Mavericks star guard Kyrie Irving suggested that his lackluster performance in Game 4 was a key reason why Dallas failed to sweep the Timberwolves in their Western Conference Finals series, writes Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. The nine-time All-Star shot just 6-of-18 from the floor and coughed up the ball four times.
“If I’m setting the example like that, other guys are going to follow suit unfortunately at times,” Irving said. “It just leads to that lackadaisical play. That’s on me. I’m taking the accountability. I gotta start off the game a lot better and just get a shot up at the rim instead of turning the ball over.”
There’s more out of the Lone Star State:
- Now just one win away from his first NBA Finals, All-NBA Mavericks guard Luka Doncic is making the case as potentially the best player in the NBA, opine Zach Harper and Shams Charania of The Athletic. During the postseason, Doncic is averaging 28.3 points (on 55.6% true shooting), 9.6 rebounds and 9.1 dimes per game despite battling through injuries. If Dallas advances past Minnesota and he can vanquish the Celtics in the Finals, the 25-year-old superstar would further bolster his argument as the top talent in the game right now, Harper and Charania contend.
- NCAA championship-winning former Connecticut guard Stephon Castle could be the most sensible fit for the Spurs with one of their two top-eight picks in next month’s draft, writes LJ Ellis of Spurs Talk. Ellis cites Castle’s chemistry alongside big man Donovan Clingan, and his ability to distribute in half court sets, as possibly presaging a great two-man game with Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama.
- The Rockets possess the No. 3 selection in this month’s draft. Kelly Iko of The Athletic unpacks a ranked list of five ideal fits for a rebuilding Houston roster, fresh off a 41-41 finish to its 2023/24 season.
Assuming Luka beat Dallas huh?
I guess he could underperform and allow the Wolves to make history, but he wouldn’t be facing the Celtics if that was the case…
Beat me to it, Scarlett! Alex is on the ball tonight and got it fixed right away.. attaboy, Alex!
I like the #3 pick for Rockets. Dalton Knecht at #3 is way to go. He’s a shooter scorer wing. Who plays both ways. And at 23yrs old. He can step right in and start imo. He’s going to be a solid pro.
You can let Thompson and Withmore develop. Now you can move Eason for a pick, picks.
Rockets have publicly stated numerous times that they dont want to add anymore youth. They’re trading 1.03
Pop Rojas Jubakiatis is perfect for your team. He would have been ROY for the Knicks had he stayed a few years back. They have no room for him what so ever.
There is nothing left to accomplish for him over seas. The number 8 pick for him nets you the ROY. Back to back.
The only prospect I really like is Klingan. When I said teams need to grabby up one of these 7 footers due to the Wemby factor, that also included the Spurs.
He is going to be an offensive rebounding machine is the principal reason. He has his steps down around the basket and knows he can score down low in multiple ways.
He has a fair amount of attitude and is in the class where the stretch out to an NBA floor will improve his game automatically.
He was clearly looking clamped on the NCAA floor.
Thanks for listening.