Kyrie Irving remains sidelined for the season while rehabbing a torn ACL, but the veteran guard is still making an impact as a mentor to rookie forward Cooper Flagg, the first-year player told ESPN’s Malika Andrews.
“He was that top pick and was kind of thrown into the fire,” Flagg said of Irving. “There were definitely times I was shaken up. I’ve never lost that much in my life. Hearing him say I’m doing everything I need to be doing and to stay positive definitely helped me a lot.”
Lineup adjustment sparks road win in Cleveland
After a lopsided home loss to Cleveland on Friday, Dallas head coach Jason Kidd revamped his starting group for Sunday’s rematch. With center Daniel Gafford out due to illness, Kidd moved P.J. Washington to the five in a small-ball alignment. The switch worked: Dallas defeated the Cavaliers in Cleveland.
Washington posted 20 points, 11 rebounds, five steals and a block, becoming just the third player in franchise history to reach those thresholds in a single game. “He’s willing to do whatever it takes,” Flagg said after contributing 27 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and two blocks. “It gave us a different look and a different way to attack their bigs.”
Washington credited the spacing created by his perimeter game at center. “I think I’m a mismatch,” he said. “Me at the five popping opened up a lot of space on the floor for us to get closeouts and ball reversals for good shots.” Kidd kept the same starting five for Monday’s back-to-back in New Orleans.
Poulakidas logs first NBA points
Two-way guard John Poulakidas added energy off the bench Sunday, scoring his first career points. The undrafted rookie from Yale finished with 10 points, eight of them in a 60-second burst late in the third quarter. “I’ve been dreaming about this opportunity since I was very little,” Poulakidas said. “To be living it right now is surreal. I’m just trying to be grateful for every opportunity I get.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
