Lou Williams unsure about Luka Doncic-Kyrie Irving pairing

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving and guard Luka Doncic. Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Lou Williams explains why he's 'on the fence' over Mavericks' Luka Doncic-Kyrie Irving pairing

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 1/18/24

Sitting seventh in the Western Conference, the Dallas Mavericks season isn't going as expected. Grant Williams, their biggest summer addition, is struggling on both sides of the floor. And more importantly, Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic have yet to prove they can co-exist as part of a championship-level roster.

Lou Williams, a three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year, is still unsure whether Irving and Doncic can work as a duo. He discussed the pairing during a recent appearance on FanDuel TV's "Run It Back."

"I'm not sure if it's gonna work, but I think it's a great pairing," Williams said. "The problem is, they're both very ball dominant and they're both rhythm guys...When these guys don't have the ball for long stretches of guys, and I think it affects the way they play. So, I'm still on the fence about this pairing...At some point, we've gotta start seeing it work consistently."

Are Luka and Kyrie a good pairing? @TeamLou23 is still on the fence about it. pic.twitter.com/B0NQRxPi9t
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) January 18, 2024

Doncic and Irving are both exceptional offensive talents. They're elite scorers and playmakers. Yet, they both struggle to provide high-level defense on the perimeter. The Mavs also have limited defensive upside throughout the rest of their roster. As such, they're susceptible to some tough runs during games, especially if their shots aren't falling.

There are ways to upgrade Dallas' roster that could potentially accentuate the offensive talent of Irving and Doncic. However, the Mavericks would likely be better served with at least one defensive-minded guard. Unfortunately for Dallas, that seems unlikely, as the team recently committed to a three-year $120 million deal with Irving. So, the front office needs to look at other ways of putting its star duo in a position to win.

As constructed, the Mavs will be in a tough spot once the playoffs begin. Their offense can be unstoppable, but their half-court defense is a disaster waiting to happen. Still, with so much money committed to Doncic and Irving, they have to prove themselves as an elite duo. Otherwise, some bigger changes might need to be made in the summer.

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