“I Take it Upon Myself”: Kyrie Irving Takes Responsibility For the Avoidable Loss Against the Lakers

Akash Murty | 27/02/2023
"I Take it Upon Myself": Kyrie Irving Takes Responsibility For the Avoidable Loss Against the Lakers

The Slovenian sensation was putting up the usual NBA backcourt stats alone in most games and then the Dallas Mavericks added Kyrie Irving. They should be boasting the best backcourt in the NBA having acquired a top-5 guard when they already had Luka Doncic.

However, things are not going how Mark Cuban and Co would have thought they would. The should-be mesmerizing duo is now 1-3 when they’ve played together and the Mavs are 3-4 since acquiring the 2016 NBA Champ.

The Sunday evening home game against the Lakers was a shocker. The Dallas team was up 27 in the second quarter, they then allowed the Lakers to not just come back but win the game 111-108. And Irving who is not much famous to take a lot of responsibility for losses as much as credit for a win, took it this time.

Also read: “Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are 1-3”: NBA Twitter Goes Off on Mavs Duo After 108-111 Loss Against LeBron James & Co in Bizarre Turn of Events

Kyrie Irving takes responsibility for the horrific loss

Irving was the king of 4th quarter this season coming into the game. He was the league’s top scorer in the final quarter with 9.8 points per game but failed to score more than 4 points in this one where they did not need much closing after cruising through the first half.

They just had to minimize mistakes and both Donic and Irving failed at it bizarrely. The latter, who had 3 turnovers compared to Luka’s 6, took responsibility for it after the match in the post-game interview.

His crucial pass from out of bounds with under 20 seconds remaining in the game and the Mavs 3-down would have taken it to overtime. So, the apology was on the cards despite both of them being equally responsible for the easily avoidable loss. Luka, who looked distraught, had some important takes as well, so did coach Kidd.

Mavs had the chance to force OT

Irving failed to deliver the eye-to-eye message to his new teammate and so the execution of what should have been an easy Mavericks possession if Doncic gathered the ball, turned into a Lakers possession.

Credit to Jarred Vanderbilt’s hustle and IQ as well. Nevertheless, these are the types of games the Mavs duo would want to win, not blowing past a lowly Spurs team who are trying their best to tank. Let’s see if they can consistently beat the teams fighting for the playoff spot before the postseason is here.

Also read: WATCH:  LeBron James Makes Epic Chasedown Block on Former Teammate Kyrie Irving as Lakers Take on Mavericks

Post Edited By: Akash Murty

About the author

Akash Murty

An Electrical and Electronics Engineer by degree, Akash Murty is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. Previously a Software Engineer, Murty couldn’t keep himself away from sports, and his knack for writing and putting his opinion forward brought him to the TSR. A big Soccer enthusiast, his interest in basketball developed late, as he got access to a hoop for the first time at 17. Following this, he started watching basketball at the 2012 Olympics, which transitioned to NBA, and he became a fan of the game as he watched LeBron James dominate the league. Him being an avid learner of the game and ritually following the league for around a decade, he now writes articles ranging from throwbacks, and live game reports, to gossip. LA Lakers are his favourite basketball team, while Chelsea has his heart in football. He also likes travelling, reading fiction, and sometimes cooking.

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