Kyrie Irving's failed leadership tells the story of the Celtics' failed season

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The Celtics disaster should have been clear from the start, writes TimBontemps.

The talk was only exacerbated by Irving and the Celtics arriving in New York to face the Knicks the next day. Despite saying nothing about his future, Irving had seen his name become a constant topic of discussion around the league, and it left him incensed..

"I've spent the last eight years trying to do what everybody else wanted me to do in terms [of] making my decisions and trying to validate through the media, through other personnel, managers, anybody in this business," Irving said,"and I don't owe anybody s---." Over the final 28 games of the season, the Celtics were exactly .500 -- just as they had been over the first 20 games of the season. Over 82 games, they were mediocre far more often than they were good.'This is what I signed up for'

Irving was right. In a crucial Game 4, he shot 7-for-22. His 43 missed field goals to that point were the most he'd ever accumulated across three playoff games in his career. And after the loss, Irving was defiant. Irving didn't shoot 30 times in Game 5. He did, however, go 6-for-21 -- including one absurd air ball on a first-half 3-pointer from the wing that didn't come close to touching the rim. He made just one 3-pointer all night, one fewer than little-used Bucks reserveIrving's performance left him a dismal 25-for-83 over the final four games of the series -- all Boston losses. His 58 missed shots were the most he's had in a four-game span in his playoff career.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Irving was the first Celtic to make his way to the Bucks bench. He exchanged greetings with several players, including

 

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If it should have been clear, why wasn’t it clear to ESPN until now especially since Boston is one of the most covered NBA teams on your network? You act surprised.

TimBontemps the Faster he is out of boston the better , his ego is to big for boston ,

TimBontemps True.

TimBontemps KyrieIrving played a role in this failed leadership, but the blame for this failed season should be placed on Brad Stevens more so than anyone. Stevens showed that he doesn’t know how to coach a superstar. He doesn’t know how to handle the ego, time management among players.

FPrecruits TimBontemps

TimBontemps At some point, KyrieIrving will realize that the highlight of his entire career will be the game 7 shot in 2016. And then he will wish he handled things differently

TimBontemps He hasn’t felled.

TimBontemps They were a team before KyrieIrving joined

TimBontemps Too many chiefs , not to mention a ton of guys who practically play the same position and offer the same skills

TimBontemps Um hello.... where you been,I did call it...

TimBontemps Eh, Lebron, wanna bail me out? You know, we got the F out of CLE. How bout LA? Or I might screw you again, team up with Durant in NY.

TimBontemps Meanwhile in a city far far away,, isaiahthomas smiles and laughs. Then again, maybe sheds a tear. I will neverforget what he gave to that Org to have their Great Savior KyrieIrving come in and ruin what they had. WHY ISNT HE PLAYING nuggets ?

TimBontemps Kind of makes me uneasy as a Knicks fan as his potential destination...

TimBontemps I don't think so...irving is really good..Celtics needs people like anthony davis for stay quiet to Giannis

TimBontemps Hmm I clearly remember a bunch of “experts “ guaranteeing that Boston would win the east

TimBontemps Blame coaching not Kyrie.

TimBontemps And then there’s Hayward. Forget about his role player production on a max salary, he doesn’t exactly seem like an upbeat leader himself. Ainge has done a great job acquiring talent. But it seems like he ignored stuff like chemistry and leadership. Sad!

TimBontemps Its not all on Irving, at the end of the day/game its about the entire roster of players who played in the game as a whole. None of them did enough as a team to win this series, Truth B Told. Boston Management is to blame for allowing the Davis trade expectations to unfold.

TimBontemps Bc he is not a good leader. Just bc he won a championship with leborn doesn't make him the greatest player.

TimBontemps Kyrie is a fraud and only was good because of Lebron

TimBontemps Kyrie Irving's an excellent/amazing player, but he's no leader....that not question, it's a fact!

TimBontemps Funny how playing with Lebron always seems to boost other players' ratings as ' leaders' and 'all-stars'. Then, they leave and don't find the same success. Weird. 🤔

TimBontemps Hes no leader n was a distraction all yr.. jealous tatum lead em last yr n tried doing too much this yr.. quit on his team gm 4 n got blown out gm 5

TimBontemps So obvious that 84.9% of ESPN “experts” predicted last summer that the Celtics would win East.

TimBontemps The past had already proven Kyrie couldn’t lead a team!

TimBontemps Just leave that shit to bron bron

TimBontemps The fact that the bucks bench almost outscored our starters last game is pathetic.

TimBontemps He got the Celtics to the playoffs 2 years in a row. Not bad! But it’s time to come home KyrieIrving nyknicks

TimBontemps It was clear. But all u espn folks said “it’s just a rough start and they’ll start playing well soon”

TimBontemps I thought he wanted to go to a team where he was the man?

TimBontemps At lest they tried har d

TimBontemps What’s smaller his world views, draft value, or shooting percentage in the playoffs?

TimBontemps It's not Kyrie fault though What about all the hype with Boston young core ? The coach ? Kyrie is a scorer not a play making guard they should of did that trade for AD & redo the whole system..but they kept all these ego pieces together thinking it'll work 😌

TimBontemps He will do much better when he comes to NYK next year...

TimBontemps The Celtics were always just a collection of players and lacked cohesion necessary to make it work.

TimBontemps Why does he have to be a leader. Why are stories always spun against the athletes and never the owners or coaches? This dude plays the point as good as anyone not named Lillard. Get off his balls

TimBontemps burnthejersey and letm go

TimBontemps We will be better next season without Kyrie. Once the cancer is gone everyone will be happy and playing more free

TimBontemps Some people just arent built to lead. Doesnt take anything away from their greatness.

TimBontemps Kyrie Irving switches too much. Who agrees with me?

TimBontemps

TimBontemps The C’s got to the playoffs and ran into a better team with a potential MVP candidate. Hardly a disaster. NBAPlayoffs celticsvsBucks

TimBontemps

TimBontemps Don’t forget about Hayward 7 points a game with a max deal 😬😬😬😬😬😬😬

TimBontemps Kyrie is pathetic. Left Lebron to show what he can do, fails, and is gonna rejoin him

TimBontemps Okay hop off the Celtics balls damn bro.

TimBontemps

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