In this article, Charles Barkley, a renowned NBA figure and TNT analyst, expresses doubt about the compatibility of Dallas Mavericks’ stars, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, working together successfully. However, recent season statistics present a different perspective.
As the upcoming NBA season approaches, many national media commentators are skeptical about the potential for the Dallas Mavericks’ dynamic duo, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, to achieve significant success as a pair.
“Yeah, I was surprised,” Barkley said of the Mavs giving Irving a three-year, $126 million contract this summer. “I was surprised they gave him that much money … I don’t think the Luka-Kyrie thing is gonna work.” … and Bill Simmons agreed with him.
Amid these pessimistic predictions, it appears that those making such claims primarily focus on the overall team performance of the Mavericks in the previous season. This performance was influenced by factors like lack of depth and untimely injuries. However, these concerns might not necessarily apply to the Doncic-Irving partnership itself.
In reality, when Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving shared the court, they formed one of the league’s most potent offensive pairs. In over 900 possessions involving both stars, the Mavs showcased a plus-4.6 per 100 possessions, scoring 121.7 points per 100 possessions with an impressive 60.2 effective field goal percentage.
The crucial aspect often overlooked is that the synergy between Doncic and Irving has been established and is likely to continue. However, the central question revolves around the performance of the supporting players around them.
With a revamped roster featuring defensive-oriented talents like Grant Williams, Dereck Lively II, OMax Prosper, Dante Exum, and Derrick Jones Jr., along with one of the league’s premier shooters in Seth Curry, the answer to this question is eagerly anticipated.
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