Kyrie Irving is playing in his second career NBA Finals as he tries to help the Dallas Mavericks overcome a 2-0 series deficit with the Boston Celtics.
However, per Shannon Sharpe (fresh off a new contract extension), this is apparently the first time the veteran Irving has played in the Finals. And that would be omitting a rather famous series between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
Ho hum … I guess?
During Monday’s First Take, Sharpe declared that Game 3 of these Finals against Boston was the “most important game in Finals history” for Irving. Uh, not to discount how critical a game in a championship series is, but that’s not remotely true. Not even close.
Shannon Sharpe said on Monday's 'First Take' that Game 3 of the NBA Finals is "the most important game in Finals history for Kyrie Irving"
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 11, 2024
Folks, in case anyone else forgot, Irving was the second-best player on the 2016 Cavaliers — a team that completed a 3-1 comeback in the 2016 Finals over a remarkable Warriors squad that won 73 games in the regular season. In that comeback, Irving hit a clutch winner in Game 7 on the road in Golden State.
It’s one of the greatest shots in NBA history. Full stop:
Frankly, regardless of whether Irving helps Dallas win the 2024 Finals, it’ll be hard for him ever to top this moment. That was likely the most important game he’ll ever play in, and it was likely the biggest shot he’ll ever make.
Sharpe and anyone else trying to manufacture tension for Game 3 would do well to remember that.
