The Mavericks have reached their third NBA Finals after defeating the Timberwolves 4-1 in the Western Conference final series, thanks to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving’s outstanding performances.
Rival Coach’s Perspective:
Coach Joe Mazzulla of the Celtics believes no strategy can stop Luka and Kyrie. As Game 1 of the Finals approaches this Thursday, he challenges the idea that limiting these two stars will decide the series.
“People focus on stopping them,” Mazzulla said Saturday. “They don’t see it as a connected game. If those guys play well, they beat you. They ignore your offense, defense, turnovers, second-chance points or execution.”
Joe Mazzulla says there is no answer for the dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving's offensive prowess 😯
— Ball Exclusives (@ballexclusives)
Mazzulla emphasizes playing a complete game rather than just defending Luka and Kyrie. “This series isn’t about stopping them,” he explained. “It’s about defending at a high level and understanding how every part of the game is connected.”
He noted that even though Dallas won 4-1 against Minnesota, each game was close.
“The first 3 1/2 quarters are just as important as the last two minutes,” Mazzulla added. Minnesota lost due to controllable factors over time.
“We’re not here to stop these guys,” he continued. “We’re here to play complete basketball and understand how everything affects everything else. They’ll score; it’s what they do best.”
Celtics’ Locker Room Insights:
The Celtics share their coach’s view on facing Irving and Doncic in the Finals without focusing solely on stopping them.
Derrick White echoed his coach’s thoughts when speaking with reporters.
“We know they’re great players,” White said. “You can’t really stop them; you just make it difficult for them. They’ll take tough shots and make tough shots.”
Luka averaged 32.4 points with 8.4 assists per game in their last series, while Kyrie scored 27 points per game, showing clutch performances consistently.
“There will be stretches where they hit multiple tough shots in a row,” White added, “but we need to trust our game plan for long-term success.”
