Jackie MacMullen Article on the Celtics Season

[Sketch5]

I can't wait till the pearl clutchers about being out at 2 AM find out about KG and Pierce.

Getting the job done and winning tends to make people forgive a lot of things. My boss once told me he didn't mind if I partied all night or lay on the beach all day as long as I hit my deliverables. If I didn't, well then maybe partying all night or laying on the beach all day might become an issue.

Kerr Talked about having to baby site Rodman,  they'd be out till 5-8am get a few hours of sleep, walk through/shoot around, then game and Rodman would still grab 15-18 boards and play amazing D. Jordan was the same way during the Dreamteam. Robinson said Jordan played poker till 3am, got up at 7, he went with him to play 18 rounds of golf, they walked it all, then played a game that afternoon, and Jordan played a bunch of minutes and scored a bunch in that game, and Robinson said he was gassed during the game. THEN Jordan did it again the next day. LOL

Everyone can handle a certain amount. Kids gotta learn their limits and it should NEVER effect the team. I don't care what they do out side of the game for the most part, as long as they bring it every night.

[obnoxiousmime]

This article brings up something I've been concerned about the last week as the blame Kyrie stories and tweets have started to percolate. While he deserves a large share of the blame pie, a lot of other issues from last season didn't seem related to him. If those issues aren't acknowledged, how will they be prevented next season?

Also, lost in the Kemba excitement is the fact that replacing one high-usage PG with another would seem to just repeat the scenario last season where the young players moaned about touches and minutes. Sure, Rozier would be gone but what about Tatum and Brown? They got two weeks of "Celts should refocus on featuring the kids" stories and now it looks like they're back to square one.

Two things:

(1) We won't have Al, Kyrie, Morris, and Rozier. That's 48 FGA per game freed up. Last year, Kemba averaged 20 FGA per game. He'll likely average something closer to 17-18 next year.

That means between Hayward, Tatum, and Brown, there will be at least 25 more shots to spread between the three of them (assuming guys like Smart or Semi take a couple more as well).

(2) It's safe to assume Kemba will play more "team-oriented" ball than he did in Charlotte. As I said in another thread, this will be the first time Kemba can likely afford to be a distributor and off-ball player for many possessions. I think Kemba wants to win first and foremost. He’s not going to throw a hissy fit if Brad asks him to get some others players involved throughout the first 3 1/2 quarters.

I don't disagree with you, though even you concede some of what you describe are assumptions.

Also, if Hayward has the year we're all hoping for, wouldn't he gain more minutes and touches when compared to last season? We're paying him to be a star and in the short term we really need him to be one. That means he needs reps. He's clearly not going to be coming off the bench again next season unless something has gone horribly wrong.

Let's also see what kind of big man we get, he could be one more offensively inclined than Horford.

[chiken]

My take on this.

Kids

Why are some people mad that the kids were, well for the lack of a better word, kids?  Last year, they thought the NBA was easy because of the success they had... Yes, they were feeling themselves... Yes they probably thought they had arrived... Can you blame them? The fan base was actually wanting to play the warriors that year - And a good portion of us really thought we could win it if we got past the king. (stupid final minutes of that 4th quarter).  We were all Crazy (well most of us lol)

But come on, the kids being immature at 20 and 21, 22, 23 is NOT the reason you give up on them... You have to let them grow up. Growing pains guys... It's a real thing.

Basketball is a game of Confidence... We should be happy they have it, in spades... (See Fultz)

Last year falling apart as it did was bound to happen... But it needed to because that's how champions are born. Through adversity, through tough times, through embarrassing moments. All the Greats have gone through it.

Miami

So many people have fallen prey to the Miami nightlight experience that I am confused as to why Kyrie acted the way he did because the kids did it... Its what NBA players do.. Especially young players... Vegas counts on it when they make their odds... It's a real thing for tons of players in the league - not just Jaylen and Jayson.   And then it happens, and you lose the game... Okay... Teaching moment "yes" - Pouting Moment... dude really... And then the whole, shooting alone afterward hoping they join you... (After he probably threw a hissy fit) SMH... I bet in reality he didn't want anyone to be around him... He wanted to be alone and the team left him that way... That sounds truer than him actually wanting the team he just screamed at to come join him... I mean we saw him pouting - who in the world wants to be around that crap (Especially after a loss)...

