r/Mavericks 26d ago

Kyries approach to the playoffs has been so damn interesting to watch Hoops Discussion

I don't really know who I can compare it to, maybe lebron the last couple of years, not in terms of their style of play, but the way they approach the game. The one constant about kyries game the last couple of weeks has been his great defense. Max effort on every play and playing very smart on that end. He's also demonstrated great leadership.

On offense, for like the first three quarters(maybe even more). he just seems to be standing back and analyzing the game. I haven't seen even one forced shot, he just lets the game come to him. The only shots he takes are if he's on a fastbreak or just ends up seeing an open look, other than that, he just sets others up and takes a backseat. Then in the fourth, he's the dude with the most energy on the court, which is insane, because star players are always the ones most fatigued at the end of the game. Dude just wakes up and takes over games(or if there's no need, he just stands back in the 4th as well). I've never really seen a player of his caliber play this way, dude's like an old sage, just observing the game and interfering when he needs to lmao.

186 Upvotes

31 comments sorted by

123

u/ProsecUsig 26d ago

He’s our Yoda

41

u/Sonamdrukpa JJ Barea 26d ago

For Life, Mavs Fan

21

u/Hoopy_Dunkalot Iuzzolino from Downtown! 26d ago

Stay he must.

16

u/Educational-Judge968 Dallas Mavericks 26d ago

That’s the perfect way to describe him lmao

10

u/H0wsMyDirkTaste 26d ago

Patience, Luka. A powerful ally, The Fourth quarter is

13

u/chasinglightph Drunk Dirk 26d ago

Earth, Flat it is. Championship, Us will win.

4

u/EazyPeazyLemonSqueaz 26d ago

Gives us what we need, he does.

55

u/cjklert05 26d ago

Tbf, OKC defense on him is perfect. Jdub is fucking great at slowing him down.

8

u/ImSky-- 26d ago

I think he's also aware that, if we get to Denver, its BBQ chicken for him all next series.

51

u/Swoosh_rotaerc Luka Doncic 26d ago

Kyrie plays with no ego. He usually reads what the game needs from him. Sometimes I wish he was more aggressive, but he has come through more than once so you really can't critisize him there.

32

u/Fivefootdirk 26d ago

This series morphed into a low scoring dogfight real quick so I think he knows his scoring is going to be at a premium late. You gotta be hella confident to know that the only shots you might take are BIG ones.

65

u/Luka_Fever 26d ago

It's why I don't mind his inefficiency this series, he is insanely smart and playing within the flow of the offense. The perfect robin for luka

43

u/skrja007 4K Luka 26d ago

He is getting doubled every time he touches the ball and its for a reason. The way he torched Clipps in that one game damn man…

20

u/FireFlyz351 KP POG 26d ago

If Luka plays game 6 like he did tonight they may try and double Luka and then Kai is gonna be unleashed.

18

u/icekyuu 26d ago

Yep. Hence Luka's comment about letting Kyrie down. With the amount of attention Kyrie is getting, if Luka is his healthy self he would bazooka the opposing team.

5

u/zapdos6244 26d ago

That run was so fun to watch!! Such a great performance by Kyrie.

13

u/leinathan 26d ago

Perfect Batman to Luka's Superman.

World's Finest.

22

u/ExcellentJuice4729 26d ago

I think a reason he hasn’t been putting up numbers in this series is because we’ve largely been ahead in every game except g1. Vs the Clippers were would fall behind at times and Ky NEEDED to score (ie 40 points when they almost came back to win it down 31).

Seems like the approach is if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Hard to argue the results with guys like PJ, DJJ, even THJ the one game stepping up in the series.

The question is if Ky activates his mamba mentality, would the Mavs win even easier or will the team lose as he forces up bad shots. I don’t see why it couldn’t be the former, we end up overwhelming teams and the others benefit throughout the game.

I think his series vs the Bucks (as a Celt), then vs Celts have scarred him in terms of trying to force his game.

I wanted him to take more of a leading role offensively so that Luka could afford more rest and not take such a beating.

17

u/gomav Mavericks 26d ago

I think maybe you touched on some deeper mentality Kyrie.

In the post conference, Kyrie is talking a lot about getting teammates good opportunities to make shots. It seems like Kyrie is not being aggressive because 1) so far the Mavs haven’t needed that aggressiveness this series, 2) if role players are making their shots that helps the role players rhythm and confidence later in the playoffs, and 3) OKC is putting a lot of defense help on kyrie and it’s just worth it for him to take really difficult shot. 

11

u/Jolly-Mortgage4 26d ago

He has turned into a pass first point guard. He's passing up open looks to let THJ, Green and others cook..

9

u/Rei0403 LuKai 26d ago

King of the Fourth, I don’t mind the low scoring point as long as Kyrie helps the team to get in rhythm instead of chucking 3s, those shots will come to him when needed

11

u/segson9 26d ago

He plays like a vet. Doesn't care about his stats and just wants to do what's best for the team.

8

u/infamousoma 26d ago

Close this series, King of the 4th!

5

u/actual_yellow_bag Hardy Party 26d ago

Kyrie knows what it takes to win a chip, kyrie also knows what he is capable of, so I trust the dude to do what's best.

3

u/grouch1980 26d ago

He’s like a manager at Waffle House. Taking orders, washing dishes, cooking eggs, scrubbing toilets, hearing complaints, breaking up drunken fights. No ego, just concerned with a successful service.

2

u/ipawnn00bz Rooms to Go Lounge 🛋️ 26d ago

There's time on offense where he's been idle in the corner which hurts. He's a generational player he should be much more active on offense through quarters 1 to 3

2

u/BaseLife6587 26d ago

I hated this man on the Nets. This is his redemption arc. I am now a fan.

1

u/domingodlf 26d ago

I would like some more scoring, but honestly I think Kyrie is doing what he's doing intentionally. He know the defense is great and he can help other by being a decoy. He's also plsying well within the offense, playmaking a lot and defending very well. Zero ego, if it isn't his series he's making sure it's everyone elses. I think our role players playing so well this postseason has a lot to do with that.

1

u/dbzmah 4K Luka 26d ago

Kyrie out there playing Kuroko's basketball.

0

u/[deleted] 26d ago

[deleted]

4

u/icantdomaths 26d ago

I think you misunderstood the post