(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Dallas Mavericks decided to make the controversial decision to trade for Kyrie Irving last season and the experiment was ultimately a failure as the team missed the postseason.
The Mavericks were banking that Luka Doncic and Irving would be able to outscore teams and while that turned out to be true some nights, the defensive struggles made it hard for them to win many games.
However, Dallas was backed into a corner this summer as they had no choice but to re-sign Irving as they would have risked losing him for nothing.
There is a lot riding on the Doncic-Irving tandem panning out as the Mavericks are feeling pressure to win now.
Doncic may be under contract for the next couple of seasons, but if the losing continues then there is a fear he could look to move elsewhere.
In the meantime, though, Irving had no problem saying that he could guard his co-star and joked that that’s why he was brought in via Nick Angstadt of Locked On Mavs.
“I feel like I’m one of the guys that guards [Luka Doncic] the best. That’s probably why I’m on this team,” Irving claimed.
Kyrie: “I feel like I’m one of the guys that guards [Luka Doncic] the best. That’s probably why I’m on this team.” pic.twitter.com/e3BJVQaZf5
— Nick Angstadt (@NickVanExit) September 30, 2023
When engaged, Irving is a solid positional defender though he has had problems in the past dealing with Doncic’s size and physicality.
Irving’s got quick hands and good anticipation, but Doncic has shown that he can work around those kinds of defenders.
Fortunately for Irving, when the regular season tips off he won’t have to guard Doncic though the two will need to work together to get Dallas back on track.
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