"Me and Ray Allen have something to say"- Paul Pierce challenges Luka Doncic-Kyrie Irving for clutchest duo title
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are already being praised as the all-time great clutch NBA duos, but Paul Pierce is expressing his doubt about that. The Dallas Mavericks are one game away from making the NBA Finals with a 3-0 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals.
Doncic and Irving have a strong reputation for stepping up when it matters most during the game. Doncic's game-winning three-pointer over Rudy Gobert in Game 2 opened the conversation about where the duo should rank.
Despite being just 25, Doncic has many legacy-defining clutch shots and is among the most feared players in the league. Irving hit arguably the greatest clutch shot in NBA history for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2016 NBA Championship win over the Golden State Warriors.
However, Pierce used his role on Skip Bayless’ Undisputed show to claim he and Ray Allen deserve consideration for their time on the Boston Celtics together:
The Celtics won the 2008 NBA Championship thanks to the dominant trio of Pierce, Allen, and Kevin Garnett, all playing phenomenal basketball together. Pierce and Allen rarely get mentioned on any all-time list of great duos, but both men made plenty of clutch shots during Boston’s run in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
The best point made by Pierce against Doncic and Irving is that we need to see what they accomplish in the NBA Finals together, where legacies are truly made.
“I think we have got to wait until this run is over. Let’s see if they can put a championship together and then we’ll discuss this and where they rank as a clutch duo. Kyrie clearly has some big moments in the finals. Let's see if Luka can have some big moments in the finals.”
Dallas has already accomplished many great things this season, but success on the grandest stage is necessary for this level of comparison to historically elite postseason duos. Time is the only way for Luka and Kyrie to prove this right.
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving must do more for the #1 spot
Paul Pierce is already getting criticized for naming himself and Ray Allen among the greatest clutch duos, but his overall point was that this is still in the early stages of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving’s tenure together. Other duos were named by Pierce as being significantly above the Dallas Mavericks’ current tandem when looking back at NBA history.
Stephen Curry’s success with Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant gave him two teammates who accomplished immense success during the Golden State Warriors dynasty. Pierce even named Irving’s past run with LeBron James on the Cleveland Cavaliers as having more clutch moments than the current Mavericks.
Michael Jordan’s unquestioned clutch reputation was made into a joke, as Pierce said he’d pick MJ and a towel boy from the 1990s Chicago Bulls. Scottie Pippen and Jordan winning six rings together gives them a great argument. Doncic and Irving must win a ring and deliver more clutch moments together for any chance at being the top clutch duo in NBA history.