“KYRIE SUCKS, KYRIE SUCKS, KYRIE SUCKS”. That was one of many “hostile” Kyrie Irving chants echoed loud by fans at TD Garden in Boston. Kyrie Irving vs. the Celtics in Game 1 was the most-watched first-round game since 2016 and lived up to all the pre-series expectations.
TD Garden felt like Ancient Rome on that Easter Sunday and Kyrie was the Gladiator fighting off whatever opponent the Celtics/Boston fans threw his way. He could not be stopped, and he looked like Uncle Drew from his days in Cleveland. I think this is a perfect example of the old saying, “actions speak louder than words.”
I was fortunate enough to go to the game and sat next to a couple of Brooklyn fans. The back and forth between us was great. I was going bonkers the whole game chirping left and right thanking him for taking Kyrie from the Celtics. I was on top of the world feeling the greatest I ever have as a Celtics fan. Then the fourth quarter started…
Boston and Brooklyn’s Easter Sunday Special
Kyrie took all that shit-talking from fans and used it as bulletin board material. He played like he was in his back yard hitting bucket after bucket and silencing the Boston crowd. The Nets were down by 11 and Kyrie’s play alone carried them back into the game. In the 4th quarter alone Kyrie went for 18 points and shot 7-9. He showed up in and in perfect villainous fashion. With a minute left in the game, Kyrie hit a three-pointer to give the Nets the lead 114-111. The Boston faithful looked down at him as he was pulling at their hearts. He looked like Maximus from, “Gladiator” as he was toying with the emotions of Bostonians all over.
This was reminiscent of LeBron’s game 6 efforts with the Heat in 2012 where he had 45 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Nets fans to my left and right put their finger up to their mouth and shushed me. I felt every single emotion up until that point in the game. I felt like a buffoon and did not know what to think about the series are moving forward.
Team Basketball, The Celtics Bread and Butter
Then I remembered why I chose Boston before the series. TEAM BASKETBALL. They executed plays perfectly over the last minute. First they went for a quick two rather than a three to tie it, and were now only down by one. The Celtics played the ultimate team defense and got the ball back, getting the game-winning bucket with no time left on the clock.
It was incredible in the Garden. The stadium was shaking and I could not believe what I just witnessed. It was the greatest sporting event I have ever been to and it had the perfect ending to cap it off. Would I have liked a stress-free victory? Sure, but seeing Kyrie do all that against the Celtics; trying his best to break the hearts of Bostonians everywhere, only to come up short due to Jayson Tatum‘s game-winner (THE FIRST GAME WINNING BASKET IN CELTICS PLAYOFF HISTORY AT THE GARDEN). Now that was something special.
Check out the last couple minutes including the game winner from the game here.
Even after the game, Kyrie sounded like the villain and honestly, he took on the role perfectly.
Kyrie Irving comments on the Boston crowd. pic.twitter.com/yvdAm3WM7i
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) April 17, 2022
One quote that really came to mind in this interview was, “The same energy they have for me, I am going to have for them”. I mean, this is the basketball that I was unfortunately not old enough to watch during the 80s/90s. I love it, Kyrie, I really do. You are the perfect man to take on the role of the NBA’s next villain.
From the Lakers vs. Celtics to the Bad Boy Pistons Every Story Needs a Villain
I can’t go a day without consuming sports. I turn on any game I can to have it casually playing in the background. But the best games, the ones that make you jump out of your seat, those are rivalry games. It has that extra hate between players and fans and makes the game more personal like you have a stake in it. You want to embarrass your opponent at all costs to make sure that disappointment eats them up inside and keeps them up all night.
It all started in the ’80s, the era of Old School Basketball. It began with the Lakers vs. Celtics rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. From rivals in college to rivals in the NBA. They respected each other, but on the court, there was bad blood throughout.
The teams played each other a combined three times in the finals during the 80s and accounted for 7/10 NBA championships. It was such an iconic rivalry that they made a documentary on it that looks into the entirety of this rivalry from the 1950s onward.
MJ’s First and Only Kryptonite? The Jordan Rules
Right after this iconic rivalry, we got a new villain in the Bad Boy Pistons led by Point Guard Isiah Thomas. Who was the hero they had to go up against? Michael Jeffrey Jordan. This rivalry was as intense as it gets and these teams made it known they did not like each other. My favorite part was that a lot of today we get to see players vs. fans, not as much players vs. players hate.
