Mavs Star Kyrie Irving Headlines NBA Handles Week

It's "NBA Handles Week," and every team's social media posted a video to celebrate. Many franchises utilized highlight reels of numerous plays from last season. However, the Dallas Mavericks only needed to post one video. Kyrie Irving is arguably the best ball-handler of all time, and one postseason highlight justified such a claim.

The first-round matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and Mavericks was Irving's Dallas postseason debut, and the 2016 NBA champion didn't disappoint. Doncic struggled to score efficiently because he suffered from a knee sprain. However, Irving proved he was worth the potential headache and sacrificed assets. Irving saved the Mavericks, averaging 26 points on a stunning 44.9 3-point percentage.

No one could consistently guard Irving. Kawhi Leonard is the best defender on the Clippers, but he exited the series early due to a knee injury; Paul George is not the elite defender of the past. Los Angeles' last hope was a past-his-prime P.J. Tucker.

In the series-closing contest, Game 6 at American Airlines, Irving put any negative narrative, and the Clippers to bed after a miraculous crossover into an and-one shot, with Tucker losing control of his body due to Irving's hypnotizing moves.

Irving helped Doncic beat the Clippers in a playoff series for the first time, and now the Los Angeles team leads 2-1. Regardless of the noise from the outside, Irving rose to the occasion throughout the Western Conference playoffs. The Mavericks seek another trip to the NBA Finals for the 2024-25 season, and they can't do it without Irving's elite handles.