The 2023-24 NBA Finals were dominated by the Boston Celtics, who won 64 regular-season games and eventually secured their 18th championship by defeating the Dallas Mavericks in five games. Despite his past animosity towards Boston, Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving praised the Celtics for their defensive prowess, calling them one of the best defensive teams in league history. Irving struggled in the Finals, averaging 19.8 points per game while shooting only 41.4 percent from the field and 27.6 percent from 3-point range. He acknowledged the tough competition posed by Boston’s defensive lineup, which included players like Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown. Looking ahead, Irving and the Mavericks are set to face the Celtics twice in the upcoming 2024-25 regular season. Their first matchup will take place in Dallas on January 25, followed by a game at TD Garden on February 6. Despite the setback in the Finals, Irving remains motivated to improve and strive for better performance in the future games against his formidable opponents from Boston.
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Photo credit www.boston.com
