on second chance opportunities
to make timely threes, especially downthe stretch. You saw those two back
(11:11):
breaking threes that the Celtics made withDrew Holliday and Derek White, the first
one coming off a turnover between PJ. Washington and Luka Doncis. Even the
three point that Peyton Pritrid hit atthe end of the third quarter took what
was a six point deficit and turnedit into nine after the Mavers that tried
to claw their way back into it. You've got to find a way to
(11:31):
make some more shots, especially fromthree. You look at Game two in
particular, Luka Doncis went four ofnine from downtown, shooting forty four percent
from three. Everyone outside of Lukadonct shot a whoppingly bad two of seventeen
from three. So I'm looking atPJ. Washington, I'm looking at Dereck
Jones Jr. I'm looking at JoshGreen and others to be able to knock
(11:54):
down some threes, to be ableto give them some opportunities, especially knowing
that Boston is a team who hasn'tlost on the road this postseason. They're
going to take and make their fairshare of threes and continue to do what
they do even in the loss.In Game two, the Celtics took thirty
nine to three pointers, they onlymade ten of them. The Mavericks took
(12:16):
twenty six three pointers and made sixof them at a twenty three percent clip.
You're not gonna win any games inthe NBA Finals shooting twenty three percent
from the three point line, andthen marry that with the idea that you
missed eight free throws. Going sixteento twenty four from the free throw line
at under sixty seven percent, that'snot going to cut it because in games
(12:37):
like this against as team as goodas Boston, who won sixty four games
during the regular season, your marginfor air is extremely thin. You can't
turn the ball over fifteen times,you can't miss eight free throws, and
you can't shoot twenty three percent fromthe three point line. Jason Kidd and
this team has talked about the amountof open shots and good looks that they've
(12:58):
gotten. They simply have him them. That will have to change going into
Game three and beyond in this series. If it can the Mavericks will climb
themselves back into it. Additionally,they've got to get the vertical game going
with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively.The Celtics have done a terrific job of
taking away the live threat and thevertical game of the Dallas Mavericks so far
(13:22):
in this series. Joe Mozoula nothaving it the head coach of the Celtics,
you've seen at times with the Mavericks, will be able to get a
couple of those plays made in termsof lob dunks to Daniel Gafford or Dereck
Lively, Joe Mossoula immediately calling timeoutsto ensure that his team understands that that
is not something that they're going tolive with. Knowing how effective Gafford and
(13:43):
Lively can be in the middle,that could change going into Game three,
especially with the injury to Christos Porzingis, because if you can find a way
to start punishing them inside, openingthings up for those corners when you've got
to start collapsing on those big menwho are making those shots. Because the
Celtics have shown the ability to notonly stay home on the shooters when it
comes to PJ. Washington, DereckJones Junior and others. They're also great
(14:07):
with their switching. They believe intheir abilities to defend one on one and
be able to handle themselves when itcomes to their individual defensive principles. If
you could start finding a way toaffect the middle of the basket, in
the paint area, in the restrictedarea and start getting your easy buckets,
now you're forcing the Celtics to haveto start defending some of that, which
(14:28):
should open up some of the areason the outside for guys to build to
hopefully knock down some shots when theyget the opportunity to do so. And
if you're a guy like Maxi Kleebut who is much beligned so far in
this series, even if we seeTim Hardaway at some point in this series,
take the shots that are available toyou and are open and have confidence
taking those shots. We've seen toomany times already in this series, just
(14:50):
to the first couple of games withMaxi's had opportunities at times not willing to
take those shots. You cannot passup open shots in this game and in
this series against Boston because they certainlywill not do that themselves. So one
You've got to do the little things, which means taking care of the basketball,
eliminating the turnovers, the fifteen thatyou had in Game two, being
(15:13):
able to knock down your free throws. Missing eight free throws in the NBA
Finals, especially knowing how then themargin of error is is inexcusable, especially
at this time of the year,even with the struggles that we've seen the
mavers have from the free throw line. And then you've got to find a
way to start making some shots andbeing able to be a little bit more
consistent from the outside because if youcan, you start to shift the pressure
(15:37):
over to the Celtics. And mostimportantly for me, when you start looking
at this series, yes, JasonTatum has turned himself into a terrific facilitator.
