Stephen A. AGREES with CP3 over Kyrie Irving needing to shine in Western Conf. Finals | SportsCenter

Stephen A. AGREES with CP3 over Kyrie Irving needing to shine in Western Conf. Finals | SportsCenter

Mavericks and timber wolves begin the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday in Minnesota first time in 20 years for the timber wolves and just the second time ever for the franchise Mavericks there for the first time since 2011 in case you were wondering Minnesota won the season series three games to one they’re pretty dominant in those three wins and let a game slip away in the other one here’s what they’re saying as both teams get ready we said from the beginning uh and as the season was unfolding like why not us you know the League’s wide open we’re not a dynastic period um and as proven there’s going to be a new champion this year so everything’s still to play for but a long long way to go we haven’t faced that team yet we faced some some of these guys obviously but that group together we haven’t faced it yet so uh it’s a big challenge for us I mean obviously they’re a great defensive team so for us we just have to share the ball and uh just play Mass basketball we can’t afford to make many turnovers to play together and be together on the defensive end as well I mean they have a lot of Superstars that can score the ball and that we try to stay together Dallas has the NBA’s leading score during the regular season LCA donic but he’s facing the NBA’s top scoring defense from Minnesota it’s the sixth time that’s happened in the playoffs since the merger with a scoring champ going on to win three of the previous five instances our NBA Countdown crew has more I know we are all looking forward to game one between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks Stephen A Smith Bob Myers Michael wilbon Chris Paul joining Us in studio for the Eastern Conference Finals run here but we’re talking about the west and when we’re looking at all the stars in this game Chris between Luca Kyrie Anthony Edwards Carl Anthony town the list goes on and on who needs to shine the brightest for their team to Prevail and everybody has their own roles and what they need to bring to the team but Kai Kai is so special man what he’s done for this team this year I think what he’s done for Luca all the young guys on their team they look to him for leadership and he leads not only by his uh unbelievable ball handling scoring ability but his defense his defense is what really inspires guys and they see how hard he plays so they have no choice but to play hard I totally agree with CP3 I mean Kyrie is Sensational he’s a magician out there and we know what he can do and we know what we’ve seen him do with games on the line in the second half after pretty much deferring to everybody else and getting everybody else involved in the first half but here’s what I love Anthony Edwards basically said I got him Kyrie’s a champion and he’s a scoring machine and this is the game basketball ego does get into the equation and sometimes that’s a good thing where you you want to show the young fell excuse me there’s levels to this I understand who you are and who you look to be but do you know who I am you never know if you going to see that in this series I’m going to be watching for it listen Kyrie has been able to affect games without scoring which is something I don’t know that we thought we’d see five seven eight nine years ago he’s been in so many ways but I’m going to take Luca he is at that point now where he is just controll rolling the game and it must be so much fun from as I sit next to a great great point guard here it must be so much fun to play with LCA when he’s sharing the ball like that you know it’s fascinating both those guys LCA and I think Chris is right with Kyrie being the focal point but I’m fascinated to see Minnesota’s defense trying to guard with jadeen McDaniel trying to guard Luca donic or or or Kyrie and Anthony Edwards doing the same thing can These Guys these Dallas guards be effective against what I think is clearly the best defense in the playoffs this Minnesota defense is legit they they are real also want listen Kyrie as a small guy is considered one of the great finishers at the basket in history you see all of these trees on Minnesota out there we get the number one defense versus the scoring leader in the regular season in Luca donic and I I agree I love that said I want Kyrie Irving particular after he dropped be careful exactly be careful what you wish for care series gets underway Wednesday sending it back to you [Music]

The NBA Countdown crew join SportsCenter to talk through who needs to shine the brightest in the Western Conference Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves.

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