5 things fans learned from Dallas Mavericks debut of Kyrie Irving

Thing fans learned from the Dallas Mavericks debut of Kyrie Irving: 2. Play faster

The Mavs were the second-slowest team in the NBA in pace coming into Wednesday’s game. Fans know Luka Doncic likes to slow things down and pick the defense apart in the halfcourt. The 23-year-old can break down any defense, and he plays at his own pace.

Kyrie Irving likes to get out and run when he is running the show. The 30-year-old threw multiple hit-ahead passes in Los Angeles, and he got the team moving. Kyrie had the offense rolling in his first game with the Mavericks. That was in part because he helped the team increase their pace and get some easy buckets in transition.

The Mavs do not need to play fast. They will not be among the league leaders in pace with Luka Doncic on their roster, but getting a few easy buckets in transition each night makes them that much more dangerous. Kyrie loves to throw the ball ahead and run a fast break. Dallas will not do it every time, but it will be another change of pace that Dallas can use.

Expect the Dallas Mavericks’ pace to improve with Kyrie Irving on the roster. They are not vaulting toward the top of the league, but the small increase is all they need to make their offense that much better.