After the defeat in Game 1 of the Finals in Boston, the Mavericks find themselves in an unenviable position but not so unpleasant for them. Because they are used to losing the first game of a series.
They had already tested it against the Clippers and then the Thunder. So much so that, against Minnesota, after winning the first round, Jason Kidd explained that this feeling was “new for everyone”. The coach had never won a Game 1 since his arrival on the Dallas bench…
“The next day was pretty cool”, explains Kyrie Irving when asked what the moments after these inaugural defeats are like. “We always stick together in training, we always do our daily routine, we follow our rituals. We support each other and take responsibility for each other, in a very healthy way. We are really honest to tell ourselves, to teach ourselves what we can do in order to be better. »
The proof in numbers: the Mavericks won Game 2 against the Clippers, the Thunder and even against the Wolves.
So they know how to answer. And it's not the pressure of the Finals that should bother them because Kyrie Irving shares his great experience at this level.
“We will hear this phrase often said that a lot of players on our team have never been to the Finals before, but that’s okay”estimates the 2016 NBA champion, who also played the 2015 and 2017 Finals with Cleveland and LeBron James. “Experience is the best learning and as soon as you have passed Game 1, or Game 2, then you feel better in the series. »
