Turning Point or Momentary Thrill? NBA Analysts Spar Over Kyrie Irving’s Game-Winner Impact on Mavericks’ Fate

The recent faceoff between the Dallas Mavericks and the Denver Nuggets saw Kyrie Irving deliver one of his best performances of the season. Along with Luka Doncic, he left the offensive effort by scoring 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists. Furthermore, when the score was tied 105-105 with just a few seconds left on the clock, Irving delivered a left-hand floater hook and won the game for his team. Sports journalist Rachel Nichols and former NBA player DeMarcus Cousins recently highlighted the awestruck move and the game as a whole.

Nichols highlighted that even though yesterday’s performance by the Mavericks was impressive, it did not mean much toward the team’s future chances against the Nuggets. Cousins agreed with this opinion, stating that even after yesterday’s game, he would choose to place his money on the Nuggets for any future faceoff.

“This Mavs team has improved. It’s a big win with them trying to stay in the standings and be a playoff team, but I’m putting my money on the Nuggets on a nightly basis,” said Cousins. “This sh*t means absolutely nothing.” While trying to pass his critique, Cousins also highlighted the need for Mavericks players like PJ Washington to improve their game. One way that the former NBA star believes that Washington can improve is to “find that consistency that’s part of being a professional, that’s part of playing with a team that’s playing with a goal in mind, which is to try to win a championship at the end of the year”.

While Rachel Nichols and DeMarcus Cousins chose to claim the team’s recent performance as a momentary thrill, the show’s guest host and ESPN analyst Amin Elhassan came to Irving’s defense. He highlighted why his game-winning shot was not, as Nichols quoted, “a circus shot”.

“It ain’t a circus shot if you work on it, and that’s a shot he works on,” said Elhassan. “That’s a shot specifically. He’s worked on a lot”. Through the analyst’s remarks, one can conclude that Kyrie Irving’s shot was not a stroke of good luck but the end result of strategic thinking and proper practice. If others employed such tactics, the Mavericks may possess the chance to turn the odds in their favor.

Where do Kyrie Irving and C0.’s chances of reaching the playoffs stand?

The Dallas Mavericks are currently listed as the 7th seed on the Western Conference points table. With a current W/L score of 39-29, the team is just 1-2 wins away from overtaking the Sacramento Kings and earning the bottommost seed required to qualify for the playoffs.

While the Mavericks’ have 14 more games remaining, their next five will probably be their most important. Given that the next three games will be against the San Antonio Spurs and the Utah Jazz, who currently occupy the bottommost seeds on the points chart, the team has a good chance of solidifying their position there. Soon after, they will be going off against the Kings, which can make or break their chances of securing the playoff spot.

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have put up a combined average of 55.4 points over the last five games. Therefore, their presence during these games is a must. DeMarcus Cousins may have to eat up his words if all bodes well in the end.

READ MORE: “Doesn’t Mean Sh*t”: Kyrie Irving Disregards Mavs’ Fiery Streak, Redirecting Teammates Towards Bigger Goal