Al

AL is a company guy... He understands that the league is built around the star and he was never going to rock the boat... That's a good way to have your reputation ruined... So no, he was never going to put Kyrie (the now) or the Kids (the future) in their places during the season... He did what he could quietly and when the season was over he made his decision...

Danny

There was no move to be made at the Trade deadline because I honestly believed that Danny knew that the chances of Kyrie staying were slim to none. So why move Jayson or Jaylen, they weren't the problem. The only move he should have made was to move Kyrie and that would have been a PR nightmare (after the IT experience)...His hands were tied.

This circus is not a surprise, we heard the animal trucks coming for months now. Danny was ready for it.

Kyrie

And last... I know it's hard for people to believe because of how great Boston is, but Kyrie never wanted to be in Boston... Never Never Never... We were just a means to an end. He played the game. He said what he said to keep the fans happy (and to possibly keep from being traded)  And when he knew it was safe, he told us all the truth- See me July 1st.  There is nothing that could have been done...  He never wanted to be here...

And finally - I am fully prepared to eat the Crow if Kyrie resigns...




 





 

[SHAQATTACK]

Irving is showing what he learned from LeBron, except he isn't that level of talent.

There you go !  Irving thought he was going to repeat what LeBron did at Cleveland or Miami
   Bron , used to be able to carry the team ,  drive the bus , carry the water , coach , GM , and be the best player in the league all at once.   Lebron s basketball talent over came most other issues ....poor GM, nothing coaches,  teamates with various attitude problems.  His heroics on court trumped ALL the problems ,  made players who goofed off look bad, made coaches look dumb and glade they had Lebron to save the day .   

Kyrie is maybe top 500 players ever somewhere ,   Lebron is compared to MJ daily .  Kyrie and his unusual personality simply can't duplicate waht Lebron brings to the table all season long. 

Kyrie should run back u der the wing of Lebron , now that he see he isn't the be -all type Lebron is.  Lebron let him be the quirky basketball dribbling genius and took all the other burdens off his shoulders .  Kyrie stepped out of the nest and fell on his face.

[playdream]

My take on this.

Kids

Why are some people mad that the kids were, well for the lack of a better word, kids?  Last year, they thought the NBA was easy because of the success they had... Yes, they were feeling themselves... Yes they probably thought they had arrived... Can you blame them? The fan base was actually wanting to play the warriors that year - And a good portion of us really thought we could win it if we got past the king. (stupid final minutes of that 4th quarter).  We were all Crazy (well most of us lol)

But come on, the kids being immature at 20 and 21, 22, 23 is NOT the reason you give up on them... You have to let them grow up. Growing pains guys... It's a real thing.

Basketball is a game of Confidence... We should be happy they have it, in spades... (See Fultz)

Last year falling apart as it did was bound to happen... But it needed to because that's how champions are born. Through adversity, through tough times, through embarrassing moments. All the Greats have gone through it.

Miami

So many people have fallen prey to the Miami nightlight experience that I am confused as to why Kyrie acted the way he did because the kids did it... Its what NBA players do.. Especially young players... Vegas counts on it when they make their odds... It's a real thing for tons of players in the league - not just Jaylen and Jayson.   And then it happens, and you lose the game... Okay... Teaching moment "yes" - Pouting Moment... dude really... And then the whole, shooting alone afterward hoping they join you... (After he probably threw a hissy fit) SMH... I bet in reality he didn't want anyone to be around him... He wanted to be alone and the team left him that way... That sounds truer than him actually wanting the team he just screamed at to come join him... I mean we saw him pouting - who in the world wants to be around that crap (Especially after a loss)...

Al

AL is a company guy... He understands that the league is built around the star and he was never going to rock the boat... That's a good way to have your reputation ruined... So no, he was never going to put Kyrie (the now) or the Kids (the future) in their places during the season... He did what he could quietly and when the season was over he made his decision...

