I hesitate to ask this, but three games in to the playoffs, has anybody changed their thoughts on Kyrie at all?  Does anybody still think we’d be a better overall team if he walked?

TP for wondering the same thing I was when watching the game. 

I've noticed the "keep Rozier over Kyrie" crowd has vanished into thin air the past few weeks.

Quote from: Roy H. on April 20, 2019, 09:30:30 AM

I hesitate to ask this, but three games in to the playoffs, has anybody changed their thoughts on Kyrie at all?  Does anybody still think we’d be a better overall team if he walked?

TP for wondering the same thing I was when watching the game. 

I've noticed the "keep Rozier over Kyrie" crowd has vanished into thin air the past few weeks.

And I admit to being one of these people until I realized Rozier doesn’t pass no more than Kyrie lol.

It's the playoffs and now we are reminded once again of the value of an elite ball handler, big shot maker, and closer. No one should be surprised that Kyrie is proving his value. He also happens to be playing great defense.

I hesitate to ask this, but three games in to the playoffs, has anybody changed their thoughts on Kyrie at all?  Does anybody still think we’d be a better overall team if he walked?

To be fair, anybody who thought we’d be better off without Kyrie lives in a strange fantasy world where things like playoff performance isn’t likely to sway them.

He's gonna be the guy that wins us multiple playoff games that we had no business winning, and a couple of games may be the difference between first round exits and making it to the finals.

He's an exceptional skill superstar and has many tremendous attributes, and he can actually defend when he puts his mind to it too.

But, he is still learning to develop trust in his teammates. he's still a work in progress as a team leader and a player that makes players around him better. That's what separates the all-time greats from merely exceptionally skilled superstars.

Players like Magic, Bird, LeBron, and Jordan, as opposed to Harden and Westbrook.

I'm willing to bet that he figures it out if given the right players to work with. Kyrie needs a consistent "second banana" something he has yet to find on this team.   

An Elite scorer and shooter. A good - and at times a VERY GOOD - defender. good to VERY GOOD facilitator and is trying to get better as a facilitator.

A young man who is growing as a leader, learning over the last couple of months to TRUST his teammates...

A VERY talented player whom has not gotten a fair look at times due to some unfair circumstances (Gordon Hayward recovery). This ALONE has been perhaps his most UNFAIR circumstance - his other ALPHA in Gordon Hayward coming back from a gruesome injury......being MIA for nearly two years...

The book is STILL being written on Kyrie. As long as he continues his growth and gives Boston a chance by resigning here I believe we'll see the best version of Kyrie Irving from here on out.

He is - at times - a top 10 player in this league easily. Can be unstoppable in stretches.

And - to answer Roy - "IF" he walks we are not a contender anymore.

We would need All Star Gordon Hayward AND Tatum and JB to make another leap next season to even sniff contention - with All-Star GH being VERY likely BUT Tatum and JB making leaps being possible BUT uncertain.