Lack of talent is a problem. There’s maybe a handful of players at most in the entire league that you could swap kyrie with and have a chance of beating the bucks.
Key distinction with your hypothetical is are we swapping out Kyrie immediately prior to the start of this series, or are we swapping him out in August 2018 and seeing how the season plays out with Player X in place of Kyrie?
Because if it's the latter, I think there are more than a couple players who could fit the description.
I honestly don't think it matters. Assuming Giannis is out of play, I really think the only guys you could add to this team with a shot to beat the Bucks are Durant, James, Leonard, Embiid, and possibly Curry, Harden, and George (and PG is only there because I think he could actually defend Giannis fairly well). I really don't think you could add anyone else and make any sort of real difference against the Bucks (and let's be clear I'm not saying those new teams would beat the Bucks, only that they would have a decent opportunity to).
I think if this Celtics team had their head on straight and they were led by, say, Damian Lillard, then they could have a reasonable shot of at least winning a few games and keeping the rest close against this Bucks team.
This Bucks team looks invincible against this disjointed, undisciplined Celtics team.
They are a very good team, and Giannis is a great, great player. I don't think they're as invulnerable as they've looked in this series.
Boston won a game though, I don't think winning an extra game matters all that much. If you want to beat the Bucks, then you have to add a special player. I forgot Davis, I think if this team swapped Kyrie for Davis it could give the Bucks fits as well. Now if you add Davis and keep Irving, that is when you really have the potential for something special.
I think belaboring this point is probably silly beyond what we've already said, but personally it would make a big difference to me if they were competitive in these games and went 6 or 7 games against the Bucks, as opposed to winning the Game 1 (which was an afternoon tip on a Sunday) and then getting blown out in four straight matches.
Let’s not forget the 83 Larry Bird McHale Parish Celtics were swept in 4 straight in Eastern Conf Semi Finals by the Bucks, leading to coaching change and trade for DJ. We went on to win NBA championship 2 out of next 3 years.
Kyrie if smart will stay in Boston. Danny will then make the Davis trade happen. In fact Wyc will insist it. We will be fine.
This wasn’t our year. 1983 wasn’t either.
The sun will come out tomorrow.