He had the twelve assists in Gamenumber two, being a willing playmaker
and passer and doing the little thingsto be able to win. It's about
the sacrifice that the boss of Celticshave been making, not just out the
(16:00):
regular season, but what they're doingin the postseason, putting aside egos to
be able to do whatever is necessaryto win. That's exactly what the Mavericks
have to do. Going into Gamethree, it doesn't matter who gets it
when they get it, everyone hasto collectively be on the same plage to
play together in a way that's cohesiveand connected on both ends of the floor.
(16:21):
Because that's the way that Boston isplaying right now. And when you
look at Jason Tatum, when youlook at Jalen Brown, and then of
course what Drew Holliday was able todo in game two with the twenty six
points and the eleven rebounds that theyhad. They have a lot of different
ways with the shooters that they haveon the outside at times to put a
small guy in the dunker spot,whether it be Derek White or Drew Holliday,
(16:42):
and they are able to finish atthe rim as well. And the
cutting and the IQ that we haveseen from Boston has been an extremely high
level. So if you're the Maverickson the defensive end, you've got to
be able to win your one onone mattress in terms of your defendee.
But most importantly, you've got tostay tied together and connected with your communication
and your rotations on the defensive end, because if you don't, Boston will
(17:06):
make you pay with a variety ofoffensive players that they have and the creativity
at which they get those players open, whether it be Tatum as a playmaker,
Jaylen Brown being able to get downhilland make things happen, or Drew
Holliday being able to facilitate offense aswell. He's been the personification of doing
whatever it takes to be able towin a game. And Drew Holliday right
now, for a lot of folks, is the NBA Finals MVP through the
(17:27):
first couple of games. But ifyou're the Mavericks, is about matching the
intensity and bringing that much more fervorand intensity to Boston in Game three and
beyond, because you have to bethe one to punch them in the mouth.
You get the crowd into it.Don't have to have the crowd pump
energy into you. You give thecrowd something to be able to continue to
(17:48):
take with them throughout the course ofthe game, especially in the first five
minutes of Game one, because ifthe Mavericks find a way, especially the
way that we saw them close outthe Minnesota Timberwolves in Game five, Luka
Doncic punching the Timberwolves in the mouthof those twenty points in the first quarter,
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving taking turnsbeing able to lead this team offensively,
(18:10):
but also guys taking advantage of theopportunities when they have them. When
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving is ableto facilitate offense, and even a guy
like Dante Exum, who you sawin Game three knockdown an open three pointer,
which Jason Kidd talked about during thecourse after Game two, his ball
handling responsibilities will continue to increase tohopefully take some of that pressure off of
(18:32):
Luca and Kyrie, especially for Lucadealing with the injuries that he's dealing with
right now, a number that we'vedetailed a little bit earlier on in the
show. So if you're the Mavericks, you're taking care of your business in
terms of the little things. You'reeliminating second chance opportunities where in Game two
you actually out rebounded Boston forty threeto forty one. In fact, you
(18:56):
have three more defensive rebounds than theydid, but Boston had ten offensive rebounds.
These second chance opportunities and the timelyones that they had allowed them in
Game two to be able to getten second chance points, and you've got
to be able to cut them offin the fast break where the Celtics doubled
up the Mavericks fifteen to seven inthat department. So if you can find
(19:18):
yourself being able to get yourself backin transition and again running the Celtics off
the three point line. One ofthe things that makes it difficult to be
able to get yourself in position,especially in terms of running your offense,
because it slows you down is thefact that you're constantly pulling the ball out
of the basket and you're watching theCeltics make a bunch of shots from the
(19:40):
outside. That is a deterrent forthe Celtics to be able to slow down
their opponents offensively. So if you'rerunning the Celtics off the three point line,
making them take tough, contested shots, and you're able to start to
push the pace, which we've seenthe Mavericks be a top ten paced team
all season long. Now you're beingthe ones putting the pressure on the Celtics
to be able to respond on thedefensive end, and when you don't have
(20:03):
that anchor, potentially in Chriss prezingisto be able to handle things on the
defensive end. Now you're getting yourselfmore opportunities for easy baskets to be able
to take some off the pressure ofhaving to make tough contested floaters, jumpers
in the mid range, and abunch of threes where we know at times
the Celtics will force you into playingthat math game because of the amount of
(20:26):
threes that they will take and makethroughout the course of the game. So
this comes down to the Mavericks abilityfor their two superstars, namely Kyrie Irving.