Danny

There was no move to be made at the Trade deadline because I honestly believed that Danny knew that the chances of Kyrie staying were slim to none. So why move Jayson or Jaylen, they weren't the problem. The only move he should have made was to move Kyrie and that would have been a PR nightmare (after the IT experience)...His hands were tied.

This circus is not a surprise, we heard the animal trucks coming for months now. Danny was ready for it.

Kyrie

And last... I know it's hard for people to believe because of how great Boston is, but Kyrie never wanted to be in Boston... Never Never Never... We were just a means to an end. He played the game. He said what he said to keep the fans happy (and to possibly keep from being traded)  And when he knew it was safe, he told us all the truth- See me July 1st.  There is nothing that could have been done...  He never wanted to be here...

And finally - I am fully prepared to eat the Crow if Kyrie resigns...

last time i check 20y makes you an adult and you will be given right and responsibility to your judgement/actions, there is a reason Kyrie called them out in Public and there is a reason Brown alone got barked and Pushed by his teammates on the court

I hope Kyrie re-sign and we get rid off Brown and Rozier and this time we do it right

[LilRip]

I can't wait till the pearl clutchers about being out at 2 AM find out about KG and Pierce.

Getting the job done and winning tends to make people forgive a lot of things. My boss once told me he didn't mind if I partied all night or lay on the beach all day as long as I hit my deliverables. If I didn't, well then maybe partying all night or laying on the beach all day might become an issue.

Kerr Talked about having to baby site Rodman,  they'd be out till 5-8am get a few hours of sleep, walk through/shoot around, then game and Rodman would still grab 15-18 boards and play amazing D. Jordan was the same way during the Dreamteam. Robinson said Jordan played poker till 3am, got up at 7, he went with him to play 18 rounds of golf, they walked it all, then played a game that afternoon, and Jordan played a bunch of minutes and scored a bunch in that game, and Robinson said he was gassed during the game. THEN Jordan did it again the next day. LOL

Everyone can handle a certain amount. Kids gotta learn their limits and it should NEVER effect the team. I don't care what they do out side of the game for the most part, as long as they bring it every night.

Exactly. From what I read in the article, it irked Kyrie that some of the young guys were out. But he only made a big deal out of it when they got soundly beaten. Maybe if they played a little harder and won the game, it wouldn’t have even been a story.

Side note: it was interesting how even in the preseason, things already seemed icy. Lots of iso’s, less passes

[chiken]

My take on this.

Kids

Why are some people mad that the kids were, well for the lack of a better word, kids?  Last year, they thought the NBA was easy because of the success they had... Yes, they were feeling themselves... Yes they probably thought they had arrived... Can you blame them? The fan base was actually wanting to play the warriors that year - And a good portion of us really thought we could win it if we got past the king. (stupid final minutes of that 4th quarter).  We were all Crazy (well most of us lol)

But come on, the kids being immature at 20 and 21, 22, 23 is NOT the reason you give up on them... You have to let them grow up. Growing pains guys... It's a real thing.

Basketball is a game of Confidence... We should be happy they have it, in spades... (See Fultz)

Last year falling apart as it did was bound to happen... But it needed to because that's how champions are born. Through adversity, through tough times, through embarrassing moments. All the Greats have gone through it.

Miami

So many people have fallen prey to the Miami nightlight experience that I am confused as to why Kyrie acted the way he did because the kids did it... Its what NBA players do.. Especially young players... Vegas counts on it when they make their odds... It's a real thing for tons of players in the league - not just Jaylen and Jayson.   And then it happens, and you lose the game... Okay... Teaching moment "yes" - Pouting Moment... dude really... And then the whole, shooting alone afterward hoping they join you... (After he probably threw a hissy fit) SMH... I bet in reality he didn't want anyone to be around him... He wanted to be alone and the team left him that way... That sounds truer than him actually wanting the team he just screamed at to come join him... I mean we saw him pouting - who in the world wants to be around that crap (Especially after a loss)...

Al

AL is a company guy... He understands that the league is built around the star and he was never going to rock the boat... That's a good way to have your reputation ruined... So no, he was never going to put Kyrie (the now) or the Kids (the future) in their places during the season... He did what he could quietly and when the season was over he made his decision...

