Report: Irving has grown 'Disengaged, Detached' From Celtics

[CelticsElite]

Remember when he did you with the cavs?

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2019/3/4/18249721/boston-celtics-kyrie-irving-brad-stevens-crisis

According to sources close to the team, Kyrie Irving's "persona has changed." Irving has reportedly become "disengaged and detached from those around the team."

Sources say the change began in early February around the time he was asked about the possibility of signing with the New York Knicks.

Irving's closest friend on the Boston Celtics is Jayson Tatum, who also went to Duke and is represented by Jeffrey Wechsler.

Before the start of the season, Irving told a gathering of season-ticket holders of the Celtics that he intended to re-sign with the team as a free agent. Sources say Irving also expressed the same commitment to his teammates.

[PhoSita]

Oh but it's totally not Kyrie's fault that the team is in a funk, it's all because fans and media talk about him too much.

[moiso]

Oh but it's totally not Kyrie's fault that the team is in a funk, it's all because fans and media talk about him too much.

The media wrecked the locker room!  Funny that the media never wrecked our locker room before we got Irving though.

[Phantom255x]

Oh but it's totally not Kyrie's fault that the team is in a funk, it's all because fans and media talk about him too much.

If you're trying to make the point that Kyrie is the primary problem with this team, then frankly I don't know what to tell you. He's part of the problem, but he's certainly not the only one nor is he the primary one.

[Roy H.]

Former CB writer Kevin O’Connor seems like a nice enough guy, but he has never struck me as having legitimate NBA sources, in Boston’s front office or elsewhere.

If sources are telling him that Kyrie looks disenchanted, I assume that’s because they are watching the games and seeing the same thing we all are. He appears at times frustrated, and at other times disengaged during some of our recent losses

[RJ87]

Former CB writer Kevin O’Connor seems like a nice enough guy, but he has never struck me as having legitimate NBA sources, in Boston’s front office or elsewhere.

If sources are telling him that Kyrie looks disenchanted, I assume that’s because they are watching the games and seeing the same thing we all are. He appears at times frustrated, and at other times disengaged during some of our recent losses

He looks really disengaged on the Celtics instagram story 

[Roy H.]

Oh but it's totally not Kyrie's fault that the team is in a funk, it's all because fans and media talk about him too much.

The media wrecked the locker room!  Funny that the media never wrecked our locker room before we got Irving though.

Eh. We’ve had plenty of locker room problems over the years.  The difference is that club media amplifies everything more now than they did even a couple of years ago. 

We have seen the same thing in 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015, at the very least,  and that is just stuff that was public at the time. Add one of the biggest media lightning rods in the NBA, and things get blown up to the point of absurdity.

[PhoSita]

Oh but it's totally not Kyrie's fault that the team is in a funk, it's all because fans and media talk about him too much.

If you're trying to make the point that Kyrie is the primary problem with this team, then frankly I don't know what to tell you. He's part of the problem, but he's certainly not the only one nor is he the primary one.

I'm jeering at the folks who decry that Kyrie is an innocent who just wants to play ball, darn it, if these media types and spoiled fans would just let him be.

[seancally]

This team's attitude and the media surrounding it does remind me of those Cavs teams that made the finals four straight seasons. Kyrie was there for three. This team feels like a group that's bored by the regular season and wants to coast until the playoffs. For Kyrie that's reasonable enough, since he's been to three finals and that was the M.O. of his team. Not so justified for this team, but we'll see what happens in April.

[smokeablount]

I agree he looks detached, but is it because he's leaving or because he knows half the team will be gone next year and DA punted on this year?

These unnamed sources don't have the answers I'm looking for, nor have I ever known KOC to have Celtics sources, as Roy pointed out .  I've gone from thinking Kyrie will likely re-sign to thinking that it's about 50/50 either way, but this report doesn't change anything for me.

[PhoSita]

This team's attitude and the media surrounding it does remind me of those Cavs teams that made the finals four straight seasons. Kyrie was there for three. This team feels like a group that's bored by the regular season and wants to coast until the playoffs. For Kyrie that's reasonable enough, since he's been to three finals and that was the M.O. of his team. Not so justified for this team, but we'll see what happens in April.

Is it justified for Kyrie?

When has he been the best player on a team that 's had any real success?

His complaint this year boils down to "I resent all of the burden and responsibility that comes with being the franchise player."

Yet he requested a trade from the Cavs supposedly because he wanted to be a franchise player.


Part of being a franchise player means taking responsibility for pushing the team through the doldrums of the season.

The Celtics are not good enough and have not accomplished nearly enough to act like the regular season doesn't matter.

[Chris22]

Small guards don't win championships.

[PAOBoston]

Oh boy, JB just called this team “toxic.” Pretty sure he’s referring to Irving.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2823623-celtics-news-jaylen-brown-says-bos-needs-to-fix-toxic-environment-around-team

[Silky]

Oh boy, JB just called this team “toxic.” Pretty sure he’s referring to Irving.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2823623-celtics-news-jaylen-brown-says-bos-needs-to-fix-toxic-environment-around-team

While it may in fact be....

I think its just completely face value here.

the combination of losing, media, trade rumors, guys playing for contracts, guys feeling they arent playing enough, guys feeling some shouldnt be playing, coach favoritisms.....these are all straws and the team is the camels back.

[slamtheking]

Oh boy, JB just called this team “toxic.” Pretty sure he’s referring to Irving.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2823623-celtics-news-jaylen-brown-says-bos-needs-to-fix-toxic-environment-around-team

More alarmist than anything.  not much there other than "we need to right the ship and I'm going to be part of the effort".