DALLAS — The Mavericks have been down this road before.Offense hasn’t been much of an issue for Dallas — the seventh-highest scoring team in the NBA throughout the regular season — but when it is, it’s because there’s a viable need for production outside of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.The same old song is the case for the Mavericks through the first two games of the NBA Finals, but this time it’s intensified because of Irving’s offensive struggles.Dallas can’t find much of a spark besides Doncic, who’s averaging nearly a triple-double with 31 points per game. He’s shouldering the bulk of the scoring load, especially since Boston’s versatile defense is intent on forcing him into isolation situations. That pressure has led to an impressive display of shotmaking, but also 12 turnovers in two games, including eight in Game 2.Doncic, as he’s done during the playoffs, took accountability for the Mavericks’ shortcomings in his postgame press conference following Game 2 on Sunday.“No matter what he says, that’s just who he is,” said Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. “He’s a leader. It’s not all on him. It’s a team. We win as a team, and we lose as a team.“He put us in a position ... unfortunately, we just couldn’t get over the hump. I thought our defense was really, really good. We’ve just got to take care of the ball. There’s too many turnovers that gave them points. ... We’ve got to score the ball, and right now, we’ve got to find someone to join Luka and Kai in that scoring category.”Kidd’s advocated for Irving throughout the series by saying the veteran point guard has received quality looks at the basket. However, Irving hasn’t been the best version of his basketball self through the first two games of the NBA Finals — a stage with which he’s quite familiar after three previous appearances. He’s averaging 14 points and four assists on 35% shooting from the field. He hasn’t made a single 3-pointer in eight attempts, but he’s confident it’s only a matter of time before he regains his offensive groove.“Yeah, that’s the confidence that I have in myself,” Irving said. “A lot of shots were hitting the back rim. That could piss you off as a competitor, but it’s all part of the game of basketball. And you have to accept the ups and downs of this. That’s, I would say, the ...
