Wins against Irving as revenge and satisfaction for fans
The jubilation of Celtics-Fans was not only loud, but also associated with malice. Malice for that Kyrie Andrew Irving. A Celtics win is always nice for Greens supporters. But a win against Irving is more. It is revenge – and above all satisfaction. Irving has known this since he left the Celtics for Brooklyn in the summer of 2019.
Because since then they feel Bostonians lied to and cheated on. Irving, who died in the summer of 2017 from the Cleveland Cavaliers had come before the first home game of the 2018/19 season on the floor of the TD Garden stood where the Celtics logo is printed in the center. And he had said to the cheers of the crowd: “If you still want me, I plan to extend.” But then he went to Brooklyn anyway. They still haven’t forgiven him for that – and they show it to him at every guest performance in Boston.
Even less popular than Alex Rodriguez
When the guests came to warm up in the hall, which was at most a quarter full, on Wednesday 24 minutes before the start of the game, expressions of dissatisfaction began from the stands. The first layup. “Booooo”. The second layup. “Booooo.”
In the TV station “NBC Sports Boston” had they asked where Irving was on the list of “Boston’s greatest sports villains” Rank? Answer: at the top. Even ahead of Alex Rodriguez, the former baseball pro of the New York Yankees. You have to do that first. But that’s mainly because Irving played the role of “villain“, i.e. the villain, assume she likes to play and also dish out to the fans, says Cedric Maxwell, once a Celtics professional for many years (among others Finals MVP 1981) and today’s radio expert.
$50,000 fine for middle finger to fans
However, in the 114-115 loss in game one, Irving went too far. He had played well and scored 39 points. But he had also twice stretched out the middle finger to the fans – and was for it by the NBA fined $50,000.
At some point the measure was full, Irving had justified his actions. However, he had used so many swear words that the TV stations had to do a lot to “bleep” each one. Only then were the sequences suitable for minors – and therefore broadcastable.
Insults from the ranks from the start
In the second game, 15 seconds had just been played when it echoed “Kyrie sucks, Kyrie sucks” through the arena. Even if you watched the game with your eyes closed, you would have easily known when Brooklyn’s No. 11 playmaker was on the ball. However, the expressions of displeasure decreased as the game went on. The visitors played too well and the Celtics too badly. Brooklyn was now 17 points ahead (62:45) – and led 65:55 at the break.
But when Boston had closed the gap to 77:79 in the 32nd minute and Irving had the ball, the spectators even got up to shout at him for the first time. And when he was successfully stopped during the subsequent move to the basket, the noise was simply deafening. No matter what Irving was doing, whether he was dribbling, throwing, or even just touching the ball, the reactions were always the same: “Booooo”. It was like Pavlov’s dog.
Statistics speak against Brooklyn
In NBA playoff history, 93 percent of teams leading 2-0 in the series have advanced to the next round. “Boston makes it difficult for us to get free throws“, says Irving. Kevin Durant, the second superstar, emphasizes that he always has several Celtics players around him. This is one of the reasons why he only hit four of his 17 shots from the field on Wednesday.
The Nets have home rights for the next two games. Experts assume a long series despite the 0:2 deficit. Should Brooklyn win one of the next two games, there would be a fifth game in Boston on Wednesday. Kyrie Irving knows what that means to him.