Kyrie Irving on Celtics' success: 'It starts with my relationship with Brad"

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/kyrie-irving-celtics-success-starts-022217867.html



Kyrie Irving on Celtics' success: 'It starts with my relationship with Brad"




A. Sherrod Blakely,NBC Sports Boston 15 hours ago




SAN FRANCISCO -- Kyrie Irving gets it.

Win or lose, there's a hefty amount of blame pie that goes around with the largest slices often reserved for him and head coach Brad Stevens.

"It starts with my relationship with Brad, us being on the same page," Irving said. "He takes responsibility for our losses and wins. I take responsibility for losses and wins and we share it with everyone else because we all have a great hand in making this work."

But lately, things haven't worked out quite as well as Irving, Stevens or anyone associated with the Celtics would like.

They come into Tuesday's game against the two-time defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors having lost five of their last six games, and currently sit in the fifth spot in the East with a 38-26 record.

During the team's tumultuous play this season, questions about how connected they were ran the gamut.

And those questions remain alive and well in large part because of the Celtics' inconsistent ways.

"This is all about being together," Stevens said. "We have not competed with the right connected level for a while, but we can do it. And we have done it. That's gonna have to be a choice. Ultimately, that's on all of us; we're all responsible for that."

Maybe so, but there's no question that the biggest pieces of the blame pie are sure to go to Irving and Stevens, whose relationship is very much a work in progress that should continue to get better over time spent together.

One of the least talked about factors in all of the up-and-down showings by the Celtics, is how different coaching Irving has been for Stevens in comparison to other players he has worked with both in the NBA and at Butler.


"He's never coached a player like me," Irving said. "So, the thing about Brad, of having an established player where I was on the number one team competing against Brad and now I'm on his team and he's putting me in his system. It's like, that's a big transition for anyone to do."

Even with all the ups and downs of this season, there's a constant sentiment among Celtics players that everything in the end will be OK.

"The thing I love most about basketball is when a team comes together," Stevens said. "We haven't yet. So we'll see. if we do, we have a chance to be a good basketball team and see where that leads us. If we don't, we won't be playing very long."

And you already know who will get the blame for that, right?



bob
MY NOTE:  Well, after all the doomsayers and pundits claiming that Kyrie is gone and Kyrie is unhappy and the other players don't like playing with Kyrie etc this sounds quite a bit more reasoned.  He's not happy losing (Good!), he doesn't feel they are playing together as a team (Duh!) and he thinks everything will work out in the end.  That's a positive note.  Also, he says it's about his relationship with Brad.  I'm feeling pretty good about that since I have not heard one player, present nor departed, that hasn't exalted Brad Stevens.  Furthermore, by saying it's all about him and Brad that also throws some cold water one people who are claiming it's Kyrie vs other players and that's what's driving him away.  We don't know what will happen this offseason but after all the negative stories we've been reading for the past few weeks this is a ray of sunshine or, at least, a break in the clouds.  


.

Agreed. Nice fine on the article. More reassuring for those like me that are seasick on the boat!

db

At this point in time when thinking of Kyrie Irving, I can almost laugh at just about everything that he is saying.

I far more need to see him step up, play harder and quickly develop some leadership on his current team than do any more talking.

I am fully believing that even though he is a super talent that he is not helping (in fact, hurting) the Cs even one little bit as this season winds down. He will have to turn lots of stuff around before this year ends for me to want him back in Boston no matter how much talent he has.

Best news I javecread today. Let's hope tonight's game produces better news.

wideclyde wrote:At this point in time when thinking of Kyrie Irving, I can almost laugh at just about everything that he is saying.

I far more need to see him step up, play harder and quickly develop some leadership on his current team than do any more talking.

I am fully believing that even though he is a super talent that he is not helping (in fact, hurting) the Cs even one little bit as this season winds down.  He will have to turn lots of stuff around before this year ends for me to want him back in Boston no matter how much talent he has.

Hey wide

What are things that you would like to see Irving do better?

The question wasn't asked of me, but I can't resist adding my $.02. The beauty of public forums.

I don't see a lot that Irving needs to do better on the court, with the possible exception of getting the lead out on defense. The past couple of weeks he's slowed down both speed and effort in the defensive transition. Other than that, no question, he's a scoring machine. One of the best.

Kyrie has become a lightning rod for Boston fans. No doubt there's a big love/hate thing growing. His attitude seems to be the thing most singled out by Celtic fans. Few appear to think his play is lackluster. The big question is chemistry. He may not be a real leader, but can he at least become a positive catalyst? No one wants to see him erode into a clubhouse cancer.

I think the votes are going to be split on Irving up until he actually signs a new Celtic contract. If he does.

He's among the top players in the game. And he could also join a list of polarizing Celtics.

Is he among the best forgotten; Wicks, Rowe, Blount? Is he the ultimate Celtic split of love/hate; Walker? Is he going to be with the ever-treasured; Hondo, KG, Cowens?

Interesting player and chapter in Celtics history.

July is going to be a Celtic tsunami one way or another.

Well thought out and expressed NY Celt.

NYCelt wrote:The question wasn't asked of me, but I can't resist adding my $.02. The beauty of public forums.

I don't see a lot that Irving needs to do better on the court, with the possible exception of getting the lead out on defense. The past couple of weeks he's slowed down both speed and effort in the defensive transition. Other than that, no question, he's a scoring machine. One of the best.

Kyrie has become a lightning rod for Boston fans. No doubt there's a big love/hate thing growing. His attitude seems to be the thing most singled out by Celtic fans. Few appear to think his play is lackluster. The big question is chemistry. He may not be a real leader, but can he at least become a positive catalyst? No one wants to see him erode into a clubhouse cancer.

I think the votes are going to be split on Irving up until he actually signs a new Celtic contract. If he does.

He's among the top players in the game. And he could also join a list of polarizing Celtics.

Is he among the best forgotten; Wicks, Rowe, Blount? Is he the ultimate Celtic split of love/hate; Walker? Is he going to be with the ever-treasured; Hondo, KG, Cowens?

Interesting player and chapter in Celtics history.

July is going to be a Celtic tsunami one way or another.

Excellent take on KI.

It has been easy to take the high road rather than upset the apple cart, but this was a breath of fresh air. Responsibility for this season should be and was spread around with this story. Hopefully last night is a beginning of better things to come. I still think Brad is a terrific coach and will figure alot of this out. Irving is a smart guy, he knows he has a good thing here with a strong and sturdy ownership/gm who will work with him.

On to Sacramento and nets win

Yep, NYCelt. Danny is going to have to cash in his chips at one (or more) of the 29 casinos this summer.

db