Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are the first players in NBA history to average 30 points in their first two games as teammates, per ESPN Stats & Info.
The bad news is the Dallas Mavericks are 0-2 in those games.
Mavericks Last 2 Games:
Luka Doncic: 30.0 PPG
Kyrie Irving: 32.0 PPGDoncic & Irving are the first duo in NBA history to each average 30 points in their first 2 games together as teammates per @EliasSports
The Mavericks are 0-2 in those games, losing by 8 combined points. pic.twitter.com/JFya4jdsb3
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 14, 2023
On Monday at home, Dallas got a combined 69 points by the duo but lost to youthful Minnesota, 124-121
The difference? Depth.
Besides its two stars, Dallas only had one other player score in double digits. Minnesota had six, including a 32-point game from 21-year-old Anthony Edwards.
Dallas’ lack of depth has been a sore point for some time, including for owner Mark Cuban. In the deal for Irving, the Mavericks dealt role players Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith to the Nets.
We only have a sample size, but the failure in two games could be a sign of things to come.
Irving hasn’t had much success with super teams since leaving LeBron James’ Cavaliers in 2017. He played with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown on the Celtics, followed by a stint with Kevin Durant and James Harden on the Nets. Neither team made the Finals.
TV personality Skip Bayless doesn’t believe the duo will be dynamic in Dallas.
“Luka Doncic will not be happy long term with Kyrie. They’re too much alike,” Bayless said on FS1’s “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed” on Tuesday.
I said from the start this will not work and our very small sample size has shown this is not working so far, especially in the 4th quarters and one overtime. More @undisputed, now on FS1. https://t.co/nSAnDuH1ug
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 14, 2023
Former NBA player JJ Redick is more confident the duo will work out, but he said Doncic must adjust, playing off the ball more.
Redick believes the addition of Irving will help the offense thrive, but the defense could struggle, especially without Finney-Smith, who was the team’s best wing player.
“My main concern is defensively. This is why I don’t think they are now in the conversation of real Western Conference contenders,” Redick said on ESPN’s “First Take” today.
The Mavericks (31-28), fifth in the West, face a difficult road test on Wednesday against the first-place Nuggets.
Source: yardbarker