Luka Dogich has continued to give asmuch as he can based on what
he's dealing with in terms of hisinjury, and at times, like we
saw in Game two, he didnot play well in terms of protecting the
(20:47):
basketball. I want you to hearme when I say Luca Dogs didn't play
well from the standpoint of protecting thebasketball. Even with the eleven assists that
he had in the game, theeight turnovers were absolutely deadly for the Mavericks.
If he cuts down on the turnoverseven with the amount of uses that
he is going to see in Gamethree, and then Kyrie Irving being able
(21:10):
to be much better than what hehas been so far in the series.
He was zero three from downtown inGame two, seven of eighteen. Overall,
from the field, his offensive aggressivenessand intensity from the outset will be
a difference maker for the Mavericks andthe way that they play off of his
energy and his focus will tell usa lot about not just Game three,
(21:32):
but for the rest of this seriesas well. You've got to see a
different Kyrie Irving who you saw marchingoff the floor in Gage two saying we'll
be back in Boston from Game five. People are remembering that and they're looking
at that saying, Okay, areyou going to put your money where your
mouth is and perform on the levelthat we know that you're capable of,
(21:52):
especially when we saw you. Yes, I know it was seven years ago.
But at the same time, whenthe pressure has been on Kyrie Irving
to perform on this stage, hehas delivered. It is time for him
to deliver on this stage once againto help this team climb out of this
O two hole. And it startswith winning one possession at a time,
one minute at a time, andbeing able to stream together consistent good possessions
(22:18):
on both offensive and defense to beable to start to put some pressure on
Boston because right now, the Celticslook way too comfortable. They look like
a team that does exactly what itwants to do and attacking the Mavericks on
both offense and defense. You've gotto find a way to introduce even that
much more physicality potentially to try andthrow them off this game, but most
(22:38):
importantly, sharing the basketball, takingcare of it and knocking down shots.
And I believe the Mavericks can dothat starting in Game three, and if
they do, they will get backinto this series and be able to find
themselves playing much better as the restof this NBA Finals goes on. But
those are the keys for the Mavericks. Get back to the vertical game,
(23:00):
protect the basketball, being able toeliminate second chance opportunities when you have the
opportunities to do so, and mostimportantly, your superstars now have got to
shoulder the load and get the properhelp from the role players, whether be
PJ. Washington, Dereck Jones Junior, also Josh Green Jay, whomever you
(23:21):
want to call on in terms ofthat role player role in being able to
play better at home. As theold adage goes, when it comes especially
to the NBA Playoffs, it hasto be a full team effort in order
to get back into this series.If that is going to be the case
for the Mavericks, yes, theywill find themselves clawing back into the NBA
(23:44):
Finals and trying to do something that'sonly been done five times, which has
come back from an too hole towin an NBA Finals. Unfortunately, the
Mavericks have some history in that,of course, back in two thousand and
six when the Miami Heat did thatto them. Kyrie Irving on the other
side of that when his Cavaliers teamwas able to do so and be able
(24:07):
to go on to win the NBAFinals. So, at the same time,
history and hopefully some good juju onthe side of the Mavericks, who
are celebrating their thirteen year anniversary oftheir one and only championship back in twenty
eleven, they'll need to call uponthat history and that aura if you will
to be able to find a wayback into this NBA Finals. They can
(24:30):
do it. They've been a resilientteam all year long. They found ways
to win when it felt like allhope was lost. Now they have a
chance to prove that on this NBAFinal stage, and I'm expecting epic performances
from Luca Doncis and Kyrie irving toget the Mavericks back into the NBA Finals.
That'll do it for this episode ofInside the Mask. Thank you again
(24:52):
for joining me here on this latestepisode. Make sure you download and subscribe
to the podcast wherever you get yourpodcasts for free. Give it a five
star rating, write a review forit while you're there. You're watching this
on my YouTube channel at CAMA GraySports, make sure you like a comment
on the video. Let me knowhow you're feeling about this NBA Finals.
And that's much more. This hasbeen Inside the MAVs, presented by Aura
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