The first two games of the NBA Finals proved something daunting. No matter how good or worse the Boston Celtics shot the ball, they will always have a chance to win. In Game 2, their three-point offense faltered miserably. Yet the series scoreline reads two in games in their favor. As much as it is their undefeatable will, it’s also the fact that the Celtics simply have too many options at their disposal. Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks have failed to contain everyone, and it’s because the range stretches to the entire starting five. It would be a lot easier if they had less trouble on their hands. Just one star less to endure. It seems the basketball gods heard their prayers and blessed them with a miracle Kyrie Irving is all too familiar with.

While previewing Game 3 of the NBA Finals tonight on ‘The Old Couple’, Chris Broussard went in depth about the injury suffered by Kristaps Porzingis. The Boston center had just returned to Game 1 after missing five weeks of the postseason. His impact was felt immediately that night as he felt the thrills of his 20-point performance flow right in. Sadly, he suffered another injury in the third quarter of Game 2. The ankle injury, diagnosed as a torn medical retinaculum, has jeopardized his participation.

After speaking a little about the injury, Broussard grew a parallel to 2016 when Draymond Green got suspended in the NBA Finals against Kyrie Irving. “You and I both remember in 2016 when the Cavaliers came back with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving from a 3-1 deficit. Became the only team ever to win the Finals after falling behind 3-1. And when Draymond Green was suspended for Game 5, I was there and thinking ‘Man, that is just a shot in the arm that the Cavaliers need’. Because we get this game five, they were going home and now you got a good chance to even that thing up at home”, he said regarding Porzingis’ injury on The Old Couple.

During those days when Irving was a Cavalier, Game 5 without Green would be instrumental in their historic comeback. Both LeBron James and KAI scored 40 that night, the first time a duo had done so in an NBA Finals. Not only did it provide momentum, but it instilled a strong sense of hope within the Cavaliers. They made the comeback. The same blessing seems to have occurred on the Mavericks. Without the 29-year-old star center, Doncic and the Mavs have their moment to strike back at home.

With Porzingis’ injury, his participation hangs in suspension. Even though medical reports say he will be assessed as day-to-day, the Latvian is still unmoved. His fervor to play is so desperate that Joe Mazzulla claimed the decision to play is “out of his hands”. On the other hand, Porzingis claims he is ready to die on the court if it means he can play. All the answers will be revealed tonight, moments before the opening tip in Dallas.

Coming off the bench for Boston for the first time in this series, Porzingis had found immense success. In two games, he is averaging 13.5 points, 5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. His interior rim protection has disrupted the Mavericks’ inside scoring and forced them to space their offense.

Kyrie Irving needs to repeat his 2016 heroics

An injury to Porzingis, who was averaging just over 20 points as a starter aligned perfectly with the Mavericks’ urgency to win a game in the series. As a unit, they have to face one less multi-dimensional offensive threat and get some breathing room for error. However, the main concern is still Irving, who was surprisingly shrunk during this run.

In the two games, Irving is only averaging 14 points and is yet to make a single three against the Celtics. Porzingis isn’t his defensive target, hence his exclusion doesn’t do much good for Irving except open up the paint a lot more than before. The erratic star still has to battle the backcourt of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, two of the best guard defenders in the NBA.

Given his history with Boston and his intense desire to especially play well, KAI is like a ticking time bomb. It doesn’t take much to motivate the 2016 NBA champ. And when he is in his groove, Irving can single-handedly turn the tides around. He must conjure up something close to his herculean performances during the 2016 Finals for the Mavericks to even stand a chance in this series.

For Irving, this is more than just a second title. It’s about claiming victory in his battles. Something special needs to come from Kyrie Irving for the Mavericks to utilize the advantage that comes with Porzingis’ injury. But can he do it?

If you want to watch some interesting content, be sure to watch our talk with Shaq’s former agent Leonard Armato as he speaks about variable topics surrounding the league in this video below.