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BOSTON -- In a decisive moment of Game 5, with just 2:37 left on the clock and the Dallas Mavericks trailing by 21 points, the team essentially waved the white flag. They substituted all their starters, acknowledging the insurmountable lead of the Boston Celtics. As the game neared its conclusion, Kyrie Irving walked to the other end of the floor to congratulate his former teammates Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, along with other members of the Celtics.
After paying his respects to the victorious team, Irving returned to the bench, where he exchanged an embrace and a few words with his teammate Luka Doncic, who was wrapping up his first NBA Finals appearance. The Mavericks ultimately fell to the Celtics with a final score of 106-88, a result that secured Boston's record-breaking 18th NBA championship.
For Irving, the end was "bitter" but came at the conclusion of what he described as a "really positive journey" for the Mavericks. Over the last year, the team had reconstructed the supporting cast around their star duo, transforming from a lottery finish into a Western Conference championship team.
Looking Ahead: Optimism Despite Defeat
The organization maintains high hopes for the future, with anticipation that the Mavericks can be a contender for years to come. Despite the loss, Doncic wasn't in a particularly reflective mood on Monday night. Instead, he expressed feeling "great" about the franchise's future.
This optimism is undoubtedly 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, demonstrating his versatility and resilience even while managing significant injuries. Doncic suffered a right knee sprain in the first round and a thoracic contusion in the Finals opener, requiring pregame pain-killing injections to play the remainder of the series.
Given his physical condition, Doncic's availability for the Slovenian national team this summer is uncertain. Slovenia will open an Olympic qualifying tournament in Greece on July 2, and his participation remains in doubt.
Kidd's Perspective
Mavericks' head coach Jason Kidd described Luka's Finals appearance as a "learning experience" and lauded his performance, despite the loss. "For him at the age of 25 to get to the Finals, to be playing basketball at the level that he's playing, now it's just about being consistent," Kidd reflected.
Player Reflections and Team Aspirations
In his post-game comments, Doncic shared a message of unity and belief for the upcoming season. "We said, 'we'll fight together next season, and we just going to believe,'" he remarked. "We answered a lot of questions this year on what we were capable of doing and now it's just about being consistent."
Doncic 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 perspective, 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 and my teammates and the organization and the people that I'm around."
Reflecting on his own struggles with injuries during the series, Doncic stated, "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."
The Road Ahead
When asked about his future, Doncic was 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."
Regardless of the outcome of Game 5, 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 be always fighting for a championship," Kidd summarized.
Although the Mavericks ended their season on a sour note, they have laid 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.