On Wednesday night, Kyrie Irving returned to an NBA court, with the Houston Rockets making it evident they consider him a huge danger. They handled him differently than a player recovering from rust following a lengthy absence. Instead, Houston built their entire defensive strategy around stopping him from the first whistle.
Kevin Durant, who knows Irving’s game better than almost anyone, admitted the Rockets spent the week studying the former teammate. “Kyrie, like I said, he’s been out 600 days, and our game plan was all him tonight,” Durant said, according to Sports Illustrated. That level of focus should scare Mavericks fans, but it also proves Irving is still the guy you have to beat.
Durant Sees No Rust
Irving played just a half of basketball before the game got out of hand, yet he looked sharp. He finished with 15 points, four rebounds, and two assists in nearly 24 minutes. Durant watched from the other side and saw a player who did not miss a beat.
“He looks like he hasn’t lost a step at all,” Durant said, per Sports Illustrated. He noted that the game just got easier and easier for Irving as the minutes ticked away. If the Mavericks can give him more minutes soon, the stats will only go up. A fully healthy Irving changes the ceiling for this entire team.
Irving himself admitted he was surprised by the aggressive attention. Irving committed four turnovers, matching Cooper Flagg and PJ Washington for the highest total in a Dallas jersey that evening. “I gotta do a better job of leading us out and just not necessarily playing so timid,” Irving said, according to Yahoo Sports. He knows he needs to attack double teams harder.
The Respect Is Real
Some might think the heavy defense is a sign of weakness or fear. It is actually a sign of respect. Irving has been out for 597 days, yet the Rockets sent multiple bodies to guard him immediately.
“I take that respect very personal, just knowing that although I’ve been out for a while, they still scout me,” Irving said, per Yahoo Sports. He plans to watch film to find ways to be more effective next time. The Mavericks have a new coach and a new roster, but the star power remains.
Cooper Flagg led the team with 32 points, showing no drop-off in scoring ability. But the game plan started with Irving, and the Rockets wanted to see how the game went. They were willing to wait and see, but they went in ready to trap the best scorer on the floor. The Mavericks need to adjust their own game plan to get Irving the looks he needs.
The 18-point loss and 21 turnovers hurt, but the return itself was the story. Houston won 128-110, yet the conversation is already about what Irving will do with more time.
