"And he says he isn’t a locker room cancer"- NBA fans mock $90 million worth Kyrie Irving after Mavs playoff chances drop 90% since he joined
The Dallas Mavericks are looking to miss the playoffs this season after they traded for Kyrie Irving during the trade deadline. With their lack of success, fans couldn't help but share their reactions to the team's playoff chances dropping since trading for the 2016 NBA champion.
The final week of the 2022-23 NBA season is here, and teams have locked in their spots for the playoffs. Right now, the Mavs are currently out of the Play-In Tournament, which would've been their ticket to participate in the postseason.
The Mavs playoff chances have dropped 90% in less than two months 😳
(h/t: @FiveThirtyEight uncoverednba/TT) https://t.co/Men6LEbggE
Prior to trading for Irving, Dallas was in the 7th spot in the Western Conference standings. They were still struggling to hold their position, but were getting a few wins with Luka Doncic as their lone All-Star. All that changed when they traded for the scoring guard before the All-Star break.
After seeing the team's struggles, fans couldn't help but share their reactions on social media. Here are some of the best fan reactions to the Mavs' struggles with Irving this season.
@BleacherReport @FiveThirtyEight And he says he isn’t a locker room cancer 😂
@BleacherReport @FiveThirtyEight Kyrie really went from a playoff team in Brooklyn, to a lottery one in Dallas lol https://t.co/iH55mgEvW1
@BleacherReport @FiveThirtyEight kyrie has broken 3 nba teams and people say he isn’t a problem.
@BleacherReport @BR_NBA @FiveThirtyEight Every team Kyrie goes to they play better without him
@BleacherReport @FiveThirtyEight the kyrie effect.
@BleacherReport @FiveThirtyEight Bro they are losing every game since 😂
@BleacherReport @FiveThirtyEight Speaks more about kyrie than Luca
@BleacherReport @FiveThirtyEight “WorldBeFlat” is a team killer
@BleacherReport @FiveThirtyEight Left a championship team to ruin another
@BleacherReport @FiveThirtyEight You mean adding kyrie didn’t make the team better? Shocking
With Irving on the team, the Mavs have dropped to the 11th spot in the West standings. The team is currently on a three-game losing streak with three games left. In order for them to participate in the play-in, they'll have to win all three games.
Also read: Jason Kidd reflects on Kyrie Irving's role in Dallas Mavericks' clutch offense - "Sometimes you use great players for gravity"
How has Kyrie Irving performed for the Mavericks this season?
Any mid-season change could shake up the team's chemistry and direction. This is the only explanation as to why the Mavs have been below average since the acquisition of Kyrie Irving. The trade isn't entirely terrible for Dallas, but there are a ton of areas that need to be improved for him to be fit to work.
Pairing Irving with Doncic was one of the biggest mistakes the Mavs front office made when they decided to trade for the 2012 Rookie of the Year. Both stars are ball-dominant perimeter players and need the ball in their hands at all times to be effective.
Players like Doncic need a co-star who is comfortable and capable of making an impact without the ball in their hands. It's similar to how Irving could be used.
The eight-time All-Star has experience coexisting with players who are ball dominant. That's an area where Doncic hasn't figured it out yet, which is why they've struggled having both of them on the floor at the same time.
So far, he's performed excellently, but he just doesn't fit in with the system that Jason Kidd has for the team. Luckily for them, they'll have an entire summer to work out their kinks on the floor, that is, if the front office decides to sign Irving.
Also read: NBA Rumors: Chinese sneakers brand Li-Ning targeting Kyrie Irving as new ambassador