A. Sherrod Blakely welcomed Michael Curtis, the Dallas Mavericks beat writer for the Dallas Morning News to the BIG 3 NBA Podcast to preview the NBA Finals. They discussed Luka Doncic's health and his contributions beyond the stats, emphasizing his attention to detail, which is crucial to the team's success. They also talked briefly about Dereck Lively II and P.J. Washington. Additionally, they covered Kyrie Irving's reflections on his time in Boston, what to expect when he returns, and how he has evolved and grown since his stint with the Celtics. 0:00 - Intro 1:19 - Dallas Mavericks' challenging road to the Finals 3:34 - Luka Doncic's resilience and impact on the Mavericks 5:57 - International players' impact on the NBA and Luka's toughness 10:55 - Teams targeting Luka defensively 13:12 - Gafford and Washington's journey from struggling teams 15:07 - Lively's success and contribution to the team 17:01 - Kyrie Irving's return to face Boston fans 19:50 - Kyrie and Luka thrive on fan interactions 22:31 - Kyrie's evolving leadership and mentorship roles 24:19 - Kyrie's experience and credibility as a leader 26:00 - Impact of Kristaps Porzingis on the Mavericks 27:44 - Porzingis' offensive spacing impact for Celtics matchup 29:20 - Porzingis' anticipated reception in Dallas The Big 3 NBA Podcast is Powered by: PrizePicks! Get in on the excitement with PrizePicks, America’s No. 1 Fantasy Sports App, where you can turn your hoops knowledge into serious cash. Download the app today and use code CLNS for a first deposit match up to $100! Pick more. Pick less. It’s that Easy! Go to https://PrizePicks.com/CLNS Gametime! Take the guesswork out of buying NBA tickets with Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code CLNS for $20 off your first purchase. Download Gametime today. Last minute tickets. Lowest Price. Guaranteed. Terms apply. Go to https://gametime.co !