A big question mark was set in place the day the Dallas Mavericks decided to trade for Kyrie Irving. KAI, while arguably one of the best isolation players in the league, was coming out of an ugly situation with the Brooklyn Nets. In addition, the concerns about his fit besides Luka Doncic put fans in a place of worry. After 13 games together, so far the experiment is far from a success. The duo has won a measly four games. Dallas’ playoff hopes continued to dim out after the loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
During the game, Irving was once again caught in a headlock with one of the courtside fans at the Wells Fargo Center. After the game, the eight-time All-Star candidly spoke about the messy situation in Dallas in regard to their playoff picture.
Kyrie Irving gets honest about making the playoffs with Luka Doncic
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The addition of Kyrie Irving was supposed to make up for the loss of 26-year-old Jalen Brunson. The former counterpart of Doncic left this offseason to join the New York Knicks. Considering the offensive potency, Irving might be the superior talent. However, time has shown him to be a not-so-ideal fit besides the Slovenian superstar.
While they have found success individually with the franchise, Doncic, and KAI have failed to co-exist on the floor. The Mavericks rank eight offensively, only a minor upgrade from pre-Kyrie. On the other hand, the defense has declined significantly since. Tonight’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers was Dallas’ fifth in their last six contests.
With a current record of 37-40, they rank 11th in the up-for-grabs Western Conference. The Mavericks still have games in hand to get back into the play-in tournament. However, with their present form, frustrations seem to be building up. Following the loss to the Sixers, KAI didn’t censor his answer when asked about Dallas’ playoff hopes. According to Mavericks reporter Callie Caplan, the 2016 NB champion said, “It kind of looks like a little bit of a clusterf**k right now.?
Kyrie Irving on Mavs’ playoff outlook: “It kind of looks like a little bit of a clusterfuck right now.”
— Callie Caplan (@CallieCaplan) March 30, 2023
Despite Irving’s loud outburst, the hopes within the camp are still very much alive. Luka Doncic refuses to give up as they still hold control over their destiny. But to make their hopes a reality, major changes need to be made to the rotations.
KAI goes at it with fans once again
Viewers might have felt the feeling of D?j? vu after watching Kyrie Irving once again butt horns with a fan. During the Mavericks’ disappointing run-in with the Hornets, the 31-year-old had a fan ejected after an intense screaming match. Well, tonight it almost came to the same conclusion as Sports Center shared a clip of Irving’s altercation with a Sixers fan.
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As Irving was getting ready to guard up, a fan seemed to have said something which didn’t sit well with him. He went right up to the fan and exchanged words before the referee stepped in to calm the situation. His failed dynamic with Doncic and the Mavericks’ fall from the play-in might be taking a toll on KAI.
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WATCH THIS STORY:?Kyrie Irving?s 5 Most Controversial Moments on NBA Court Amid Ugly Feud with Celtics Fans
Do you think he can will back and help Luka Doncic lift the franchise back into the postseason? Let us know your views in the comments below.