The Dallas Mavericks are going to be a dangerous team in the NBA Playoffs. When the games slow down and become more of a halfcourt affair, the Mavericks have been able to rely on the heroics of Luka Doncic to bail them out.
Doncic has been on a tear recently, pushing his way into the MVP picture with some incredible production. With the level that he is playing at, the Mavericks are going to be a tough out for whoever they play against.
Alas, we have seen in previous postseasons that Doncic being left on an island to produce by himself doesn’t always yield the most promising results. Luckily for the Mavericks, this time around, they have someone who can help carry the load in Kyrie Irving.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Kyrie Irving & Dallas Mavericks Updates
Irving provides Dallas with another ball-handler and shot-creator who can not only get buckets on his own but set his teammates up to score as well. Having two players who can apply pressure to the opposing defense is a luxury not every team in the NBA has.
When those two have been on the court this season, the Mavericks have been tough to beat. Both are supremely talented basketball players and one radio host believes that Irving could be the key to Dallas finding success in the postseason.
During a recent segment on his show, Craig Carton made a bold statement about where he ranks Irving among his peers. Carton holds Irving in high regard, as he believes that he is a top-five guard in NBA history.
“Kyrie Irving is one of the five greatest guards to ever play the sport of basketball,” Carton said on his show.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Kyrie Irving & Dallas Mavericks Updates
That is certainly a hot take from the radio host, as there are a few fan bases who would certainly disagree with that statement. Ask the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets what they think about Irving and where he may rank among the guards in NBA history.
An argument could be made that Irving isn’t even a top-five guard in the NBA right now, let alone in the history of the league. Talent-wise, Irving has a lot going for him, but it takes more than just pure talent to be ranked among the best of the best.
Availability is the best ability and too often in his career, Irving has been unable to get on the court when his teams need him most. This is the seventh season in a row and eighth out of the last nine seasons that Irving has missed at least 18 games in a season. In his career, he has missed single-digit games only once, which is a major knock against him when comparing him to the all-time greats.
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