The Kyrie Irving free agency thread(to sign 4yr/$141M w/Nets page 105)

[Celtics4ever]

He must have been sick the last few games?

[zeitgeist49]

I'm totally over Kyrie. It's not a coincidence the team has performed better without him. His off the court antics throughout the year have been a distraction and have splintered any team unity the Celts might have had. When Irving was asked after the game last night how he could be shooting 19 for 62, he attributed the failure to how the Bucks were defending him. But he also made the absurd remark that he should have taken 30 shots, instead of 20. In stark contrast, if a reporter had asked Bird about shooting 19 for 62, Bird would have responded, " I just sucked." 

[Celtics17]

This team has been built for a big trade from the beginning. Ainge could have made a few minor tweaks during the season and we may have been somewhat improved for the playoffs but it would have been at the expense of future years. We still need the 1A player to go with our young players. Milwaukee already has that guy.

[celts55]

Still sick?  Or maybe just maybe not the player this board generally seemed to think he was.

Kyrie's current play exemplifies a version not any rational person would have expected, so I'm not sure what you're trying to say.

except it does.  This is what Kyrie does, he mystifies people with these fabulous games and then people just forget about the stinkers he has before those fabulous games.  Kyrie is an inconsistent shooter and does almost nothing else to help a team win basketball games, such that when his shot is off, his teams lose.  When he is on, he is unguardable and magic happens, but he just isn't on nearly enough to truly matter.

He was bad tonight. No excuses, no question.

But why are you giving everybody else a pass? Hayward has simply disappeared in both ends. Tatum hasn’t been able to buy a wide-open 3. Horford misses some key wiiiiiiide open 3s. Terry was awful but that’s his level. This was a team loss.

Because this thread is about Irving. You could certainly start one for each of the players you mentioned, add Baynes and Smart.

Morris and Brown were the only two Celtics to show up.

[celts55]

Been a big Irving supporter, but have to admit, I think he's gone.
For a guy who talks about how much fun it is to play basketball, he looks miserable out there.
And I believe it rubs off on the rest of the team. Maybe I'm wrong, but they looked like they just wanted the game to end and go home. Want to drive to the hole and jam the ball, sure let me get out of your way. I'm love to chuck up the first shot I can weather it's a good one or not. I guess I could pass the ball, but why would I do that?
Terrible energy and again I believe it starts with Kyrie. Maybe it would best for all involved if he went somewhere he could be happy playing. Certainly not enjoyable for me to watch his mad pouty face.

[Chris22]

Brad Stevens had Kyrie, Smart, and Rozier on the court at the same time. Going small never works.

Meanwhile, Baynes and Williams sat on the bench as the Bucks shot layups.

[Drummerboy2029]

As a die hard fan of the Celtics since Larry bird it is disgrace to watch my Celtics play with no heart last year without Kyrie we did awesome went to the Eastern conference and almost won it until Tatum lost focus and starts talking Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline. to LeBron because he dunked on him let the cavs squeeze back and win the game. This year Kyrie and Gordon Hayward are not helping the cause the Celtics are getting embarrassed by a rookie team I feel like this if Kyrie wants to leave then get the hell on but don't stay in Boston and not give full effort the man is throwing the series so he can hurry up and get this over with and explore free agency for that he is an Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline. because I know he can play better than what he been playing

[cltc5]

There’s a severe lack of focus on this team

[slamtheking]

There’s a severe lack of focus on this team

and lack of heart.  just too many guys not giving a full effort - taking too many plays off. 

what's been a disturbing trend all season is when this team goes into a shooting funk (which has been all too frequent), instead of buckling down on defense to keep the other team from catching up or pulling away, they just go into hibernation on D letting the other team just grab rebounds and steamroll up court for a layup. 

[johnnygreen]

Irving lost his shot at the worst possible time. I loved his aggressiveness at the beginning of the game, but I think he needs to simplify his mechanics as he is shooting off balance shots most of the time. This is fine when you’re not in a slump. I desperately also want to see Hayward play well, but he still has a reluctance to shoot. Part of me wants to see Hayward start at the point and move Irving to the shooting guard. Take the pressure of running the offense from Irving and just let him focus on getting clean looks that Hayward can help facilitate. Our bench has been getting killed, so have Jaylen Brown be the main scoring threat off the bench. He has been one of our best players, so why not let him feel free to shoot and be aggressive going to the rim.

I know the focus is on Kyrie and his inability to make shots the past three games, but he is clearly getting his teammates wide open looks, and unfortunately they’re just not making them either. I know I’ll get bashed for saying this, but I want Tatum to take mid-range shots. He can’t make a three in this series, but he always seems comfortable and confident in his mid-range game.