Danny

There was no move to be made at the Trade deadline because I honestly believed that Danny knew that the chances of Kyrie staying were slim to none. So why move Jayson or Jaylen, they weren't the problem. The only move he should have made was to move Kyrie and that would have been a PR nightmare (after the IT experience)...His hands were tied.

This circus is not a surprise, we heard the animal trucks coming for months now. Danny was ready for it.

Kyrie

And last... I know it's hard for people to believe because of how great Boston is, but Kyrie never wanted to be in Boston... Never Never Never... We were just a means to an end. He played the game. He said what he said to keep the fans happy (and to possibly keep from being traded)  And when he knew it was safe, he told us all the truth- See me July 1st.  There is nothing that could have been done...  He never wanted to be here...

And finally - I am fully prepared to eat the Crow if Kyrie resigns...

last time i check 20y makes you an adult and you will be given right and responsibility to your judgement/actions, there is a reason Kyrie called them out in Public and there is a reason Brown alone got barked and Pushed by his teammates on the court

I hope Kyrie re-sign and we get rid off Brown and Rozier and this time we do it right

I like my chances better than yours

And let's be honest. It's not like they got popped for a DUI or Smoking weed.
They partied - They had just won like 4 games in a row, smoking that Indiana Team the night before... 
That's what being young is all about...
You are making it sound like these guys Went out and Ran someone over with a car...  Or went jet Skiing and Injured themselves..,

Are we seriously looking at the Miami as the turning point in the season?

[playdream]

My take on this.

Kids

Why are some people mad that the kids were, well for the lack of a better word, kids?  Last year, they thought the NBA was easy because of the success they had... Yes, they were feeling themselves... Yes they probably thought they had arrived... Can you blame them? The fan base was actually wanting to play the warriors that year - And a good portion of us really thought we could win it if we got past the king. (stupid final minutes of that 4th quarter).  We were all Crazy (well most of us lol)

But come on, the kids being immature at 20 and 21, 22, 23 is NOT the reason you give up on them... You have to let them grow up. Growing pains guys... It's a real thing.

Basketball is a game of Confidence... We should be happy they have it, in spades... (See Fultz)

Last year falling apart as it did was bound to happen... But it needed to because that's how champions are born. Through adversity, through tough times, through embarrassing moments. All the Greats have gone through it.

Miami

So many people have fallen prey to the Miami nightlight experience that I am confused as to why Kyrie acted the way he did because the kids did it... Its what NBA players do.. Especially young players... Vegas counts on it when they make their odds... It's a real thing for tons of players in the league - not just Jaylen and Jayson.   And then it happens, and you lose the game... Okay... Teaching moment "yes" - Pouting Moment... dude really... And then the whole, shooting alone afterward hoping they join you... (After he probably threw a hissy fit) SMH... I bet in reality he didn't want anyone to be around him... He wanted to be alone and the team left him that way... That sounds truer than him actually wanting the team he just screamed at to come join him... I mean we saw him pouting - who in the world wants to be around that crap (Especially after a loss)...

Al

AL is a company guy... He understands that the league is built around the star and he was never going to rock the boat... That's a good way to have your reputation ruined... So no, he was never going to put Kyrie (the now) or the Kids (the future) in their places during the season... He did what he could quietly and when the season was over he made his decision...

Danny

There was no move to be made at the Trade deadline because I honestly believed that Danny knew that the chances of Kyrie staying were slim to none. So why move Jayson or Jaylen, they weren't the problem. The only move he should have made was to move Kyrie and that would have been a PR nightmare (after the IT experience)...His hands were tied.

This circus is not a surprise, we heard the animal trucks coming for months now. Danny was ready for it.

Kyrie

And last... I know it's hard for people to believe because of how great Boston is, but Kyrie never wanted to be in Boston... Never Never Never... We were just a means to an end. He played the game. He said what he said to keep the fans happy (and to possibly keep from being traded)  And when he knew it was safe, he told us all the truth- See me July 1st.  There is nothing that could have been done...  He never wanted to be here...

