Kyrie Irving sounds defeated while praising Celtics amid Nets falling into 0-2 series hole: ‘Their time is now’

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/04/kyrie-irving-sounds-defeated-while-praising-celtics-amid-nets-falling-into-0-2-series-hole-their-time-is-now.html


Kyrie Irving sounds defeated while praising Celtics amid Nets falling into 0-2 series hole: ‘Their time is now’


Updated: Apr. 21, 2022, 10:00 a.m. | Published: Apr. 21, 2022, 6:10 a.m.


By Brian Robb | brobb@masslive.com


BOSTON — Kyrie Irving threw in the towel early during his last postseason series as a member of the Boston Celtics in 2019. It’s too early to say whether he will be doing so again with the Nets after falling into a 0-2 hole on Wednesday night at the TD Garden. However, the Nets point guard at the least sounded jealous of the foundation his former team had built without him on their way to a 114-107 comeback win.


“I’m not surprised at all,” Irving said of Boston’s success under Ime Udoka. “I just think the timing is right. Their window is now for these young guys that are on this team that have matured. They’ve been through series together, they’ve been through seasons together, they’ve been through battles together.”


Irving battled through his worst performance of the postseason in Game 2, mustering just 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting from the field as Brooklyn squandered a 17-point first half lead.

The Nets repeatedly showed a lack of cohesion in big moments for the second straight game after a season full of turmoil and trades. Those plays should Brooklyn is still trying to fit in new talent together and could continue to do so as the series rolls on with Ben Simmons potentially in the mix for a return to the floor at Barclays Center. That stands in sharp contrast to what the Celtics have built a solid core together over several years in the eyes of Irving.

“I got a chance to experience some of that,” Irving said. “Now being on the opposite end and going against a healthy Celtics team — without Robert Williams - but you’re just seeing there’s a difference in their verve, there’s a difference in the way they approach the game. And also they have a set offense and defense that they rely on. Ime’s been a huge part of that. But you’ve got to give credit to that guy that’s sitting in the president’s role as well now. All of the sudden we don’t get to see him as often, Brad Stevens definitely has a lot to do with that.”


The Nets will have a chance to get back into the first round series back in Brooklyn on Saturday night at the Barclays Center. However, Irving is sure making it sound like the Celtics are the battle tested squad despite having a lot of the same talent that Brooklyn rolled over just one year ago in the first round.

“Our identity is what it is,” Irving said. “I just believe that, even me coming out tonight, and I only shot 13 times, I felt like we were in great position coming out of halftime just as a team. It’s no time for me to look at my individual stats and what I need to do. I want us to continue with that effort. I believe we can do it. We’ve just got to show it. This late in the season, even though I brought up team cohesion, it is what it is. We really have to turn the page and learn through our experiences right now.


“We’re going against a team together for what, the last four, five years. So they don’t have to worry about that. And I don’t want us to worry about it in this series and make excuses on why things are not going right for us. It’s just time to strap up the boots and get the ammo ready.”


Bob
MY NOTE:  Losing at the buzzer, like they did in Game 1, hurts.  The question was "would it deflate them or fire them up?".  Clearly it fired them up because they came out smoking hot in Game 2.  They were up 17, and ended up losing by 3 possessions (I'm not counting Dragic's layup with :17 left.  Nobody gave a damn at that point because we were up 9 when he hit it.  We wanted possession, so we could run the clock, more than the stop or possible foul and stoppage of play).  Coming out, playing well and with energy and focus, shooting >60% at the half and still lose convincingly sucks the life out of a team.  It might not affect KD and Dragic but the young'uns on the team?  The less mentally and emotionally strong?  It hurts bad.

I expect them to explode at the Barclay's Center in Game 3, show some pride for their fans, and then maybe give up the ghost in Game 4 so they don't have to be eliminated on their floor later in the series.  I don't think even they believe they can get this series to 7.  That means 6, at best, and that would mean being eliminated in Brooklyn.  Nobody wants to be eliminated on their home court. To lose in 5 would require them to lose one of the three in Brooklyn and it'd be better to do that earlier than the elimination game. Ergo my prediction of a Game 3 Nets win and a Game 4 Celtic win.


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I just heard that  KD has averaged  42mpg over the last 11 games because the Nets still had to compete for the #7 seed.  That's exhausting.


Bob


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