[Chief Macho]

James Stewart
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"He's gone and his teammates are packing his bags!"

[td450]

Hayward is trash
Horford is aging quickly and doesnt hold his own at center
Tatum has arguably regressed
Terry might be one of the worst players in the league playing consistant minutes
Baynes is always hurt
Smart has been out

But yeah...Kyrie sucks....


Sigh

Hayward has been awful, but your comments on Horford are not connected to reality. Tatum may not have gotten better, but he is a solid starter. Brown has been very good, and Morris has been fairly competitive too.

Kyrie is the star of the team, and he has been awful. If he had an average game last night, we might very well have won.

What particularly bothered me last night was his lack of leadership, which should be there when your shot betrays you.

He visibly moped much of the night, and last night was his worst defensive effort in the series. He actually has the talent to be a plus defender, but last night he gave up on plays as soon as someone got a step, and he constantly just stood and watched instead of working the play to the end.

The team succeeded in game one because the wings were digging at Giannis's spin moves almost as soon as he turned on Horford. Kyrie and Tatum were there on time in game one, but we haven't seen the effort since, and once Giannis gets going, no one is going to be able to stop him.

[Tr1boy]

I've been a pretty adamant defender of Kyrie all season. Would be lunacy if I tried to deny that.

And I'll sure as heck be the first to say he has failed us this series. His G1 was excellent, and IMO he showed what he is when he's at his best. Deadly scorer with the ability to get others involved and an improved defender & rebounder from his Cleveland days. ~30% shooting from the field and sub-30% from deep is absolutely inexcusable. He wanted to be a leader - then step up and lead.

That being said, I hope he stays with us. He's a top 3 PG in the league and is younger than Dame, Curry and Westbrook. He's improved both years he's been with us. I also want him to stay because it likely would mean AD is coming (assuming the two moves wouldn't happen within hours of one another). I want us to win banners, and I think that those two would give us the best chance.

I overestimated our talent, and thought we'd have 3 All-Star (or borderline at least) level guys this year. We had 1. I don't think Kyrie is good enough to be the best player on a team if it wants to compete and it only has 1 All-Star. Tatum didn't develop as well as he should have. We all under-estimated Hayward's second surgery and his rehab, and then I think he lost confidence in himself + was misused. Rozier became one of the worst players in the league. Brown struggled early, but to his credit killed it at the end of the year and after starting slow in the playoffs has arguably been our best player since.

I'm questioning Brad the most right now.

At least you are honest

But come on

CBS and kyrieless team went further last season

Kyrie I doubt will be brought back, even if he wants to stay

[Tr1boy]

James Stewart
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"He's gone and his teammates are packing his bags!"

Maybe he might walk out halfway of game 5

You cant walk out from the team bench before the game is over...

[gouki88]

I've been a pretty adamant defender of Kyrie all season. Would be lunacy if I tried to deny that.

And I'll sure as heck be the first to say he has failed us this series. His G1 was excellent, and IMO he showed what he is when he's at his best. Deadly scorer with the ability to get others involved and an improved defender & rebounder from his Cleveland days. ~30% shooting from the field and sub-30% from deep is absolutely inexcusable. He wanted to be a leader - then step up and lead.

That being said, I hope he stays with us. He's a top 3 PG in the league and is younger than Dame, Curry and Westbrook. He's improved both years he's been with us. I also want him to stay because it likely would mean AD is coming (assuming the two moves wouldn't happen within hours of one another). I want us to win banners, and I think that those two would give us the best chance.

I overestimated our talent, and thought we'd have 3 All-Star (or borderline at least) level guys this year. We had 1. I don't think Kyrie is good enough to be the best player on a team if it wants to compete and it only has 1 All-Star. Tatum didn't develop as well as he should have. We all under-estimated Hayward's second surgery and his rehab, and then I think he lost confidence in himself + was misused. Rozier became one of the worst players in the league. Brown struggled early, but to his credit killed it at the end of the year and after starting slow in the playoffs has arguably been our best player since.

I'm questioning Brad the most right now.

At least you are honest

But come on

CBS and kyrieless team went further last season

Kyrie I doubt will be brought back, even if he wants to stay

I think that this team would have gone similarly far last year. Milwaukee was really poorly coached and had far less shooters last year, and we own Philly.

I just don't like that as soon as Brad has had a healthy team with recognised talent he has completely dropped the ball. Doesn't give me hope, but he's going to be around next season regardless.

I think if Kyrie wants to stay he definitely will. If only for the reason that it would allow Ainge to at least trade him and get something. I think that could be a motivation for signing him. Plus, if he signs and we get AD, and Brad just doesn't eff up I think we have a chance