Following Brooklyn’s 109-103 loss to the Celtics on Saturday, Kyrie Irving addressed the media to take the blame for his team’s downfall.
With just 16 points on 35% shooting, he had a rough game and even he couldn’t deny some culpability after Game 3s defeat.
“You could put in on me, in terms of playing better, controlling the game better, controlling our possessions, being more in a stance, not turning the ball over as much. I had five fouls tonight. You could put it on me.”
Irving, 30, is widely considered one of the greatest scorers and playmakers in basketball. In 29 games during the regular season, Uncle Drew averaged 27.4 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game on 46% shooting.
Together, he and Durant make up one of the greatest duos (at least, on paper) that modern basketball era has ever seen.
“Without a doubt. Without a shadow of a doubt. I haven’t seen a pair, a duo that skilled,” said Tracy McGrady. “Maybe Mike and Pipp (Scottie Pippen)… there’s no other dynamic duo that compares to KD and Kyrie… even if you look at what LeBron and D-Wade (Dwayne Wade) was, skill wise, they still not touching them two boys.”
Yet, somehow, they’re struggling to win a single game against a young and inexperienced Celtics squad.
Part of it has been Boston’s defense, for sure, which ranks at the top of the NBA. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart are doing a good job slowing down the star duo and making life tough for them offensively.
Still, it is undeniable that Irving should be doing more and playing better. In this series, besides Game 1, Kyrie has not played like a superstar.
Good on him to take some blame and accountability. But it remains to be seen if those things will translate into some wins for Brooklyn.
