Trouble in Boston?
The Boston Celtics got eliminated from the NBA Playoffs last night in 5 games after suffering a 116–91 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. It is hard to feel bad for Boston fans, they have the current MLB and NFL champions in their city, with the Bruins marching on in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, but it is a shock to the fans of the Celtics, and to basketball minds who had this team highly regarded.
Boston was supposed to be the favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals this season. That’s how it was before the season started, at least. After all, these same Celtics made it to the Eastern Conference Finals just a year ago without their two highest paid players in Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. Both of these players were there for the entire season, but it was a mess of a season. There were ups and downs all throughout. There were times when Kyrie showed he was the man to lead this team, and then there were other times where he looked like he didn’t want to be there. Gordon Hayward on the other hand, never lived up to the huge contract he signed. He was still coming off of that gruesome injury that happened in the first game of the 2017–18 season.
Brad Stevens was looking like a genius coach after what he did with a bunch of young players last season. He brought them to a game 7 against LeBron James and his then team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jayson Tatum looked like he was going to be the next superstar and could help Kyrie and Gordon get over the hump to get to the Finals. Unfortunately for Tatum, it looks as if he maybe had a sophomore slump. It could be that, or what many others are saying, he just doesn’t work well with Kyrie Irving.
After the loss, many believe that it was the last game that Irving would wear a Celtics jersey. There are many that believe that it will be a huge blow to the franchise if he were to leave. But would it really be? He’s the ultimate closer in game, something that is tough to find in a player. Even LeBron isn’t the greatest closer, that’s why he and Irving played well together. Kyrie is still the best player on this team, but the team may still be a force to be reckoned with if he chooses to go to New York or LA, where he is being rumored to sign.
Kyrie Irving stated he wanted to be the man and lead his own team. Is that what he really wanted or did he just not want to get stuck in Cleveland because he knew LeBron was leaving? Either way, it seems he could have learned his lesson that being the man is a lot harder than it looks. There are only a handful of players who can say they are the man, and nobody questions it. Kyrie’s postgame remarks never felt like he wanted to be a leader, either. Kyrie seems like he is best if he is just a number 2. That doesn’t mean he’s not one of the best players in the NBA, it just means he’s not the guy to lean on to be the undisputed leader of a team.
So, is there trouble in Boston after a shaky second round performance? I wouldn’t say there is. The media may make you believe there is if and when Kyrie chooses to sign elsewhere. Boston will be magnified even more than they were on morning talk shows today. Brad Stevens will retake control of this team, Gordon Hayward will have another summer to heal and train, and the young players like Tatum, Brown, and Rozier will have another offseason to learn and get better. Fear not Bostonian’s, the Celtics will return to the playoffs next season. They may even get further without Kyrie. Who knows, the NBA is always full of surprises.