The Pistons vs. Bulls had that hate and it all started with the, “Jordan Rules” essentially a defensive strategy that encouraged hitting Jordan any chance he got to the hoop. The Pistons took, “No easy buckets” to a whole new dimension.
Isiah Thomas | The Jordan rules#NBA#BullsNation pic.twitter.com/sLx9CCoFhE
— The Jordan Rules (@Rules23Jordan) December 19, 2021
Jordan eventually took down his rival and it was the start of an incredible Bulls dynasty that dominated the 90s. A lot of that success has to be attributed to the grueling series he had versus the Bad Boy Pistons. MJ has been the most marketable guy in NBA history. We still talk about him 30 years later like he is playing.
Without the Pistons rivalry, you have to wonder if MJ would have reached the heights he achieved as a player. No, I am not suggesting that MJ would not have been the GOAT he was, but I do think that this rivalry brought out the best in him and his story would have been written much differently without it. That rivalry helped shape MJ’s career for the foreseeable future and is still talked about today.
Kyrie’s Mentor and the NBA’s Modern Day Villain… LeBron James
Today’s modern game sadly has not had the same type of rivalries. There has been bad blood but nothing like the 80s. That all changed in the summer of 2010 when LeBron James joined the Miami Heat.
LeBron held the villain torch for some time, especially during the Mavs series. I will never forget when Dwayne Wade and himself trolled Mav’s legend Dirk Nowitzki for being sick during the finals. The Mavs went on to win the series after three straight wins.
Now, LeBron was young at the time but this was his first time being the villain after being the “Kid from Akron” on the Cavs. When you create a super team and have these lofty expectations most of the time everyone is going to root against you besides the city that you went to. For someone who wanted to leave LeBron, Kyrie is following eerily in his footsteps…
The point is, sports make rivalries fun, it’s simple. The added intensity brings the best out of players on both sides and that extra hate adds an extra bit of cinema that we as an audience all crave. This Kyrie and Boston conflict is no different and the NBA has to take advantage of this opportunity.
Kyrie Irving’s Path to the Dark Side
Since the beginning, Kyrie Irving has had a villainous aura around him. He went to arguably the most hated school in college basketball history (Duke) and was used to being in the spotlight with everyone rooting against him. Now, this is not to say Kyrie was a bad dude by any means in college. Honestly, many of his teammates and fans adored him. I was originally a big fan of Kyrie because of his YouTube videos that he had of him playing as a fictional basketball player by the name of Uncle Drew.
He was likable and that all changed one summer in Cleveland. Now, I get why Kyrie wanted to leave Cleveland, I do. Sometimes being on LeBron’s team can hinder your ability to progress as a star as well as force you to take a step back from your potential (Kevin Love, Chris Bosh). Now, most of the time this resulted in wins on the court and that is why these players took the sacrifice. Kyrie was different though and voiced his opinions. He was done and exhausted playing Robin to LeBron’s Batman and requested a trade in the summer of 2017.
The Interview That Started It All
In an interview with Stephen A. Smith on First Take he discussed why he left Cleveland but by the conclusion of the interview more people were confused than before.
Now, Kyrie’s decision was not out of the ordinary and frankly, I think it was the best decision for his career moving forward. However, when you call out the perceived “GOAT” of Basketball there will be people in league circles that look at you differently.
This interview was the first towards Kyrie becoming the villain. I am a huge Star Wars nerd so for anyone that is a fan, here is my closest analogy. Remember in, “Attack of the Clones” when Anakin goes to Tatooine and massacres all the sand people? Well, this was Kyrie burning all bridges he had with Cleveland. At the time I thought it was fine and I was just excited to see him lace up for Boston. Little did I know that this was about to be the most painful two years of Celtics basketball I would witness in my life.
The Brooks vs. Bryson Beef
Now before we get into Kyrie versus the Celtics and where things stand, I wanted to show an example of how a rivalry can bring out the best in a sport. Golf has often been referred to as the beautiful game where everyone respects one another and follows all the unwritten rules. It was exclusive and a game for elites not trash talk on the course.
All that changed when the feud between Brooks Koepka and Bryson Dechambeau originated. Brooks vs. Bryson was the greatest short-lived beef we have seen over the past five years. It started as a petty back and forth between Brooks Koepka and Bryson Dechambeau, but one fateful Sunday during the PGA Championship changed it all.
