The Celtics are considered the front-runners to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals, but thus far they are currently sitting in seventh place with a 10 & 10 record through 20 games. After a 104 -113 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, former NBA Champion Kyrie Irving addressed the media.

Irving began the postgame interview; he talked about how their current position after 20 games is frustrating. This is something that they will need to figure out as players, said Irving. The Dallas Mavericks were without Dwight Powell and Dennis Smith Jr. but that is not an excuse in Irving’s eyes.

“They have good veteran players, DSJ adds some depth to their team but having that veteran leadership and knowing how to run the pick and roll. As Well as, knowing where rotations will happen and throwing Kleber for a specific play shows how smart Carlisle is as a head coach. The Mavericks did a great job managing the game, and they deserve to win.”

Irving pinpointed their struggles beginning in the first quarter in term of the pace and the substance they start with as a team. When Dorian Finney-Smith came in, he was able to get to the free-throw line and the first shot of the game was off a screen by Westly Matthews.

Irving also spoke highly of Rookie of the year candidate Luka Doncic.

” He is a good player. He is your typical European player, who comes in and has a certain handle, savvy about him, and doesn’t play like a 19 or 20-year-old. So, you can tell he has been playing against some high-level competition and spacing. In the NBA it awards him more spacing than in the Euro League… I’m impressed!