Kyrie Irving had a stinker against the Boston Celtics in Game 2 after starting the series with an incredible 39-point performance. Both performances led to the same result, a Boston Celtics win. Irving is extremely familiar with the Celtics team, as there are still many players from his time on the team still on the roster in Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, and Al Horford. His coach Brad Stevens is now the team’s GM.
Even if the Irving saga in Boston ended on a sour note, there is something to be appreciated about the camaraderie someone builds with their teammates in the years they played together. Irving was the leader of the Celtics when Tatum came in as a rookie and now is facing the team he left for Brooklyn.
Despite the toxicity from Game 1, Irving was a lot more positive after this game, speaking about how the Celtics are looking compared to his time on the team. Irving relented and admitted that this might just be the window for the Celtics to push for a title.
Kyrie Irving says the timing is right for the Celtics to be contending and "the window is now for these guys." Praised Ime Udoka and especially Brad Stevens as the new President.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) April 21, 2022
Irving has ruffled some feathers with this comment, with people believing he has ‘given up’ by complimenting the opponents like this. However, it really isn’t that deep. Boston deserves props for what they have achieved, and Irving is a veteran who will give them that affirmation. The sport is bigger than just your opponent at that moment.
Irving is right about this being Boston’s window, with them looking likely to advance to the second round. They will face either the Milwaukee Bucks, who just lost Khris Middleton to injury, or the Chicago Bulls who returned after years to the playoffs this season.
Hopefully, Boston can capitalize on this opening that they may get and push through to make another run at the Conference Finals, something they made a regular habit of up until 2021.