Brooks Koepka was getting interviewed directly after losing the PGA Championship to Phil Mickelson in iconic fashion. In the middle of his interview, Bryson was so upset that he decided to make a subtle comment about Koepka’s play.
The quality in this video is not the best but it was rumored among the public that Bryson said something along the lines of, “Just gotta start it on the right line”. The “beef” continued and the rivalry started on Twitter, with both of them taking shot after shot at each other in tweets.
Golf’s Collasal Mistake
The Golf world needed this and what did the PGA do? They took down the video and tried to pretend nothing happened. This was an absolute boneheaded move by the PGA. The PGA made it a point to not put them in ANY featured groups together during the next couple of majors. This beef has faded away like the numbers on my old Reebok NFL jerseys.
It was perfect. It could have been the greatest thing for golf over the next five years, but they botched it. I don’t watch much golf, but when this story came out I went right for my phone to understand what move was coming next. This made golf more enjoyable for the average fan and they had a whole new audience to market to. Instead, they decided the “beef” was disrespectful to the game.
If that is disrespectful, what would you call a bunch of Tik-Tokers and Bryson Dechambeau playing Frisbee on Amen Corner, at arguably the most exclusive golf course in the world?
Vader vs. Luke Skywalker, Thanos vs. the Avengers, Rocky vs. Drago. Every story needs a villain and Kyrie vs. the Celtics is up next. If you are interested in the full Bryson vs. Brooks beef check out this video that sums it up perfectly.
The Messiest Divorce in Boston Sports History
The 2018-2019 season for Kyrie and the Boston Celtics was anything but ordinary. It was a roller coaster ride that at first had its moments, but in the end, crashed, burned, and then Kyrie got lighter fluid and blew the whole thing up. Frankly, the Celtics being in the position that they are currently in is amazing and shows the jump that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown took these past three seasons. No, I am not forgetting Marcus Smart, Rob Williams (his impact has revolutionized this entire team), and many other key pieces.
Overall, that season was a ticking time bomb and the Celtics were getting cheated on. Boston was Will Smith and Kyrie was Jada Smith. Kyrie knew his plan the entire time and wanted to see the city of Boston burn (hopefully Will comes out on top like Boston In this series). There has been no love lost on either side of this relationship since and that abysmal season epitomizes the cancer that is Kyrie.
Kyrie’s Promise to Bostonians and the Rafters Commercial
Before the 2018 season began, the Boston Celtics were buzzing. They made the ECF and lost to the Cavs in 7 with Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving coming back from injury. Their starting lineup was those two, Al Horford, and the Jays.
Kyrie made a promise to the city before the season that made the stadium shake.
He then made a commercial with Nike where he indirectly said he wants to have his number retired in Boston. He wanted to be a Boston legend and the city was ready to accept him as one of their own.
Everything was perfect and turning up Boston. That was the only enjoyable part of the entire season and what followed was nothing short of a nightmare.
The Video and Move That Changed the Entire Landscape of the NBA
The season was over from the minute it started and Kyrie was supposed to lead Boston out of it. The Jays were both under the legal drinking age and Kyrie was the Superstar point guard conducting the ship. It was off course from the beginning and the addition of Kyrie somehow hurt more than helped the team.
He continued to say that come playoff time, he would be ready and this team would do great things. But that one night at the NBA all-star weekend changed it all. The Brooklyn and New York rumors were already out there with Kyrie being from New York. But what many players and media in the NBA wanted to know was who would team up with him?
Enter Kevin Durant. Aka the most hated player in the NBA. The two of them were known to be friends and had played each other in the finals before. Nothing had officially happened and this happens every year with the desperate New York media begging someone to save the catastrophe that is the New York Knicks. But then, that weekend, a video surfaced and the internet blew up…
I was so upset when this came out. I defended Kyrie so much that season regardless of any of his antics and how he was performing. But this one I lost it. I had nothing to say. I was hoping that if we made the ECF we would keep him and all this would not matter because we could offer the most money.
The Buck Stops Here
Kyrie showed up to the playoffs but was about as effective as Ben Simmons as a jump shooter. It was pitiful. He went a combined 37-104, shooting 36% versus the Milwaukee Bucks. He was gone at that point and everyone knew it. The only question was… which New York team would get him?
