“Some people say he hit one of the biggest shots in NBA Finals history. I don’t know what they were talking about. I don’t know when that happened or who that was against,” Myers said, via ClutchPoints Twitter (X). “He was part of a great comeback. They earned that championship in ’16. He was dominant.”

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“Some people say he hit one of the biggest shots in NBA Finals history. I don’t know what they were talking about. I don’t know when that happened or who that was against.” Bob Myers on Kyrie Irving 😂 (via @awfulannouncing)

Indeed, no one will ever discount the impact of Kyrie Irving’s pull-up three right over the outstretched arms of Stephen Curry in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. The Cavs and Warriors were locked in a dogfight, as is usually the case in do-or-die games, especially with a championship on the line, but there Irving was, calm in the face of pressure, draining a difficult shot to break an 89-89 deadlock for good.

The Mavericks may have suffered a 107-89 defeat in Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals. But Irving has been in this position before, so there is no reason for fans to fret.

Kyrie Irving is a big game player — just ask the Warriors

Kyrie Irving’s Game 7 shot may be one of the greatest everlasting memories (along with LeBron James’ epic chasedown block) from the Cavs’ rousing 3-1 comeback against the Warriors in 2016, and rightfully so. It’s not too often that anyone hits a go-ahead shot in the dying minutes of a win or go home contest, let alone in the NBA Finals. But beyond that shot, the current Mavericks star has also made a habit of showing up when it matters the most.

Irving has lost a closeout game exactly once in his career; he is 15-1 for his career with a chance to win the series. That alone speaks volumes to his unfazed nature. But as the former Warriors GM said, his stats with his team’s back against the wall are incredible.

“Go back and look at his numbers in the Finals. His shooting percentage, what he did. Klay Thompson be draped all over this guy and he was making the craziest shots. He’s one of the most talented players I’ve ever seen,” Myers added.

In what remains Kyrie Irving’s best game to date, he put up 41 points on 17-24 shooting in Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals. He torched the Warriors, who were at home, and he made an elite defender in Thompson look overmatched. They came into the Warriors’ building and meant business, winning the first of three consecutive games to secure one of the most impressive championship runs in history.

Irving also popped off in 2017, although the Warriors’ addition of Kevin Durant rendered even a historically great Cavs team helpless. In Games 3 and 4 of the series, he averaged 39 points per game while shooting 55 percent from the field. But he did all that for a drop of blood, as Thanos would say.

The Mavericks will be hoping that it doesn’t take them getting pushed to the brink for Kyrie Irving to come alive. But even if they do, they should have the confidence that Irving will channel his big-game loving self as they fight with their every breath against a lethal Celtics team.

Mavericks go down following a dominant Celtics effort

Kyrie Irving did not have the best of outings in Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals. He finished with just 12 points on 6-19 shooting, with the Celtics smothering him on multiple occasions.

It is still early in the series, but it’s very apparent why many pundits chose the Celtics to overcome the Mavericks and hang their 18th banner in the Garden. Irving, however, has to be better for the Mavericks. His track record indicates that he’ll be locked in coming into Game 2 on Sunday nigh