Kyrie Irving believes Celtics can beat Golden State Warriors in seven-game series

by **bobheckler** Sat Sep 22, 2018 1:15 am

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2018/09/boston_celtics_kyrie_irving_be.html

Boston Celtics' Kyrie Irving believes Celtics can beat Golden State Warriors in seven-game series

Updated Sep 21, 7:32 PM;
Posted Sep 21, 7:32 PM

By Tom Westerholm

Boston Celtics star Kyrie Irving believes the Celtics can beat the Golden State Warriors in a seven-game series.

But Irving is also smart enough -- and experienced enough -- to know that it won't be easy.

Speaking to ESPN's Jackie MacMullan in an interview published on Friday, Irving said the Celtics' talent does match up to Golden State.

"Because of who we have," Irving told MacMullan, "and what we're establishing here, not just for this season, but for hopefully for the next few years, something that's pretty special."

Irving was quick to point out how much work goes into beating the Warriors. Even with a starting lineup like Boston's, the Warriors would be favorites. They might even heavy favorites, given their experience and the addition of DeMarcus Cousins over the summer.

For Irving, who is embracing a leadership role with the Celtics, part of his job will be explaining to his younger teammates what is required to bring the Warriors down.

"How do I communicate to our guys that this is the top-tier team, and we have to grow immensely in the next six months to beat them consistently?" Irving said to MacMullan. "Not just one game, not just two, but in a seven-game series, because they're so dang great. They're a powerhouse."

Irving has done it before. He was on the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers team that rallied from a 3-1 deficit to take down a Warriors team that set the regular-season record for wins. He hit the biggest shot in the Finals (and one of the biggest shots in NBA history), which gave the Cavaliers a three-point lead they wouldn't relinquish with less than a minute remaining.

Beating the Warriors takes depth, discipline, two-way brilliance and a bit of fearlessness. Irving can bring offense and fearlessness. Whether the rest of the Celtics can bring the rest remains to be seen.

bob
MY NOTE: It sounds like he is taking a veteran leadership role. It does NOT sound like a guy who is looking around for his next gig.

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by **KyleCleric** Sat Sep 22, 2018 9:14 am

I don't see it as a particularly difficult role for him to fill. The younger players are smart, intense, and mature. They just led a playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals without Kyrie and Gordon. With Gordon and Al, Kyrie has couple of selfless stars to make this run, and of course they have Brad.

by **mulcogiseng** Sat Sep 22, 2018 11:45 am

"Because of who we have," Irving told MacMullan, "and what we're establishing here, not just for this season, but for hopefully for the next few years, something that's pretty special."

I think that this quote proves that Kyrie is planning to go to the Knicks. Just a smoke screen to hide his dastardly intentions. Of course if he didn't talk like this I'd say trade him to the Nets now that they have some first round picks again. Laughing

It's already being talked about. The Celtics 10 year window of competitiveness for the NBA championship. But with Danny at the helm, the next five years could easily extend that window by five years or even more. Danny has this thing figured out. The C's are poised to make a run at banners not seen since the 50s and 60s. In 20 years people will not be talking about how Jordan one 6 by way of two 3peats. And they won't be recounting the storied history of the Minneapolis Lakers or whatever they are called now.

As the Highlander always sez "There can only be one!"

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Kyrie Irving believes Celtics can beat Golden State Warriors in seven-game series

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