The game of details: the rematch that could not be for Kyrie Irving against Celtics in the NBA PlayOffs

There is no more motivated player than Kyrie Irving in all the NBA right now. The Brooklyn Nets point guard faces the Boston Celtics in the first round, a franchise that he left on bad terms in 2019, with the slogan of taking revenge in front of an audience that booed him from start to finish. However, Game 1 did not end as he would have liked: after a master class in game control and finishing on the hoop for three quarters, 11 minutes and 30 seconds, KAI let go of the first duel of the PlayOffs series with a lousy offensive execution and a disastrous closing in defense in the last 20 seconds of the game. However, the series is long and it is likely that Irving can get his revenge this Wednesday, when the Nets face the Celtics again in Game 2.

The fully packed TD Garden welcomed Kyrie Irving with insults, chants and boos for the first game of the PlayOffs series. This provoked responses from the Nets point guard: he gave them the middle finger and taunted the crowd on multiple occasions.

It was not for less. KAI scored 18 points in the fourth quarter and came very close to giving the Nets the victory on the road; however, he missed in the last seconds.

With less than 34 seconds to play and one point ahead, Irving he took the rebound and looked to attack the rim. He didn’t get any shots and passed the responsibility to Kevin Durant with seconds left on possession. KD hit an awkward shot, missed it, and the Celtics grabbed the rebound. Coach Udoka decided not to use the timeout he had available, relying on his direction.

Marcus Smart drew the mark of two defenders and then enabled Jason Tatum, who was close to Irving. The Celtics forward spun him around and hit the game-winning shot, leaving the player unanswered. KAI.

With this, the Celtics annulled the 39 points converted by KAI, preventing the point guard from taking his revenge. This could come in Game 2, this Wednesday, when they meet again at the TD Garden for the second game of the series.

“It wasn’t hostility, it’s basketball. I try not to focus on it“, said Irving minimizing the hostile reception from the stands. “You have to accept it. It’s the dark side of the PlayOffs.”

However, he did say the following: “I see it in the eyes of my teammates, we know we can win the series. We have to make some adjustments, but we are going to compete until the end.”

Why do Celtics fans hate Kyrie Irving?

Kyrie Irving He arrived in 2017 at the Boston Celtics with the mission of leading the greens towards a new ring in the NBA. Having shadowed LeBron James on the Cavaliers, KAI was looking to be the leader of an important locker room.

Nevertheless, Irving He was never able to dazzle in the PlayOffs with the Celtics jersey: in 2018 he missed the postseason due to injury and in 2019, his last season with the Celtics, they were beaten 4-1 against the Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

After that, Irving he promised he would renew with Boston. However, the surprise was huge when he decided to sign for the Brooklyn Nets, causing a rivalry that continues to this day and has been magnified in the PlayOffs.