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

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

I'll try to place myself in Kyrie's shoes - at least from his MINDSET since he's been in BOS:

1st game LAST SEASON - Opens the game in CLE. Sees his Number 1A go down with a GRUESOME foot injury. The team deals with this and almost beats CLE anyway.

Team then goes onto lose against MIL - in BOS. Team is obviously still reeling a bit from GH going down in the manner he did.

Coach Stevens then reportedly pulls the team aside, gathers them up and encourages / coaches them for the rest of the season - basically telling them that GH will be FINE but they - in return - need to pull themselves together and COMPETE.

They then run off 17 games in a row. Kyrie is MAGNIFICENT during this run and Tatum, JB, Smart, Big Al and Rozier play big roles during this run as well.

Team plays well - WITH KYRIE  - for the remainder of the season. Team plays FOR EACH OTHER. Kyrie then eventually goes down for good for knee surgery to ENSURE that he is completely healthy and ready for THIS SEASON....

As a fan base, I got the impression that we'd be happy with "JUST" a first round win in the playoffs last season. Who here thought that our young Celtics cold challenge ANYONE? Well, we all know that we challenged CLE - with LeBron - for SEVEN GAMES....without Kyrie OR GH...Tatum, JB, Rozer, Smart and Big Al stepped up Big Time....they made it to the ECF....a simply MAGICAL run...

Fast forward to NOW?

Media outlets pick us to challenge GSW in the finals....Kyrie and GH taking turns LEADING this team...Tatum, JB and Rozier still contributing but making room for GH's return....

Well, GH has NOT returned, YET...not the GH we all know....not the GH that Kyrie expected or NEEDED...."THAT" GH will probably not be back in full force until next season, unfortunately.

Now, fold this POOP SANDWICH into the fact that Kyrie has NOW been FORCED into changing his OWN game...being more of a facilitator....dude is a natural (and gifted) scorer. The facilitator in the starting lineup was SUPPOSED TO BE Gordon Hayward.

Kyrie's season has been thrown into disarray. Media attacks...teammates not wanting to accept roles...his OWN growth as a leader....unfounded rumors....countless "SAUCES".....not sources....

Season was NOT supposed to be like this, for Kyrie. I understand that things happen but a LOT of this stuff has been OUT OF HIS CONTROL......

I still believe that Kyrie will stay. I still believe that we'll see the GH we all know and love (and the one that Kyrie NEEDS) back soon. But until THEN I'm on Kyrie's side.

Dude has had some extenuating circumstances he's had to deal with. Not his fault for most of it. Sure - he needs to grow into leadership more. Sure he needs to learn how to speak to his teammates better...be a better teammate. I believe he's trying.

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Well said. For those saying Kyrie is the issue, how come they were playing so well last season WITH him on the team?

well, uh, uh, yeah but uh, but, but............................................................................

[LarBrd33]

Super naive to think they aren't making bank off this circus. 

Didn't say they weren't. 

Doesn't mean this whole thing is just completely fabricated and everything's fine.


But I guess we live in the era of "Fake News" right?

Well some of it is indeed "fake news", but a lot of it is also just overblown hype in an effort to sell drama.  It's non-stop.  It's ceaseless.  Social media has completely changed how this league is covered.

It makes me wonder how guys like Larry Bird would come across in today's daily media storm of constant cameras in his face after every tough loss.  Bird was known to be a bit contentious and difficult with his teammates.  Former teammates have said they weren't really friends with him. 

"Kevin McHale is one of the greatest players in basketball history, but Bird sometimes scolded him to others as if McHale were a kid brother. The two have always had a relationship based on mutual respect, but they are not friends."

Bird seemed to lead by example... and fear... the legendary crap-talk wasn't limited to opponents.

In the middle of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 16, 1985, Larry Bird got in a bar fight in which one guy claimed Bird sucker-punched him and one of Bird's friend's ended up in the emergency room.  The rumor was that Larry screwed up his finger...  despite normally shooting 52% during championship playoff runs, his shooting dipped to just 40% after the incident.