Stars have left Boston before. No one is denying that as it happens. But this was different given the public promise he made to fans, the shitshow he put his teammates through, and how he CHOSE to leave. THE CITY OF CHAMPIONS. Boston pulled out the red carpet for him, offering him the world and he chose to turn his back on them.
There was bad blood now and trust me, the last thing Kyrie Irving needed was to be on the bad side of the fans in Boston. This city is the Mecca of sports and Kyrie Irving started something that he can’t finish. It’s too late to be scared Kyrie.
The Stomp That Started the Kyrie Irving vs. Celtics War
This is not the first playoff series between Brooklyn and Boston which is why I think this can turn into an incredible rivalry for the NBA. Last year after Game 4 in Boston Kyrie decided to do something some consider disrespectful.
Kyrie Irving stomped on the head of the Celtics logo after the Nets beat them in what could be the final game at their arena this season pic.twitter.com/Zoa0EUs7dx
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 31, 2021
Now for all the people saying, “It’s just a leprechaun”. Okay please tell that to NBA Hall of Famer and Boston Celtics legend Kevin Garnett.
Kevin Garnett did not like Kyrie Irving stomping on the Celtics logo. pic.twitter.com/R4pO9HSmUy
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) May 31, 2021
If I were Kyrie and I saw KG’s Instagram story I would shit my pants. Kevin Garnett is one of the most intimidating MOFOs in league history and for him to say that shows a lot about how serious the stomp on lucky was. I mean KG literally told everyone to get out their guns for a game 7 because they were going to war.
Kyrie was offered everything in Boston and he was the one who left on bad terms. HE is the one who decided to say he was coming back before the season started. So when Kyrie comes and stomps on the logo of a historic franchise there will be some angry fans and players of the past present.
As a fan of Boston, I hated the stomp and thought Kyrie was a punk for doing it. But now over a year later, I am obsessed with that clip. Remember when I told your actions speak louder than words? Well, this epitomizes that saying.
Kyrie could have taken the high road and celebrated gentleman’s sweeping a wounded Celtics team without Jaylen Brown. Instead, he was petty and this started an all-out war between Kyrie and Boston.
Green Teamers Strike Back With Vengeance in Boston
The start of this series was everything we could have dreamed of and more. I was fortunate to get to go to this game and it was the energy in TD Garden that Easter Sunday was second to none. It was ABC Sunday, 3 PM and everyone in the country was watching. Boston fans before this series started took offense to Kyrie calling Boston fans, “That salty ex”, and as a result they let him hear it throughout the game.
Kyrie Irving expects to get booed in Boston the rest of his career. “Its like a scorned girlfriend, asking for an explanation why I left but still wanting a text back.”
— Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) March 6, 2022
I don’t know what Kyrie was thinking these comments would achieve but I am so glad it got out there. Boston fans will use anything as ammo and this was one of those times where maybe Kyrie should have checked in with his PR team before.
Anytime Kyrie touched the ball the anti-Kyrie chants shook the garden. He was getting verbally abused as Boston fans tried to do their part to get in Kyrie’s head. From a personal perspective, I felt like I was a soldier for the Green Teamer’s army. I genuinely felt that I had to do my job as Bill Belichick would say and make sure the Nets did not get momentum in Boston’s house.
The game from the get-go was incredible with a great back and forth between the teams but the focus was on Kyrie vs. the fans.
Give Him the Bird
Kyrie dominated during the game. It looked like he thrived from the hate and used it to his advantage to fuel him. He was hitting shot after shot and having fun with the fans as well. There was banter going back and forth all day and Kyrie knew going in, that the environment would be hostile. It reminded me of the 1990s playoff series between Reggie Miller and the New York Knicks, specifically famous director Spike Lee. The documentary “Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. the New York Knicks” goes over the rivalry in more depth and it was an incredible watch.
After a couple of “Kyrie Sucks” and “F you Kyrie chants,” it seemed that the words finally got to him, and he retaliated. He gave the bird and even told some fans to do vulgar sexual actions.
Kyrie hits the shot and gives the middle finger salute to the crowd. Gonna be a fun series. pic.twitter.com/KKN9WoDSGY
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 17, 2022
Kyrie Irving has been ejected from the game for giving a fan the middle finger. Things are heated in Boston pic.twitter.com/qUq48XZJCm
— Ballsack Sports ® (@BallsackSports) April 17, 2022
kyrie offering fans one middle finger for each time he wasn’t vaxxed pic.twitter.com/kQzoXjBGbc
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) April 18, 2022
These were all instances from the same game and I am all for it. Bring it on Kyrie, this is what rivalries are about; both parties embracing it and trying to get in the head of your rival chirping back and forth. Kyrie talked that shit and he showed up scoring 40 and took on the villain role perfectly.
