Kyrie Irving admits the Boston Celtics' stars have him figured out

Kyrie Irving admitted that the Boston Celtics' stars, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, have him figured out because he was on the team for a few years and because the two have faced off so frequently in recent years with the point guard playing for the Brooklyn Nets.

"These guys on that Boston squad know my game," (h/t Celtics in-house reporter Taylor Snow). "They know it well. So they've been able to scheme for me for the past few years. Getting over this hump is something that's been on my mind for a while."

Irving was in his prime already by the time he was in Boston, but the reason why his remarks don't work the other way is because Brown and Tatum have evolved rapidly over the last few seasons; progressing just as No. 3 overall picks should.

Arguably, it was Irving who prolonged their ascent. But the pair has arrived now -- and at the worst time for Irving's Dallas Mavericks in what has been a one-sided Finals series.

Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic need more helpt to stop Boston Celtics

The Celtics can count on four different players to go for more than 20 points on any given night these playoffs (Tatum, Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White) but the Mavs have two (Irving, Luka Doncic). Simple math dictated that the Cs would dominate, but Dallas hasn't even gotten the luck of having their two stars explode and not facing a Boston team experiencing the same thing.

Down 3-0, the Mavs are desperate and could look for shooting bursts from players who haven't been called on much this series. Again, though, the Celtics may be able to counter with a long-overdue Payton Pritchard breakout or a Sam Hauser explosion into double-digit scoring.

It may have to be back to the drawing board for Dallas. Joe Mazzulla's team doesn't look like it'll take their feet off the pedals for over the course of a full game.

Boston does look poised for Banner 18, though. Teams are 156-0 when leading 3-0 in a playoff series.