I dislike Kyrie(merged threads)

[Moranis]

Sometimes great players just have a bad string of games.  Even Larry Legend ended the 87 NBA Finals with games shooting 36.8, 38.9, 37.5 (Boston lost that series).  The next year in the ECF (again a loss), Bird shot 35.1% for the series and ended the series with a 4 of 17 night (23.5%) which was coming off a 9 of 25 (36%) night.  Boston lost both those games.  Bird had other games in the series at 30% and 35.3% along with a 40% and a series high 46.7%.  Did Bird quit on the Celtics against the Pistons in 88?

It sucks when it happens in the playoffs, but streaky shooters get cold sometimes.  Them the brakes.

I'm normally all for stats, but I also saw what I saw. He had a bad shooting stretch, but that and "quitting" or "going rogue" or "hero ball" arent mutually exclusive. He shot poorly and when thigs went wrong started do stupid, dumb utterly undefendable things on defense and taking terrible, unforgivable shots.

He always takes terrible, unforgivable shots, he just often makes them.  And he is a bad defender, but no one was guarding Giannis well that series, maybe he though his quickness might actually work since nothing else was working.  Irving is a flawed player, no one should be surprised when his flaws actually present themselves.

[KeepBigAl]

When it got tough, post Game 1, instead of playing hard, Kyrie just went through the motions.  I don't even care that he shot a terrible percentage, it was his body language, intensity and shot selection that were just glaringly awful.  I attended both home games and have never seen a Celtic player mail it in like that - going back to the ML Carr coaching era.

Brad really could not have pulled him b/c Boston was still thinking it might have some shot/desire to keep him, Kemba obv was not a glimmer in our eye yet - If Brad benches him, he would have been scapegoated  for running him out of town.

[SHAQATTACK]

When it got tough, post Game 1, instead of playing hard, Kyrie just went through the motions.  I don't even care that he shot a terrible percentage, it was his body language, intensity and shot selection that were just glaringly awful.  I attended both home games and have never seen a Celtic player mail it in like that - going back to the ML Carr coaching era.

Brad really could not have pulled him b/c Boston was still thinking it might have some shot/desire to keep him, Kemba obv was not a glimmer in our eye yet - If Brad benches him, he would have been scapegoated  for running him out of town.

TP.....body language said it all.   Im a conspiracy theorist on this , i think KD or his father or friends agent pointed out after the game one win...hey ! what are you doing ?  your putting yourself in a bad position to leave , giving you no excuses really if the Celtics keep,advancing.  I 100% believe Kyrie TANKED on purpose , he had solid plans to exit Boston ,  and did not want to be caught in the drama of walking away from a team close to a championship , sound familiar....his partner in crime KD , leaving OKC to join the enemy .  Surely people were in his ear . He apparently had made up,his mind and wanted the season to end ASAP to lock in promises to KD and Nets officials.

I think he looks MORE like a jerk or villain doing this stunt , than carrying the Celtics to the finals , losing and then leaving . 

[rollie mass]

He is used to long guys and beating bigs. How about that pickpocket Waters he is really low to the ground quick hands. He just might surprise Kyrie and get him out of rhythm .Or so disrespected he starts jackin threes or his showy dribbling while his teammates stand watching.
Waters has always been little but he was a SEC defensive all star  for a reason.
How does Waters do guarding Kemba in practice?
I

[Somebody]

Just slap Jaylen Brown on him and he'll have a tough night lol, Kyrie struggles against length and physicality. I think some combination of Jaylen/Walker/Smart/Edwards would be a tough matchup for him since we can throw a bunch of different looks at him while smothering him with help defense from our frontcourt.

[footey]

I’d love to see Waters cover him Rollie. TP for the great idea. Doubt we do that though.

[SHAQATTACK]

He is used to long guys and beating bigs. How about that pickpocket Waters he is really low to the ground quick hands. He just might surprise Kyrie and get him out of rhythm .Or so disrespected he starts jackin threes or his showy dribbling while his teammates stand watching.
Waters has always been little but he was a SEC defensive all star  for a reason.
How does Waters do guarding Kemba in practice?
I

I like Waters ....he can steal a meal from a cat

[keevsnick]

Sometimes great players just have a bad string of games.  Even Larry Legend ended the 87 NBA Finals with games shooting 36.8, 38.9, 37.5 (Boston lost that series).  The next year in the ECF (again a loss), Bird shot 35.1% for the series and ended the series with a 4 of 17 night (23.5%) which was coming off a 9 of 25 (36%) night.  Boston lost both those games.  Bird had other games in the series at 30% and 35.3% along with a 40% and a series high 46.7%.  Did Bird quit on the Celtics against the Pistons in 88?

