Despite his poor performance, Irving reached out to Luka Doncic to apologize.
Irving has averaged 14 points per game on 35.1% shooting, including a 0-for-8 performance from three-point range in the first two games.
Kyrie Irving is struggling in the NBA Finals against his former team, the Dallas Mavericks.
The Boston Celtics have won nine straight playoff games and are led by Jrue Holiday and Jayson Tatum's strong performances.
The NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks have seen Kyrie Irving struggle to find his footing against his former team. After two losses, Irving is averaging just 14 points per game on 35.1% shooting, including a dismal 0-for-8 from three-point range.
Despite the poor performance, Irving has taken accountability for his play and reached out to Luka Doncic to apologize. The Mavericks are preparing for a more aggressive approach from Irving in Game 3 as they look to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole.
The Celtics have been led by strong performances from their own stars, with Jrue Holiday scoring 26 points and contributing 11 rebounds in Game 2, while Jayson Tatum produced an almost triple-double with 18 points, nine rebounds, and 12 assists despite a poor shooting night.
Irving's history of bouncing back during this playoff run when he doesn't shoot well may come into play as the series continues. However, the Celtics have won nine straight playoff games and are feeling unstoppable.
Despite Irving's struggles, it is important to note that all sources used in this article have an overall score above 90%, indicating their reliability and accuracy. It is crucial to remain skeptical of all information provided, especially when dealing with mainstream media sources.
Irving owns up to his poor performance and takes accountability for it, reaching out to Luka Doncic to apologize.
Boston is preparing for Irving to take a more aggressive approach in Game 3 of the Finals.
Accuracy
Kyrie Irving is averaging 14 points per game in the NBA Finals with a shooting percentage of 35.1% and has missed all eight of his three-point attempts.
The Celtics are sending multiple defenders at Irving, specifically Jrue Holiday, making it difficult for him on the court.
Irving has lost 12 consecutive games to the Celtics since leaving them in free agency during the 2019 offseason.
Accuracy
Kyrie Irving is averaging 14 points per game in the NBA Finals with a shooting percentage of 35.1% and has missed all eight of his three-point attempts.
Irving owns up to his poor performance and takes accountability for it, reaching out to Luka Doncic to apologize.
Boston is sending multiple defenders at Irving, specifically Jrue Holiday, making it difficult for him on the court.
Irving has a history of bouncing back during this playoff run when he doesn’t shoot well.
Accuracy
Kyrie Irving is yet to make a 3-pointer and is shooting just 35.1% in the NBA Finals.
Irving has reached out to Luka Doncic to take accountability for his poor performance.
Boston Celtics have made it a priority to stop Irving from scoring.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The author makes an appeal to authority when quoting Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla and Celtics guard Derrick White stating that they are making it difficult for Irving. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating 'If he doesn’t turn it around and quickly, the Dallas Mavericks will be facing elimination Friday night.'
The most important thing is just being detailed in individual defense. It’s not about shutting him down. It’s about just making it difficult for him because of his ability to impact plays.
He’s obviously a great player, and just trying to make him take tough shots. We expect him to play better, so it’s going to be more of a challenge for us.
Jrue Holiday scored 26 points, contributed 11 rebounds and had zero turnovers for the Celtics in Game 2.
Jayson Tatum produced 18 points, nine rebounds and 12 assists despite a poor shooting night in Game 2.
Irving's teams have lost to the Celtics since he left them in 2019, losing a total of 12 games.
Accuracy
Luka Doncic had a 32-point triple-double with 11 rebounds and 11 assists in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
Kyrie Irving is shooting poorly (13 of 37) in the series with no success from three-point range (0 of 8).
Irving owns up to his poor performance and takes accountability for it, reaching out to Luka Doncic to apologize.
Irving is shooting below his standards and feeling frustrated due to the chants and boos from TD Garden crowd.
Deception
(80%)
The article contains several instances of selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author focuses on the injuries and struggles of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, while downplaying the contributions of other players such as Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White. This creates a biased narrative that favors the Boston Celtics. The author also uses emotional language to describe Dallas' struggles and Boston's command of the series. For example, he describes Doncic's performance as 'dominant again in the loss,' but fails to mention his 32-point triple-double or 11 rebounds and 11 assists. He also quotes Doncic saying 'I think my turnovers and my missed free throws cost us the game,' which is an emotional statement that may not be entirely accurate. The author also uses sensational language to describe Brown's defensive play, calling it 'sick.' This is an attempt to manipulate the reader's emotions and create a sense of excitement or drama around the game.
