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Boston Celtics playmaker Kyrie Irving was confident that his first shot of the 2018-1919 season, an 18-foot drop in less than four minutes against the Philadelphia 76ers, was money.
He was slightly surprised when he turned off, but no matter. Thirty-eight seconds later, he threw a 3-pointer which he was convinced that he was going to fall as well.
That's not it. In the first half of the first season of the NBA at TD Garden, Irving launched 8 shots – and missed them all.
This only happened once again in his career: December 6, 2013, against the Atlanta Hawks as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"Yeah," Irving told ESPN, "it was the game where (the former Cavs coach), Mike Brown, came out after I missed (my 9th shot) in the second half and no longer faced me.I remember it well. "
Celtics coach Brad Stevens has done nothing of the sort. He continued to face Irving and his teammate from behind, Gordon Hayward, who was playing his first game in return since a terrible injury in Game 1 of 2017-18 had derailed his entire season.
Even though the two stars combined to shoot 2 to 12 behind the three-point line, the Celtics won a 105-87 victory over their divisional rival.
Hayward was expected to be rusty and perhaps even a little shy, returning to the ground after such a traumatic injury. Less discussed was the long layoff period that Irving also suffered as a result of two knee surgeries that prematurely ended his season last March.
"Everyone has been talking about Gordon's presence for 12 months, but Kyrie has six," Stevens said.
Irving said that he felt good throughout the match and that he considered each shot as a good shot.
"I think that any shot I take is a good one – unless it's doubled or Embiid finds me at the rim," he laughed. "At the same time, I was so excited to play … but you just have to keep shooting."
Hayward showed a hint of hesitation at the first possession of the game, when he caught the ball in the corner and threw a quick look at the basket. Hayward evaluated his defenseman Ben Simmons, ready to shoot, then reflected.
Later in the quarter, he ventured into painting for a reverse pose with Joel Embiid in pursuit and was disappointed.
"My adrenaline was definitely right for the first three or four minutes," Hayward said.
Hayward admitted that he had thought of the devastating injury of last season, which had left him writhing in pain, his ankle dislocating grotesquely.
"It definitely crossed my mind, especially warming me up and running in the tunnel," Hayward said. "I just thought about maybe not playing in the background.
"It was (the injury) a big part of my life at the time, so I just tried to get it out of my head as soon as I started playing.
Irving scored with 7 points on 2 shots on 14 and 7 assists.
"There's a difference between 0-on-8 at the half and never shoot again and 2-on-14," said Irving. "That suits me perfectly." Brad encouraged me, my team mates encouraged me. "
Said it might take a while for both Hayward and himself to find their place, Irving smiled.
"It will not take as long as you think," he retorted. "We have been playing very well together for a few months now."
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