And finally - I am fully prepared to eat the Crow if Kyrie resigns...

last time i check 20y makes you an adult and you will be given right and responsibility to your judgement/actions, there is a reason Kyrie called them out in Public and there is a reason Brown alone got barked and Pushed by his teammates on the court

I hope Kyrie re-sign and we get rid off Brown and Rozier and this time we do it right

I like my chances better than yours

And let's be honest. It's not like they got popped for a DUI or Smoking weed.
They partied - They had just won like 4 games in a row, smoking that Indiana Team the night before... 
That's what being young is all about...
You are making it sound like these guys Went out and Ran someone over with a car...  Or went jet Skiing and Injured themselves..,

Are we seriously looking at the Miami as the turning point in the season?

I don't know, our standard is not to smoking weed/kill people? maybe for you but not for me

And i don't think Danny use the same standard drafting his young guys either

[Roy H.]

Irving is showing what he learned from LeBron, except he isn't that level of talent.

So true.  I think if Kyrie was somehow drafted by the Spurs, he'd be a completely different player and person.

[celticsclay]

I can't wait till the pearl clutchers about being out at 2 AM find out about KG and Pierce.

You are kind of moving the goal posts on this a bit in my opinion. The story is that the guys headed out at 2am in Miami. That is a huge difference from coming back at 2. Additionally, there was also just less knowledge about rest and the body and what it needed when KG and Pierce were playing (let alone when Jordan and Bird were playing).  We have gone from these guys having offseason jobs, to flying coach, to having professional chefs and private charters and sleeping in hyberbolic chambers.

[celticsclay]

These guys don’t need to report for work till like 4pm so being out at 2 am, in and of itself, means nothing. If they are drinking heavily, then that’s a different story. It’s kind of hard to come down from all the adrenaline flowing through their bodies at 10pm to sound asleep by midnight.

I'm sure they're only having meaningful conversations in the clubs on Miami Beach until 5am.

Btw, they weren't out until 2am. That's when the team got into town and guys still went out.

I know that but go to bed by 5am, wake up by 1pm. It’s enough sleep. I’m just saying guys generally go out to dinner after a game. They are probably never home till 2am. Staying up a bit later doesn’t mean they aren’t serious about winning.

This is really not how sleep works at all. In fact it is kind of mind blowingly inaccurate and there is a huge emerging science on sleep and how it impacts your health (and this is normal every day health, not elite athletic health. Consistency is hugely important for the quality of sleep you get and how your body recovers. Everything from your resting heart rate, your breathing, muscle recovery is all really impacted.

The NBA players already have a difficult time maintaining sleep health given the constant changes in time zones and having different hours of work each day. Lets say their day does start a little different from a 9-5 person (ignoring the negative impact of the sunlight on their sleep cycles for a minute) if they went to bed every night at 12 or 1 and woke up at 8 or 9 they could be ok going to bed really late. However, under no circumstance can they go to bed at 5am because they absolutely can not go to bed at 5am every day. Doing that even once can easily screw up their body for 4-5 days. (btw a lot of nba players realize and go to great lengths about their sleep,. I believe Lebron has talked about it at great length). So saying these guys will be fine doing this, is just completely wrong scientifically. 

Also, it is worth pointing out that while, we don't know if these guys are drinking heavily. I would be beyond shocked if at least some of these guys were not having at least 2 or 3 drinks when they go out to a club from 2-5. That is extremely unusual behavior across the general population (70% of the population drinks, and it is even higher for people in the 20-25 age bracket). When you break it down further to people out at clubs in the hour, the amount of tea totalers becomes mind blowingly small. Even these 2-3 drinks have a dramatic impact on their recovery, sleep etc.

[mmmmm]

I have a lot of respect for Jackie, and she is due some deference, but some parts of this article bug me.

"the young players" who went out -- what does this mean?  ALL of the young players?  Jaylen, Jayson, Terry, Semi, Daniel, Yabu, Marcus, Robert and PJ (can't remember if he was on the roster at the time or not)??   Or just a couple?  Several?