It looked like a foul, but it wasn’t called, so it wasn’t a foul.
The Boston Celtics took firm command of this series Sunday night with a 105-98 win behind 26 points from Jrue Holiday, a near triple-double from Jayson Tatum and another balanced effort from Jaylen Brown.
GO DEEPER Hollinger: If Mavs’ stars can’t beat Celtics 1-on-1, this series is over
But he scored just nine points after halftime, and if any of the injuries are affecting him, well, Dallas can’t afford it, especially if no one else steps up.
The Mavericks also struggled at the free-throw line, where they missed 8 of 24.
Irving is shooting 13 of 37 in this series after his 16 points on 7-of-18 shooting in Game 2.
Kyrie Irving averaged 14 points in two losses against the Celtics in the NBA Finals and missed all 8 of his 3-point attempts.
Irving finished with 16 points on 7-of-18 shooting in Game 2, following a 6-of-19, 12-point performance in Game 1.
Irving has lost all twelve games against the Celtics since joining the Mavericks.
Mavericks dropped consecutive playoff games for the first time this postseason and went 6 for 26 from beyond the arc in Game 2 after a poor shooting display in Game 1.
Celtics guards/supporting players Holiday and White outplayed the Mavericks’ historic backcourt in Games 1 and 2.
Irving pointed out that he was on one of the five teams to battle back from an 0-2 deficit to claim the NBA title, but there’s no emotional hothead on the Celtics who might get suspended for a pivotal game like Draymond Green did in the past.
The Celtics have won nine straight playoff games and feel inevitable.
Irving’s balky knee during the 2017-18 season created an opportunity for Tatum and Brown to bloom, leading them to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals and opening up a championship window that is still in progress.
Accuracy
Irving finished with 16 points on 7-of-18 shooting in Game 2, following a 6-of-19, 12-point performance in Game 1.
Irving has lost all twelve games against the Celtics since joining the Mavericks.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains editorializing and emotional manipulation. The author uses phrases like 'house of horrors', 'bad juju', and 'obstrepperous' to describe Kyrie Irving's performance against the Celtics. The author also makes assumptions about the Mavericks being underequipped for the Celtics' versatility and physicality, which is an opinion not based on facts. Additionally, there are selective reporting and sensationalism in the article as it focuses on Kyrie Irving's poor performance while ignoring his contributions to the team in other areas.
Irving looks off-kilter and uncomfortable confronted with his past. Kyrie is now on a personal 12-game losing streak vs. the Celtics.
The Mavericks look overmatched and underequipped for the Celtics’ versatility and physicality.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several instances of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. The author uses strong language to describe the Mavericks' performance, such as
Get Garden Party ... facing intense attention from Dallas’s defense. Gas up the duck boats, because teams that go up 2-0 at home in the NBA Finals have won 84.4 percent of the time.
Irving followed up a 6-of-19, 12-point performance in Game 1 with another tepid effort, finishing with 16 points on 7-of-18 shooting. He was just 2 for 8 for 6 points in the second half.
Even more alarming for a Mavericks gang that can’t shoot straight, Irving came up empty from 3-point range in two games (0 for 8) as the Mavs misfired their way to 6 for 26 from beyond the arc in Game 2 after a 7-for-27 bricklayers’ ball in Game 1.
The way this series is trending, it’s possible this could be the last Celtics fans see of Irving on Causeway Street. The Mavs look overmatched and underequipped for the Celtics’ versatility and physicality.
Bias
(95%)
The author expresses a clear bias against Kyrie Irving by repeatedly referring to his poor performance and past struggles against the Celtics. The author also implies that Irving is a detriment to the Mavericks' chances of winning the NBA Finals.
He looks off-kilter and uncomfortable confronted with his past. Kyrie is now on a personal 12-game losing streak vs. the Celtics. His old hoops haunt has become a house of horrors for him with bad juju that no amount of sage can vanquish.
Irving has been Luka Legend's silent partner.
It was Irving’s balky knee during the 2017-18 season that created the opening for The Jays to bloom. With Irving sidelined, a rookie Tatum and a second-year Brown pushed the Celtics to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals and opened up a championship window that is still in progress.
It wasn’t easy being Green for Kyrie, and Boston is the kryptonite to Irving’s career renaissance.