Can you even imagine such an incident in today's 24/7 NBA news cycle?  Seriously... try to wrap your mind around someone like Kevin Durant getting into a bar fight and potentially messing up his finger in the middle of the Conference Finals.  They would never stop talking about it.  They'd create an entire sub-page on ESPN's site dedicated to KD's finger.

Hell, you don't even need to go back that far.  Imagine the reaction to Paul Pierce in the 2005 playoffs.  On the verge of being eliminated.  Up 85-84.  12 seconds left.  Pierce gets fouled and reacts by shoving Tinsley to the ground - subsequently getting an offensive foul and very nearly getting us eliminated, then left the court swinging his jersey over his head, and showed up in the post-game conference with a joke bandage on his face:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yroYIQiAQyI

He was buried for that... but it wasn't nearly as loud without the platform of social media and a non-stop NBA media onslaught.  BTW, that incident happened when Pierce was about a year older than Kyrie Irving right now.

   

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I think these guys are gonna do well in the playoffs. Not that there isn't real tension at times on the Celtics, but I think much of it is overblown. These guys know that they depend on each other for their success, so they'll pull it together, I think, when they really need to.

[GreenFaith1819]

I think these guys are gonna do well in the playoffs. Not that there isn't real tension at times on the Celtics, but I think much of it is overblown. These guys know that they depend on each other for their success, so they'll pull it together, I think, when they really need to.

Well Said.



Unfinished Business.

[gouki88]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Believe what you want to believe I guess.

Everything's fine and it's just the crooked media that's making it seem like the Celtics are dysfunctional.

It’s almost like you want us to crash and burn

[SHAQATTACK]

I think these guys are gonna do well in the playoffs. Not that there isn't real tension at times on the Celtics, but I think much of it is overblown. These guys know that they depend on each other for their success, so they'll pull it together, I think, when they really need to.

they should do well unless they are injured.  They are grown men being paid millions .   Quit with the whining go out and play ball at the level your being paid .  Fans aren't buying tickets to hear excuses , and belly aching all the time.

[tstorey_97]

Once Irving matures, he will realize that "being somewhere" isn't what makes you happy.

He will just keep shooting his way out of town after town until he figures out it is about him. Not the coach, not the team, the owners, the fans or anyone.

He came here and they have done what they can to help him, but no other person or situation can "make you happy."

That's just a rabbit hole with no rabbits.

[nickagneta]

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

I always thought the same thing about Kevin. He did great stuff around the draft but I never got where he had sources inside the locker room. Maybe he knows someone in PR or scouting but I am not sure he is tremendously reliable for this type stuff.

Now former CBer Steve Weinman, yeah if he tweeted something, I would believe it.

[PhoSita]

Once Irving matures, he will realize that "being somewhere" isn't what makes you happy.

He will just keep shooting his way out of town after town until he figures out it is about him. Not the coach, not the team, the owners, the fans or anyone.

He came here and they have done what they can to help him, but no other person or situation can "make you happy."

That's just a rabbit hole with no rabbits.

I think it's worth noting that he is in his mid-20s.  Lots of people (most?) don't really figure out this stuff until much later in life.

A reminder, once again, that the expectations we place on professional athletes and public figures are kinda crazy.

[CptZoogs]

Once Irving matures, he will realize that "being somewhere" isn't what makes you happy.

He will just keep shooting his way out of town after town until he figures out it is about him. Not the coach, not the team, the owners, the fans or anyone.

He came here and they have done what they can to help him, but no other person or situation can "make you happy."

That's just a rabbit hole with no rabbits.

I think it's worth noting that he is in his mid-20s.  Lots of people (most?) don't really figure out this stuff until much later in life.

A reminder, once again, that the expectations we place on professional athletes and public figures are kinda crazy.

If at all!

[moiso]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Believe what you want to believe I guess.

Everything's fine and it's just the crooked media that's making it seem like the Celtics are dysfunctional.

It’s almost like you want us to crash and burn

I don’t know why you’d say that.  PhoSita is a voice of reason and he’s as grounded as anyone who posts here.  He definitely wants a likeable team and wants it to win championships.