Doncic and Irving prove to be the perfect combination.
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 114-101 in Game 1 of the 2023-2024 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday night.
With the win, Dallas improves to 4-2 in the best-of-seven series and advances to the second round. It was also significant for Dallas that their first-round opponent was the archrival Clippers.
It was a series where Dallas’ one-two punch dominated the Clippers’ big four. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving 메이저 토토사이트 led the way for Dallas.
Doncic averaged 29.8 points, 9.5 assists, and 8.7 rebounds in 42.5 minutes per game in the series, while Irving was fantastic in Game 6, averaging 26.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 40 minutes per game.
Irving and Doncic’s performances were more than just statistical. In a playoffs full of tight calls and rough play, they never faltered.
When the Clippers‘ defense was on him, Doncic used his physicality to escape the pressure, and when his 3-pointer didn’t fall, his midrange and aggressive driving to the basket opened up the floor. His passes to teammates were spotty at best.
Irving took advantage of the defense’s focus on Doncic to create open shots, and he used his flashy dribbling skills and accurate shooting to score. Doncic was the point guard and the passer for his teammates. Irving was highly efficient, taking the pressure off the offense and focusing on scoring.
The one-two punch of Doncic and Irving was a terror for opposing defenses. When you focus on one of them, the other explodes. No matter how good your defense is, you can’t contain both of them. Dallas’ one-two punch was not something you could stop even if you tried.
Especially in clutch times, the Dallas one-two punch was unstoppable. In clutch situations, superstars are often given one-on-one offense because it’s more likely to be a simple one-on-one than any pattern play and less likely to result in a turnover.
Dallas’ one-two punch was split depending on how they were feeling that day: Irving on one night, Doncic on the other. With two of the most skilled players in the NBA, there was no stopping them in the clutch.
Irving joined Dallas from the Brooklyn Nets at the trade deadline of the 2022-2023 season. At the time of the trade, many were excited about the combination of Irving and Doncic. However, their coexistence was disappointing: Irving and Doncic had no synergy on offense, and their weaknesses on defense were highlighted.
In the end, Dallas had its worst season in 2022-2023, failing to even make the playoffs, let alone the play-in tournament.
To make matters worse, Irving was set to become a free agent after the season. A move seemed likely, but Irving chose to stay in Dallas. Once Irving decided to stay in Dallas, he met with Doncic in the offseason and tried to get on the same page.
As a result, Doncic and Irving have become one of the best one-two punchers in the NBA. Irving’s selflessness made for a potent combination.
After advancing to the second round of the playoffs, Irving and Doncic will face the Western Conference’s No. 1 team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.