Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks are getting ready to kick off their matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. After a couple of tough years with the Brooklyn Nets, Irving is thriving in Dallas – and Bill Simmons is reminded of Rasheed Wallace.
Said Simmons on the Mavericks star in the latest edition of the Bill Simmons Podcast, “You know, there’s been guys in the past that were super talented and for whatever reason it took them awhile to get their sea legs back. Like I always think of Rasheed in ‘04 where he had gotten to the point where his value compared to how talented he was, was 30 cents on the dollar. And I think all of us were like this guy’s too crazy. 41 technicals during the season, Portland was ready to drive him to the airport by the time it was over, and then he found that Pistons team, and for whatever reason it fell into place for him for a couple of years there. And all of a sudden, all of the Rasheed stuff, that was the self-sabotage stuff wasn’t happening as much and he won a title with them. So, I think that’s your best-case scenario for this Kyrie thing.”
Simmons then explained why Irving is thriving with the Mavericks.
“I do feel like he’s older and I feel like he’s at a different point. I think they really shower him with love, and friendship, and attention, and camaraderie, and just believe in him. Like him and Luka, maybe he needs to play with somebody who is great, to not have the stuff. Well, you can say ‘why wasn’t that the case with Durant?’ I don’t know what the f—k happened in Brooklyn, nobody does, but for whatever reason with Luka there is a mutual respect among those guys and a lack of ego that works.”
Mavericks looking to topple Thunder in NBA Playoffs
Irving and Mavericks took care of business against the Los Angeles Clippers, and now they look to take on the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
It’s going to be a tough series for the Mavericks. The Thunder feature MVP candidate Chai Gilgeous-Alexander, as well as defensive monster Chet Holmgren.
But as long as Dallas has Luka and Kyrie, they have a shot. The Mavericks need to look to avoid getting into an up-and-down game with Oklahoma City, and instead should rely on their stars to dominate the halfcourt.
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd knows what the goal is.
“We’re trying to win a championship,” Kidd said. “We’re playing a very talented team in Oklahoma City. Understanding that the foundation is being built. Our ultimate goal is to win a championship and hopefully we can do that here in the next three years.”
Game 1 between the Thunder and Mavericks will tip off on Tuesday afternoon in Oklahoma City.
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