2017-2018 Boston Celtics: No Irving! No Hayward! No Brooklyn Pick!

[CHIMOCHIS]

We won a title with his bad defense and would of been repeaters if he didn't get injured

Time for our defenders to defend

 

[godfather]

We won a title with his bad defense and would of been repeaters if he didn't get injured

Time for our defenders to defend

Kyrie actually played the best defense in his career the first year with LeBron. He was a minus, still, but his DPRM was -0.89. Last year, he was back to being Kyrie awful like the previous years. But, his overall game was down, then when the playoffs came along he went back to at least being average defensively.

The last three games of the finals, he was good, played the best defense in his entire career.

Kyrie defensively is a conundrum, always has been. He can't defend the pick-and-roll. He's always been a little sluggish defending super quick guards.

He has obvious limitations that won't ever allow him to be great, but also has some attributes that allows him to be effective on that end. Active and quick hands, he's capable of contesting shots.

We definitely need Kyrie to step up his defense in the playoffs. He's going to be forced to guard talented players on that end of the ball.

 

[PinkFlame]

I cant wait till Wall shoots 40% in the playoffs and loses while the Cavs makes the finals again with Kyries superb play.

2 years ago Teague was better than Kyrie, Last year it was Lowry, this year its Wall, when will they learn?

 

[Rich]

I think this might be his worst season defensively since his rookie year. Can't stay in front of a single soul.

 

[The Red Viper]

I cant wait till Wall shoots 40% in the playoffs and loses while the Cavs makes the finals again with Kyries superb play.

2 years ago Teague was better than Kyrie, Last year it was Lowry, this year its Wall, when will they learn?

The other two aren't better but Wall is amazing. For us, I would still take Kyrie over Wall but if you are building a team from the scratch, I am tempted to go with Wall over Kyrie. Eitherway, both are absolute studs.

Anyway, Kyrie has had a bad couple of games. Today, he was really really bad. But inspite of all this, he is the only one other than LeBron, I am not worried about at all. The man will step up when the needs comes. His defense has been horrific but I am hoping he steps up in the playoffs like he did last season.

 

[ACisKING]

From Shelburne's espn article:

"James was seen huddling in an intense, personal conversation with an obviously-emotional Kyrie Irving as reporters left the locker room. Irving had been so upset with his performance in the game (his minus-29 plus-minus rating Monday was tied for the lowest of his career) that he went back out onto the court to do shooting drills after the loss. He walked back into the locker room afterward, buried his feet in a bucket of ice water, his face in a towel, and tried to process everything.

James has learned to pick his spots with Irving over the years. Sometimes a subtweet is the best way to reach him. Sometimes he'll offer up a direct and suggestive quote. On this night, in this delicate place in the season, he chose to put an arm around him and talk."

 

[Tyrone Slothrop]

And some claim he's a horrible leader and teammate.

 

[Cassity14]

I doubted early in his career that Kyrie would have the work ethic and desire to do what it takes to be great, including overcoming real adversity. I don't doubt that any more. Stories like his after that last game are proof.

 

[FrontPageNews]

I doubted early in his career that Kyrie would have the work ethic and desire to do what it takes to be great, including overcoming real adversity. I don't doubt that any more. Stories like his after that last game are proof.

I didn't see the part where he was working on his defense. Until he does his work ethic will always be in question. There's more to the game than offense.

 

[PinkFlame]

I didn't see the part where he was working on his defense. Until he does his work ethic will always be in question. There's more to the game than offense.

What do you want him to do, go out there and defend the ball boy after the game

 

[FrontPageNews]

What do you want him to do, go out there and defend the ball boy after the game

No. He can't defend a ball boy. He should start with the janitor.

 

[CHIMOCHIS]

What do you want him to do, go out there and defend the ball boy after the game

Lmao


You guys are too much

 

[Cassity14]

I didn't see the part where he was working on his defense. Until he does his work ethic will always be in question. There's more to the game than offense.

Yeah idk I guess I saw him take his defense to a whole new level last postseason and am trusting that it will get closer to that level this postseason as well.

 

[buzzdog]

Yeah idk I guess I saw him take his defense to a whole new level last postseason and am trusting that it will get closer to that level this postseason as well.

I agree. The fact that Kyrie took that thrashing so hard and went back out to do the only thing he could at that moment (work on shooting) is an indication to me that he's going to bear down to do whatever is necessary to improve for the playoffs. I know Lebron and KLove will be ready too.

I just hope everyone else is ready to do the same. I think the team as a whole will do what they need to do. Hopefully the Spurs debacle serves as a strong wake-up call.

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

I didn't see the part where he was working on his defense. Until he does his work ethic will always be in question. There's more to the game than offense.

Thank God our friend frontpagenews was there to tell us that Kyrie has a questionable work ethic because he didn't practice his defense after the game, but instead after a bad shooting night was the ONLY one to practice at all after the game

Hadn't thought of that one