The thing I hate about this kind of vagueness is the story changes dramatically depending on if you think the "young players" refers to just a couple of your personal least-favorite "bad boys who are disrespectful to Kyrie" versus if you think the "young players" is a complete show of solidarity by all the "young players against the abrasive faux leadership of Tyrant Kyrie".

People will read it completely differently depending on their already-conceived prejudices.

Another thing that bugs me is the overly forlorn and dramatic portrayal of Kyrie skipping the reporters' session to shoot basketballs all by himself.  Supposedly with the "hope" that the young players who played poorly would join him.

All alone.   So sad.

Give me a break.   Did he also hope that the _veteran_ players who played poorly would join him?   DID any single Celtic, old or young join him?  Did he even really _want_ anyone to join him?  Or is that just the retro story?   How does the author know that he was hoping someone would join him?  Is she just assuming?  Did Kyrie tell her that?    If so, she should quote him saying what he felt at the time so the reader knows that this is Kyrie claiming it.   She should not write it out as a third-person narrative from the perspective of God.

The article indicates that bars in South Beach stay open until 5 am.   Great.  So ... did the young players (Again, who?) close the bars down?  Get rowdy and boogie all night long?    Or did they just stop in for a quick drink to check out the scene and relax after the flight and then go back to the hotel?

Stating the closing time of the bars implies an extreme late night out.  But it doesn't actually claim there was a late night out.  Again, different readers will read what they want out of that.

Overall, it's a disappointing read.   It seems purposely designed to incite and inflame rather than inform.

[celticsclay]

I have a lot of respect for Jackie, and she is due some deference, but some parts of this article bug me.

"the young players" who went out -- what does this mean?  ALL of the young players?  Jaylen, Jayson, Terry, Semi, Daniel, Yabu, Marcus, Robert and PJ (can't remember if he was on the roster at the time or not)??   Or just a couple?  Several?

The thing I hate about this kind of vagueness is the story changes dramatically depending on if you think the "young players" refers to just a couple of your personal least-favorite "bad boys who are disrespectful to Kyrie" versus if you think the "young players" is a complete show of solidarity by all the "young players against the abrasive faux leadership of Tyrant Kyrie".

People will read it completely differently depending on their already-conceived prejudices.

Another thing that bugs me is the overly forlorn and dramatic portrayal of Kyrie skipping the reporters' session to shoot basketballs all by himself.  Supposedly with the "hope" that the young players who played poorly would join him.

All alone.   So sad.

Give me a break.   Did he also hope that the _veteran_ players who played poorly would join him?   DID any single Celtic, old or young join him?  Did he even really _want_ anyone to join him?  Or is that just the retro story?   How does the author know that he was hoping someone would join him?  Is she just assuming?  Did Kyrie tell her that?    If so, she should quote him saying what he felt at the time so the reader knows that this is Kyrie claiming it.   She should not write it out as a third-person narrative from the perspective of God.

The article indicates that bars in South Beach stay open until 5 am.   Great.  So ... did the young players (Again, who?) close the bars down?  Get rowdy and boogie all night long?    Or did they just stop in for a quick drink to check out the scene and relax after the flight and then go back to the hotel?

Stating the closing time of the bars implies an extreme late night out.  But it doesn't actually claim there was a late night out.  Again, different readers will read what they want out of that.

Overall, it's a disappointing read.   It seems purposely designed to incite and inflame rather than inform.

I think your other points are pretty fair, but people are really suspending some common sense on this going out part and i am finding it a bit baffling. Presumably everyone on this board was either young once or is young now and either went out to a nightclub or knew people that did and having a basic understanding of what it entails. If you leave your place at 2am you are not getting home before 4am and 5 to 6 am is a lot more likely. This isn't have a glass of wine at the hotel bar. You take an uber or private car to your club, you go into the club, you order a beverage of some sort and listen to the music for a while. Usually, and this is a big part of the appeal, you start talking to women. Then you close our your tab. You make your way out to catch or take a ride, then you change and get ready for bed. This isn't something you can feasibly do in 40 minutes. Some players went out the night before a game starting at 2am and almost certainly some of them had a drink or two and they were out extremely late. It's not the end of the world and i am sure happens with some players on ever single team, but lets not play these "we don't know what happened so lets pretend its possible they did something that nobody else in the world does when they go out to a club starting at 2am." 