The Kiss of Death, a True Jayson Tatum Masterclass
Now as a Celtics fan I do think that Boston is the good guy and got the last laugh when Tatum got the game-winner. Did you notice who Tatum got that last bucket on? Kyrie Irving. You can’t make a better ending than that. It honestly seems like it came straight out of a Disney story. After that moment, Boston got momentum and did not look back, sweeping the Nets.
JAYSON TATUM GAME WINNER VS NETS!!!
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) April 17, 2022
31 PTS | 8 AST | 9/18 FG pic.twitter.com/DpVUIpHfn6
Another tidbit that makes this rivalry even juicier? Guess how the Boston Celtics got stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum on the team? Yep, you guessed it, the Brooklyn Nets via trade…
The Nets are probably fine with having Kyrie and KD but imagine if they had those two young bucks in Brooklyn right now just entering the prime of their careers? That would be something special for years to come.
Don’t Run From It… The Kyrie Irving vs. Celtics Rivalry Is Hollywoodesque
Whatever side you are on in this rivalry one thing is for sure: Things are just starting to heat up and we get this rivalry for the next five or so years. Kyrie and Brooklyn took advantage in 2019 giving them the 1-0 edge after a Gentleman’s sweep of Boston. However, Boston just swept them this year to get their revenge on the situation and tie everything at one apiece.
This is Boston vs New York at its finest; stars all over the court and bad blood on both sides. This is exactly what the NBA needs and they have the perfect rivalry to market. No, this is not LA vs Boston or even Boston vs LeBron, but this is the next best thing. Boston was stood up by Kyrie at the alter and now he is trying to take them down in Brooklyn.
After the series ended Kyrie was asked about this past season and what he expects for the next one. He gave the perfect answer and I think we’re going to see Kyrie Irving on a mission next year similar to LeBron after he lost to the Mavs in 2011.
Kyrie Irving says he’s feeling “motivation” and “burning in (his) heart right now.”
— Matt Brooks (@MattBrooksNBA) April 26, 2022
He also says that “everyone wanted us to fail” and he’s using that as motivation next year.
Well, Kyrie, I can’t wait. Bring it on.
After the conclusion of game 4, I was scrolling Celtic’s Twitter and was able to find this gem. I hope all my fellow Bostonians enjoy it as I did.
THE @celtics HAVE SWEPT THE NETS, EVERYBODY DO THE BANNER 18 BOOGIE pic.twitter.com/BGWvPy1doJ
— ☘️BANNER 18 BOOGIE☘️ (@Banner18Boogie) April 26, 2022
What Does the Future Hold for This Rivalry?
Well, Kyrie, you asked to leave Boston and now you have a whole city united against you. The last thing you need is a bunch of Massholes ready to rip you apart at any chance they get. The NBA playoffs are heating up and this rivalry is taking the center stage with fans across the country tuning in. Kyrie vs Boston is here to stay and the NBA needs to use it to their advantage.
If this is not the opening game of the season for both squads in TD Garden I will be in utter disappointment. Would that not be the best matchup to watch opening night? The Boston Celtics, Kyrie’s old fling who he left at the alter vs Brooklyn who he was cheating on you with throughout your engagement year. This is what the NBA needs and it would be an absolute shame if they go in another direction.
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
If they don’t do an opening day (which would be foolish) because they want another Eastern Conference matchup so be it. But it would be a crime against humanity if they do not have this rematch on Christmas Day. I can see it now: Kyrie is the grinch that stole Christmas cheer from Boston after a game-winning shot with seconds left. Or will the Jays recreate that same Game 1 magic they had and rip the soul out of Brooklyn yet again.
This is not just about basketball and the storylines that come out of this rivalry are exactly the type of theater that every fan wants to see. It shows how personal this rivalry is and how their fans truly do not like each other one bit. Whether fans want to admit it or not, they like the drama and extra whispers heard from players. The NBA should not run from it but rather accept it for what it is and run with it.
The playoffs have only been going on for a little over a week and we have eye-popping storylines all over. The glory days of the NBA are coming back and this rivalry is the main cause. Let the games begin.
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