Irving of the Boston Celtics accepts the challenges and plays a unique role in a talented team | Tom Westerholm



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NEW YORK – Kyrie Irving's comments have always been valued after the Boston Celtics defeated the New York Knicks on Saturday, and rightly so.

Irving, questioned about his decision to consider signing again with the Celtics, said New York had received a lot of attention. He congratulated Kristaps Porzingis and the new Knicks coach David Fizdale. He explained that being from New Jersey had made New York a more appealing destination, while stating that "nothing looked like" Boston.

"If you were in my shoes," Irving told a reporter at one point, "I think it would be an easy decision for you too."

Again from Irving: "Obviously, New York had a special place for me: I came from Jersey and, of course, I saw myself as a free agent and finally I had a meeting and I was playing for Fiz and his big young core here playing with KP, it was a big problem before I made my decision to re-sign: to plan the re-signing, I do not want to get in trouble, I plan to re-sign with Boston, of course, New York was a strong consideration. "

These quotes make fascinating headlines and shed some light on rumors circulating before the season. Yes, the Knicks were probably a threat to Boston before he made up his mind. Yes, being from New Jersey – and growing up 19 km from Madison Square Garden – made the Knicks appeal appealing.

But as is often the case with Irving, if you dig a little further, you can begin to unravel not only the "where" and the "what", but also the "why", which exceeds the potential of Boston championship and its long window. .

Kyrie Irvin does not like to get bored. He likes conspiracy theories (even some stupid ones). He will think of them and he wants others to think too. He hates being asked the same question again and again (LeBron James questions, for example), but he likes to be asked if he considers basketball as a form of art.

But perhaps more importantly, he enjoys challenges and challenges.

"He's going to challenge you mentally, psychologically, definitely," said Marcus Smart, Howard Beck of B / R, during the pre-season. "It's sarcastic, arrogant, but it's just Kyrie, he's different."

So, if you want to know one of the reasons why Irving is so confident in the Celtics, even before he sees a written contract of $ 190 million over five years, here is the following text.

"It's a unique role I'm in this year," said Irving. "It's something I have not done yet in my career.It's not so much a question of score.It's not so much a matter of numbers, but somehow something like that, it's a matter of impact on the game and having our group collectively I appreciate it's hard sometimes, obviously, you want to hit every shot as well. " go with it, but play hard at the defense and do the right things and make sure we are together even agree. "

Irving's career in the NBA has been odd. He was the first choice in the draft and the savior / heir to the Cleveland Cavaliers when LeBron James left. He was forced to play a secondary role that he never asked when James decided to come back. He won a championship. He knocked out the world of basketball with a request for an exchange that turned out to be a premonitory gesture when James arrived a year later. He spent a year in Boston pestered by questions about his past and future.

But a recurring theme follows Irving: his search for new hurdles to overcome. He wants to grow. He was not happy to be just James's teammate, content to ride out the competitive superiority of another player, but he's happy to be part of a talented group in Boston where talent and production are more common.

This new Celtics team is brimming with talent and their way through the Eastern Conference was brightened up when James decided to join the Los Angeles Lakers. But Irving's goal for the season is new, which suits him well: finding the way to lead and shine at the same time on a competitor.

"We still have 79 games," said Irving. "79-year-old Bruh I try to play one game at a time and enjoy every aspect of the ups and downs we face and the challenges we face as we continue to build our identity. . "

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