It sucks when it happens in the playoffs, but streaky shooters get cold sometimes.  Them the brakes.

I'm normally all for stats, but I also saw what I saw. He had a bad shooting stretch, but that and "quitting" or "going rogue" or "hero ball" arent mutually exclusive. He shot poorly and when thigs went wrong started do stupid, dumb utterly undefendable things on defense and taking terrible, unforgivable shots.

He always takes terrible, unforgivable shots, he just often makes them.  And he is a bad defender, but no one was guarding Giannis well that series, maybe he though his quickness might actually work since nothing else was working.  Irving is a flawed player, no one should be surprised when his flaws actually present themselves.

So he didn't quit, he's just crazy? Because him believing he can guard Giannis is crazy. This from a self proclaimed basketball genius.

[footey]

Sometimes great players just have a bad string of games.  Even Larry Legend ended the 87 NBA Finals with games shooting 36.8, 38.9, 37.5 (Boston lost that series).  The next year in the ECF (again a loss), Bird shot 35.1% for the series and ended the series with a 4 of 17 night (23.5%) which was coming off a 9 of 25 (36%) night.  Boston lost both those games.  Bird had other games in the series at 30% and 35.3% along with a 40% and a series high 46.7%.  Did Bird quit on the Celtics against the Pistons in 88?

It sucks when it happens in the playoffs, but streaky shooters get cold sometimes.  Them the brakes.

I'm normally all for stats, but I also saw what I saw. He had a bad shooting stretch, but that and "quitting" or "going rogue" or "hero ball" arent mutually exclusive. He shot poorly and when thigs went wrong started do stupid, dumb utterly undefendable things on defense and taking terrible, unforgivable shots.

He always takes terrible, unforgivable shots, he just often makes them.  And he is a bad defender, but no one was guarding Giannis well that series, maybe he though his quickness might actually work since nothing else was working.  Irving is a flawed player, no one should be surprised when his flaws actually present themselves.

Statistically true, but body language and decision making were so patently poor for several consecutive games.

Kyrie didn’t “quit” so much as seemed to just go through motions.

[slamtheking]

starting a game, I'd use Jaylen but for most of the game, I'd put Smart on him.  it'll drive Kyrie nuts

[gpap]

He is used to long guys and beating bigs. How about that pickpocket Waters he is really low to the ground quick hands. He just might surprise Kyrie and get him out of rhythm .Or so disrespected he starts jackin threes or his showy dribbling while his teammates stand watching.
Waters has always been little but he was a SEC defensive all star  for a reason.
How does Waters do guarding Kemba in practice?
I

I like Waters ....he can steal a meal from a cat

He doesn't eat it afterwards, does he?

[droopdog7]

starting a game, I'd use Jaylen but for most of the game, I'd put Smart on him.  it'll drive Kyrie nuts

Well, we've played kyrie before and the results for us were never all that good. 

On the flip side, Kemba seemingly smoked kyrie like a sausage in his two years here.  So he needs to worry about kemba as much as we need to worry about him.

[GreenFaith1819]

I think it will be guarding Kyrie by committee. I can see Kemba, Jaylen and Smart taking turns slowing him down some.

But make no mistake about it - Kyrie will come into BOS with fire in his eyes....and for all the boos that I am certain he will get that will only serve to focus him more.

I wouldn't make Kyrie Irving angry - I don't think we'll like him if he's angry.

And I'd be concerned about roughing him up too much - we are going to have our hands full with Durant as well - soon enough.

[slamtheking]

starting a game, I'd use Jaylen but for most of the game, I'd put Smart on him.  it'll drive Kyrie nuts

Well, we've played kyrie before and the results for us were never all that good. 

On the flip side, Kemba seemingly smoked kyrie like a sausage in his two years here.  So he needs to worry about kemba as much as we need to worry about him.

defending Kyrie is not the same as Kyrie playing D.  a number of opposing PGs had a good day against Kyrie

[Atzar]

Not sure I want Jaylen on Kyrie.  As good as he's looked over the last two games, his joy for biting on upfakes is as strong as ever. 

I'd just give him Kemba and Smart and live with the results, personally.  I think Smart can hold his own.  And while Kyrie will probably burn Kemba, the reverse is also true.