Kyrie Irving's absence from games is an insult to the team. Lots of people on here continue to make excuses and give reasons why it is OK. When I read about yet another of his "group text messages" before home game vs Bucks and then our players praising this example of "great leadership" because it helped the young guys know what to expect, I thought how ridiculous and inexcusable that was and what an insult to the team and the Celtics organization that it represented. My opinion.
Marcus Smart cares so much that he travels with the team to Milwaukee to sit on the bench and support his teammates, even though he has no chance to play in Games 3 & 4. Yet Irving can't even make it to the Garden for Game 2 - though I suppose his grand gesture of sitting on the bench for the 1st half of Game 1 was supposed to impress everyone.
Yes, I know Garnett would watch from the locker room, same with Shaq, maybe Bird did sometimes, but they were right there at the game and with their teammates before they took the floor, at halftime and as they came off the floor. Garnett was always on the bench for playoff games, especially in '09 when he couldn't play because of his injury.
I worried about Kyrie Irving's mentality and dedication to his team from Day 1. He hasn't done much to ease my concerns ........................... on another note, I have yet to see the guy fight over the top of a screen all season. As Charlie Scott would say, "Act like a Celtic" !!!!