Kyrie Irving Makes Stunning Admission Before Game 5
This might give Celtics fans another reason to boo him when he touches the ball
Dan Karpuc - Jun 17, 2024, 1:31pm EDT
Irving In Hostile Territory
In Games 1 and 2, Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Kyrie Irving shot just 35.1% from the field for 14.0 points per game en route to two losses, much to the delight of Boston Celtics fans, who haven’t forgotten his antics when he was a member of their team.
Ahead of Game 5, down 3-1, Irving noted that he needs to be confident and silence what he admitted can be “self-doubt” at times.
"I mean, let's just call it what it is," Irving said, per ESPN. "When the fans are cheering, 'Kyrie sucks,' they feel like they have a psychological edge, and that's fair. Of course, if I'm not making shots or turning the ball over, that makes it even more of a pressing issue that they can stay on me for. … I think in order to silence even the self-doubt, let alone the crowd doubt, but the self-doubt when you make or miss shots, that's just as important as making sure I'm leading the team the right way and being human through this experience, too, and telling them how I feel."
When reminiscing on his time in Boston, Irving also noted that he never bought into the pride associated with being a member of the historic franchise.
"You have to show your respect here," Irving noted. "I think that's what I struggled with initially, was figuring out how I'm going to be a great player here while winning championships and also leading a team and selflessly joining the Celtics' organization or the cult that they have here. … That's what they expect you to do as a player. They expect you to seamlessly buy into the Celtics' pride, buy into everything Celtics. And if you don't, then you'll be outed. … I'm one of the people that's on the outs (laughing). I'm perfectly fine with that, you know what I mean. I did it to myself. They don't welcome me with a warm embrace."
BetQL is projecting Irving to score 22 points in Game 5, below his listed prop of 23.5.
If he wants to silence the haters, he will have to exceed that number and lead Dallas to a win, which seems like an uphill battle.
Irving In Hostile Territory
In Games 1 and 2, Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Kyrie Irving shot just 35.1% from the field for 14.0 points per game en route to two losses, much to the delight of Boston Celtics fans, who haven’t forgotten his antics when he was a member of their team.
Ahead of Game 5, down 3-1, Irving noted that he needs to be confident and silence what he admitted can be “self-doubt” at times.
"I mean, let's just call it what it is," Irving said, per ESPN. "When the fans are cheering, 'Kyrie sucks,' they feel like they have a psychological edge, and that's fair. Of course, if I'm not making shots or turning the ball over, that makes it even more of a pressing issue that they can stay on me for. … I think in order to silence even the self-doubt, let alone the crowd doubt, but the self-doubt when you make or miss shots, that's just as important as making sure I'm leading the team the right way and being human through this experience, too, and telling them how I feel."
When reminiscing on his time in Boston, Irving also noted that he never bought into the pride associated with being a member of the historic franchise.
"You have to show your respect here," Irving noted. "I think that's what I struggled with initially, was figuring out how I'm going to be a great player here while winning championships and also leading a team and selflessly joining the Celtics' organization or the cult that they have here. … That's what they expect you to do as a player. They expect you to seamlessly buy into the Celtics' pride, buy into everything Celtics. And if you don't, then you'll be outed. … I'm one of the people that's on the outs (laughing). I'm perfectly fine with that, you know what I mean. I did it to myself. They don't welcome me with a warm embrace."
BetQL is projecting Irving to score 22 points in Game 5, below his listed prop of 23.5.
If he wants to silence the haters, he will have to exceed that number and lead Dallas to a win, which seems like an uphill battle.
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