Leading the series 2-0 against the Toronto Raptors in the second round of the NBA PlayStation, the Boston Celtics have asserted their position as contenders for the championship, further highlighted by Jason Tatum’s rising stardom and said there is no precedent in 2020. Results from any of these categories.
They don’t even notice anyone but say that Carrie Irving was a net negative in her time as a Celtic. His absence, apparently, has been so positive for Boston that Cavi Leonard’s exit for Los Angeles is suddenly catching the rappers.
It’s no secret around the NBA that Elting was less than universally beloved in that Celtics locker room.
Irving is a star, sure. A playmaker, no doubt about it. An admirable talent, obviously. But Boston is better off without them and that, too, often says something about a paralyzed and mostly injured superstar.
The series is not over, and the Raptors will not be overlooked below 2-0 either. But while Irving is injured or injured elsewhere, Boston is now on track to make three Eastern Conference finals in a row.
And this time, if Boston advances, there will be no waiting for LeBron James to end the run, at least not in the conference finals. There are two less obstacles to Boston’s championship dreams – the absence of LeBron in the East, and the absence of Irving in Boston.
Remember, in 2017, Irving is still in Cleveland, the Celtics went on to play the Cav Valliers in the ECF. They did it again in 2018, with Irving injured, this time in seven games against LeBron and Co.
When he actually played postseason basketball for the Celtics, he was forced out of the Cavs organization, which was still arguing for the title, what happened to Irving’s arrival? Acrimoni, the tension in the locker room and the Milwaukee Bucks in just five games to exit the second round last year.
Irving is a great player. But he was never the greatest Celtic, in that way it doesn’t matter – which marshals not only his talent but also his team’s talent and joins them in their quest for the championship. Despite the difficulties of playing with him, LeBron can do it. Kavi, despite her unique personality, can do it. Stephen Curry can do it. Not Irving.
With Irving, Boston was listed and unhappy. Without them, it would have felt like a ready-to-go contender.
There has been a huge improvement in the Kemba Vaker Point Guard, arriving this season without the same depth of skill (although it is still great) but equipped with something Irving always seems to struggle: the ability to blend in, the ability to fit including this gem. Instead of criticizing fellow players over and over, saying good things: “Young people don’t know what it takes to be a championship team.”
Well, they do now: they take Irving somewhere else.
Vaker Kar is a different kind of fellow, a great player, yes, but also a favorite locker room guy, balm instead of grandpa.
Tatum’s comments on Tuesday about his team-mate Marcus Smart, who scored 16 points in the fourth quarter against Toronto, were a case-in-point comment: “I’ve never played with someone like Smart.” He told reporters. I’ve never met anyone like Smart. … Anyone who sees him play, knows him, has never played with him, knows that there is no one else like Smart. Any time we go into battle I would take him to my team every day of the week. “
Can you hear Irving saying such things? Not me either. My memory of Irving as a Celtic is in that bad series against Milwaukee last year, in which he hit 35.6 per cent off the field and an extraordinary 21.6 per cent on 3s at 21 shots per game – and let it sink in – and then oo the ambiguity about the whole thing.
The Celtics, people around the team will tell you, are happy this season with Irving Gay. And that has been featured in the playoffs so far.
But it’s Jason Tatum and Jillian Brown, each freed from playing with Irving, who has gotten the most flowers and pushed Boston forward. They have emerged as stars, enduring Irving’s off-court criticism and court-ball dominance.
There were signs that this would happen. In the 2018 playoffs, with Irving injured and out, Tatum’s scoring in the playoffs rose to 18.5 points per game against 15.7 during the regular season. Brown went from 14.5 to 18.
Younger players and role players are considered to be more effective in play, not less. But with Irving out, we saw what they would become.
All of this makes me skeptical that Irving and Kevin Durant will live up to the expectations of the Brooklyn net. But it is consistent and uncertain. We have to wait and see.
If Boston closes the series, time will tell the story: the Boston Celtics would be better off without Carrie Irving, given the fact that more could be said about Irving than his former team.
