Right before the start of the Western Conference matchup between Dallas and Minnesota, Anthony Edwards expressed his excitement at guarding Kyrie Irving, using bold words to discuss his team’s defensive strategy for the game.
“My matchup is going to be Kyrie [Irving],” Ant said with a smile. “So that’s going to be fun.” However, with the Wolves nearly being swept 4-1 in the series, Boston guard Jrue Holiday adopts a more cautious tone when talking about defending his All-Star counterpart.
“Pray,” said the seasoned star. “I think it’s just about knowing each other’s game, trying to stay in front of him, and having help defense to make his shots as tough as possible even though he’s a great shot-maker.”
How do you stop Kyrie Irving?
“Pray.” -Jrue Holiday pic.com/f58sSgEAXt
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) June 5, 2024
When it comes to the partnership between co-stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the challenge intensifies. In their last game together, the Dallas duo combined for 72 points against the Timberwolves. Derrick White acknowledges the difficulty in stopping them.
“We know they’re great players,” the guard commented. “There’s no stopping them. Our aim is to make it tough for them, trust the gameplan, and believe in our defensive efforts over the course of the game.”
During their last series, Luka averaged 32.4 points and 8.4 assists per game, while Kyrie contributed 27 points per game. Their ability to deliver in clutch moments set them apart.
“There will be periods where they make tough shots,” White added. “We just have to stick to the gameplan and trust that it will work out in the end.”
Coach Joe Mazzulla’s Perspective on the Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving Duo
Impressed by the duo’s performances, opposing coach Joe Mazzulla doesn’t see a viable strategy to stop them. As the Finals approach, he emphasizes the need to focus on playing a well-rounded game rather than solely concentrating on defending Luka and Kyrie.
“The narrative is often centered around ‘stopping those two guys,’ but there’s more to the game than that,” Mazzulla commented. “Success depends on all aspects of the game working together, not just focusing on defense against them.”
Mazzulla stressed the importance of playing a complete game, stating that every facet of the game is interconnected. “There’s no stopping them, only defending them at a high level and playing a complete game,” he explained.
He also highlighted that despite the 4-1 series result between Mavs and Wolves, each game was closely contested.
