/sportsinfo/media/member_avatars/image 59.png)
/sportsinfo/media/member_avatars/WhatsApp Image 2024-05-25 at 00.35.37.jpeg )
Follow Us/sportsinfo/media/media_files/priHASQgm04MTkc7TNLW.jpg)
Kyrie Irving (Source: X)
Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla discussed the upcoming game against the Dallas Mavericks and their star player, Kyrie Irving. Addressing the excitement around Irving's return to TD Garden, Mazzulla highlighted the complexity of public opinion.
Irving, the talented yet controversial point guard for the Dallas Mavericks, is set to face his former team, the Boston Celtics, in the eagerly awaited 2024 NBA Finals. The series carries an extra layer of intrigue due to Irving's rocky history with Celtics fans.
Irving's tumultuous tenure with the Celtics began in 2017 after a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Although expected to lead Boston to success, his time there was marked by unmet expectations, alleged tensions with younger players, and a contentious exit to the Brooklyn Nets in 2019. This backstory adds to the drama of the upcoming Finals clash.
When asked about the lingering animosity Boston fans feel toward Irving, the reporter remarked, "Kyrie is going to be perceived as a villain in this series." Mazzulla acknowledged this sentiment but said, “Aren't we all in someone's eyes? We're all villains in someone's eyes.”
'It’s not only his fault', says Celtics star in support of Irving
During the 2018-19 season, the Boston Celtics were eliminated by the Bucks in a disappointing five-game series. Although Kyrie Irving faced significant criticism for the team's failures, Jayson Tatum presented another viewpoint. Tatum believes that it was the collective selfishness of the team, including his own, that impeded their success, rather than placing the blame entirely on Irving.
He said, “You have to have guys that are willing to sacrifice, guys that are willing to do the other things for the team to have a chance, and it wasn’t a Kyrie Irving thing, it was all of us. We all took part in why that season wasn’t a success. You don't always get a second chance, so look at it as a second chance and try to simplify things as much as you can. It's another series that we gotta win.”