[playdream]

I have a lot of respect for Jackie, and she is due some deference, but some parts of this article bug me.

"the young players" who went out -- what does this mean?  ALL of the young players?  Jaylen, Jayson, Terry, Semi, Daniel, Yabu, Marcus, Robert and PJ (can't remember if he was on the roster at the time or not)??   Or just a couple?  Several?

The thing I hate about this kind of vagueness is the story changes dramatically depending on if you think the "young players" refers to just a couple of your personal least-favorite "bad boys who are disrespectful to Kyrie" versus if you think the "young players" is a complete show of solidarity by all the "young players against the abrasive faux leadership of Tyrant Kyrie".

People will read it completely differently depending on their already-conceived prejudices.

Another thing that bugs me is the overly forlorn and dramatic portrayal of Kyrie skipping the reporters' session to shoot basketballs all by himself.  Supposedly with the "hope" that the young players who played poorly would join him.

All alone.   So sad.

Give me a break.   Did he also hope that the _veteran_ players who played poorly would join him?   DID any single Celtic, old or young join him?  Did he even really _want_ anyone to join him?  Or is that just the retro story?   How does the author know that he was hoping someone would join him?  Is she just assuming?  Did Kyrie tell her that?    If so, she should quote him saying what he felt at the time so the reader knows that this is Kyrie claiming it.   She should not write it out as a third-person narrative from the perspective of God.

The article indicates that bars in South Beach stay open until 5 am.   Great.  So ... did the young players (Again, who?) close the bars down?  Get rowdy and boogie all night long?    Or did they just stop in for a quick drink to check out the scene and relax after the flight and then go back to the hotel?

Stating the closing time of the bars implies an extreme late night out.  But it doesn't actually claim there was a late night out.  Again, different readers will read what they want out of that.

Overall, it's a disappointing read.   It seems purposely designed to incite and inflame rather than inform.

Literally NOBODY does that in real world

[Sketch5]

I have a lot of respect for Jackie, and she is due some deference, but some parts of this article bug me.

"the young players" who went out -- what does this mean?  ALL of the young players?  Jaylen, Jayson, Terry, Semi, Daniel, Yabu, Marcus, Robert and PJ (can't remember if he was on the roster at the time or not)??   Or just a couple?  Several?

The thing I hate about this kind of vagueness is the story changes dramatically depending on if you think the "young players" refers to just a couple of your personal least-favorite "bad boys who are disrespectful to Kyrie" versus if you think the "young players" is a complete show of solidarity by all the "young players against the abrasive faux leadership of Tyrant Kyrie".

People will read it completely differently depending on their already-conceived prejudices.

Another thing that bugs me is the overly forlorn and dramatic portrayal of Kyrie skipping the reporters' session to shoot basketballs all by himself.  Supposedly with the "hope" that the young players who played poorly would join him.

All alone.   So sad.

Give me a break.   Did he also hope that the _veteran_ players who played poorly would join him?   DID any single Celtic, old or young join him?  Did he even really _want_ anyone to join him?  Or is that just the retro story?   How does the author know that he was hoping someone would join him?  Is she just assuming?  Did Kyrie tell her that?    If so, she should quote him saying what he felt at the time so the reader knows that this is Kyrie claiming it.   She should not write it out as a third-person narrative from the perspective of God.

The article indicates that bars in South Beach stay open until 5 am.   Great.  So ... did the young players (Again, who?) close the bars down?  Get rowdy and boogie all night long?    Or did they just stop in for a quick drink to check out the scene and relax after the flight and then go back to the hotel?

Stating the closing time of the bars implies an extreme late night out.  But it doesn't actually claim there was a late night out.  Again, different readers will read what they want out of that.

Overall, it's a disappointing read.   It seems purposely designed to incite and inflame rather than inform.

Literally NOBODY does that in real world

I've done that. Long flight, git the bar across the street from the hotel. Had a drink with my brother inlaw, and back to the hotel.

So call me NOBODY