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BOSTON -- In a telling move with just 2:37 remaining in Monday's decisive Game 5, the Dallas Mavericks essentially waved the white flag, substituting all of their starters while trailing 21 points. As the final moments ticked away, Kyrie Irving walked toward the other end of the floor to congratulate his former teammates Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, along with other members of the Boston Celtics.
Irving then returned to the bench and embraced his teammate, Luka Doncic, who was wrapping up his first NBA Finals appearance. The Mavericks fell to the Celtics 106-88, and Boston clinched their record-breaking 18th NBA championship.
A Bitter End to a Positive Journey
Irving described the defeat as a "bitter" ending to what had otherwise been a "really positive journey" for the Mavericks. The team had reconstructed the supporting cast around their star tandem over the past year, transforming a lottery finish into a Western Conference championship.
Despite the loss, Doncic was optimistic about the franchise's future on Monday night, expressing that he felt "great" about what's ahead. This optimism is bolstered by Doncic's remarkable postseason performance. He became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in points, rebounds, assists, and steals during a postseason, all while managing serious injuries. Doncic suffered a right knee sprain in the first round and a thoracic contusion in the Finals opener, which required pregame pain-killing injections for the remainder of the series.
However, these injuries have cast doubt on Doncic's ability to play for the Slovenian national team this summer. Slovenia is set to open an Olympic qualifying tournament in Greece on July 2, leaving Doncic's status in question.
Kidd's Perspective
Mavericks' head coach Jason Kidd described Luka's first Finals appearance as a "learning experience" and praised his performance despite the loss. "For him at the age of 25 to get to the Finals, to be playing his basketball at the level that he's playing, now it's just about being consistent," Kidd reflected.
Quotes from the Stars
Doncic shared his thoughts after the game, saying, "We said, 'We'll fight together next season, and we just going to believe.' We answered a lot of questions this year on what we were capable of doing, and now it's just about being consistent." He added, "I think probably in the last week, I said that I wanted to be remembered as one of the best teams of this era, and our last few champions have been a new one each and every year. So, I see an opportunity for us to really build our future in a positive manner where this is almost like a regular thing for us, and we're competing for championships."
From a spiritual standpoint, Irving found a silver lining in the journey. "I think I enjoyed this journey more than any other season, just because of the redemption arc and being able to learn as much as I did about myself, my teammates, the organization, and the people that I'm around."
Reflecting on his own struggles with injuries during the series, Doncic said, "It doesn't matter if I was hurt, how much I was hurt. I was out there. I tried to play, but I didn't do enough." When asked about his future, Doncic remained non-committal: "I don't want to talk about what's next, man. I have some decisions to make. I'm just trying to get a little bit healthier."
Setting a New Standard
Regardless of the outcome, the Mavericks' journey to the Finals has set a new standard for the team. "When you have one of the best players in the world, you should always be fighting for a championship," Kidd summarized.
Although the Mavericks ended their season on a sour note, they have established the groundwork for future success. With a revamped roster and a determined star in Luka Doncic, the Mavericks are poised to remain in the championship conversation for years to come. The loss in Game 5 is merely a chapter in what promises to be an ongoing and compelling story for this franchise.