SALT LAKE CITY – Kyrie Irving has always been a good three-point shooter.
But he’s never been this good.
The Mavericks’ guard is coming off a 106-94 win at Utah in which he hit 6-of-13 three-pointers, tying his season best for makes from distance. It extended a major hot streak in the first quarter of the season in which he’s made 61 of 131 triples, a 46.6 percent success rate.
If he keeps it up, that will run laps around his previous career-best for a season, 41.8 percent in 2021-22 with Brooklyn.
So what’s changed for Irving?
“(I) try not to give too many secrets away, especially when you’re having a career year,” he said after the win in Utah. “But it’s a true testament to the hard work behind the scenes.”
He then elaborated that the subtle changes in strategies by the Mavericks have helped him.
“I think the priority for me this year is just getting off the ball and being able to get my feet set and play off my teammates more, instead of getting into the iso threes or the tough catch-and-shoot ones,” Irving said. “Just waiting for the timely ones and be highly efficient at that. If I can be efficient with not as many tough shots, I feel like I’m in a good rhythm. And I’ve been trusting our strategy. Some games, I’m playing on the ball the majority of the time, other times I’m not. So it’s been a great balance to figure out in year 14 to be able to have a career high from the three-point line.”
Irving then said that it “feels like I’ve been waiting for this . . . to increase my output from the three line, but also be smart and efficient.”
Here’s a few other takeaways from the win over the Jazz, which was the Mavericks’ seventh in their last eight games.
Learning the hard way: The Mavericks lost 115-113 on Nov. 14 at Utah. Their return was much more successful. But it was a product of games like the first one in Utah, Irving said. The Mavericks have won four times in close games since that setback in Utah. Before that, they were 1-5 in tight games. “A lot of early lessons, a few heartbreak losses and just being honest with ourselves in terms of our execution,” Irving said. “Some games, we’ll go through a minute or two when we’re not talking as much and that’s just not the identity we want to have. If you want to be a great team, especially on the defensive end, you got to be able to get in guys’ faces at times, hold them accountable, hold yourself accountable. And then be able to live with the results.” What’s not acceptable? “The half-ass effort and the non-communication we’ve had at times,” he said. “That’s not a reflection of what J-Kidd is instilling in us and the coaching staff and what we expect out of each other every night. I’m glad we could put a better foot forward.”
Q heats up: The Mavericks bolted out to a 40-20 first quarter lead against the Jazz, largely because Quentin Grimes was blazing hot. He hit half of his 24 points in the first quarter when he was 4-of-5 from three-point range. “Just in a groove,” he said. But he kept stepping on the gas the rest of the game, even though he knew he had to be cautious while staying aggressive. “You try not to get too trigger happy, stay within the flow of the game,” he said. “We played off of everybody tonight. Everybody got to touch the ball.”
Sniffles continue: The virus/cold/bug that has been circulating in the Mavericks’ organization claimed another victim when Naji Marshall was knocked out of the game with what was deemed a no-go in the second half after playing 13 first-half minutes. He had an upper respiratory problem, the Mavericks said. “He was out, not feeling well,” Jason Kidd said. “We’re fighting that bug right now.”
X: @ESefko
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