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DFW writer's Celtics-Mavs Game 1 hot take: Kristaps played like Luka, Kyrie played like s***

By Andrew Hughes

Jun 6, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) shoots against Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) in the first quarter during game one of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 6, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) shoots against Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) in the first quarter during game one of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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The Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Mac Engel broke down Game 1 of the Celtics-Mavs in the most concise yet descriptive way possible: Kristaps Porzingis did his best imitation of Luka Doncic while Kyrie Irving imitated Mr. Hankey from South Park.

"Here is the quick recap of Game 1: Celtics forward Kristaps Porzingis played like Luka Doncic, with blocked shots," Engel prefaced before saying, "Kyrie played like a four-letter word; the kind that you scream and use around your buddies, but can’t write in print."

Doncic had one more assist than Porzingis had, at one, so Engel isn't incorrect about Porzingis playing like his former running mate in Dallas. More than likely, he was referring to Porzingis's numerous unguardable step-backs. Not to mention his 2/4 conversion rate on three-pointers. Doncic ended with 30 points and 10 rebounds, while Porzingis finished with 20 points and six boards. Porzingis's stats came in 21 minutes, though, with Doncic's coming in nearly double that (38 minutes).

As for Irving, his 6/19 shooting night (0/5 from downtown) and three turnovers held the Mavs back during his game-worst -19 showing in 37 minutes. His teams moved to 0-11 in his last 11 games against the Cs since he stepped on the Lucky logo at midcourt on May 28, 2021.

Boston Celtics will win the series if Kyrie Irving can't recover

Irving set such a high bar in his Finals career with his performances with the Cleveland Cavaliers -- particularly his 2016 Finals where he went for 26 points and the game-winning three in Game 7 to unseat the G.O.A.T. regular season team, the Golden State Warriors, as champions -- that his Game 1 lowlight looks even worse in comparison.

To be fair, Irving playing that poorly basically takes the Mavericks out of contention in this series. Dallas has no chance to win even a single game if Irving plays this poorly throughout the length of the Finals.

This could be a legacy-scarring series for Irving if things don't improve. Expect him to at some point.

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