The Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics could play in the final game of the 2023-24 NBA season on Monday. The Celtics hold a 3-1 lead over the Mavericks and have a chance to close it out in Game 5 at the TD Garden.
However, the Mavericks have other plans in mind as they will look to extend the series behind their superstars Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving. They have a chance to make it a real series if they come out victorious on Monday; however, Irving spoke to the media on Sunday to call out his former team once again before the ball tips off on Monday.
Irving told the media, including Joe Vardon of The Atheltic, how things really work regarding the Celtics organization. He called the Celtics a “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, you’ll be outed,” Irving said. “I’m one of the people that’s on the outs. … I did it to myself. They don’t welcome me with a warm embrace.”
The beef between Irving and the Celtics is evident. Multiple incidents have taken place, from him flipping off Celtics fans after loud “Kyrie sucks” chants and stepping on the Boston logo as a member of the Brooklyn Nets. His time in Boston was unpleasant, which is evident in his comments about them.
Irving hasn’t been the superstar player he is through the NBA Finals. Games 1 and 2 were not great, and the Boston crowd played a factor. Irving admitted that the crowds played a factor in his poor play, as he shot 13-for-37 in the series’ first two games.
“Let’s call it what it is, when the fans are chanting ‘Kyrie sucks’ or anything, they feel like they have a psychological edge — and that’s fair,” said Irving. “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. So 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.”
In four games this series, Irving has averaged 21.0 points per game, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while shooting 43.4 percent from the field, and 25 percent from beyond the arc. It’s been a rough go for the eight-time All-Star; however, he has another chance to redeem himself in his old arena.
Game 5 tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET on Monday in Boston.
Uncommon Knowledge
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