Boston Celtics: 5 crazy predictions for 2019 and beyond
MVP favorite Kyrie leads Celtics
After sitting out games in April due to injury, Kyrie Irving picks off where he left off as a leading MVP candidate in the NBA.
Irving’s ability to take over games is showcased in two regular season games against the Golden State Warriors in which Uncle Drew explodes for 40 -plus points in both games. It is his defense and passing that will really have fans and critics clamoring about Kyrie’s game.
With Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward all playing well, Irving becomes a valuable playmaker for the Celtics. Taking a backseat with his scoring on most nights, just the threat of his explosiveness opens things up for other players offensively.
Related Story. Kyrie Irving morphing into an MVP-type leader. light
The addition of Nikola Vucevic also helps open up the lane for Irving to be able to drive to the hole and kick out to the open man. The space and pace style Brad Stevens loves, along with more aggressive defense allows the Celtics to roll to the Eastern Conference Finals against Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors.
While NBA pundits like Nick Wright pick Toronto because they have the best player on the court, Kyrie Irving ultimately wins the battle by averaging over 30 points a game as the Celtics knock out the Raptors in Game 6 of the seven-game series.
The Celtics meet a rejuvenated and galvanized Golden State Warriors team in the playoff but come up short in Game 7 when Irving passes up a potential game-winning shot for a contested three-point attempt by Marcus Morris.
The ball rattles in and out of the basket as the final seconds elapse. The two-point loss stings for Boston Celtics fans, but also show how close the team is to winning a championship. Following the series Kevin Durant clamors about the Celtics and their future potential.