Boston Celtics: Kyrie Irving simply does not bleed green

The Boston Celtics have a serious problem and his name is Kyrie Irving.

Let’s start by saying that the Boston Celtics are not a better team without Kyrie Irving, they just play better without him.

Why?

It has nothing to do with his superstar talent.  It has nothing to do with his pending free agency.  It’s more about his inability to lead and the simple fact that he does not bleed green.

If he was drafted by the Celtics or even signed with the team as a free agent, that opinion might be different.  However, since he was traded to Boston after forcing himself out of the shadows of LeBron James in Cleveland, he had to learn how to love the history, the culture and the expectations of playing in Boston.

More from Chowder and Champions

• 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
• 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
• MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
• 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
• Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win

It went pretty great in his first season.  But, when hit with adversity and a team not meeting expectations, that wannabe leader turned to the one guy he wanted break away from.  Instead of turning to some of the Celtics greats like Bill Russell, Paul Pierce or even Kevin Garnett, he went to a man who does not know about winning in Boston.  He went to the one man many of his teammates battled against.  He turned to King James.

Quite frankly, that is ok.  But, making it public was a slap in the face to the organization he currently plays for.  There is no doubt Kyrie Irving wanted to love being a member of the Boston Celtics, but the man bleeds New York therefore part of his leadership issues or lack thereof lays with what is within his heart.

Appearing on WEEI with Marc James, former Celtics forward Antoine Walker summed it up brilliantly.

"“Immediately when you become a Celtic, you understand the tradition, you understand what the Celtics organization is all about, the fanbase, you get that when you come in,” Walker said, as transcribed by WEEI.  “But to be a true Celtic, the want to be there has to be there, and the want to put another banner up.  I think Kyrie got graded there.  I don’t necessarily believe the Celtics was one of his landing spots.  I think he was OK with it because they have some young talent, and he was willing to see how it works.  He knew he had two years before he could hit the free agent market, so I think he came in with the right attitude, but to be a true Celtic, you’ve got to want to be there.”"

At the beginning of the season, it appeared Boston was where Irving wanted to be long term.  He let his intentions known.  But, as the team struggled and continues to struggle to mesh on the basketball court, those intentions get blurrier by the day.  Irving further fogs those future intentions by getting in a verbal war with the media.

Silence the media by winning

Although Boston star athletes and confrontations with the media is nothing new, Kyrie Irving is declaring a war he simply can’t and won’t win if his team isn’t performing well and winning with his leadership.  It’s really not about the points and assists, it’s about his demeanor and his passion to play for the name on the front of his jersey.  As Walker further pointed out, to lead is to believe in everyone and everything around you.

"“Being a leader is in a lot of different ways,” Walker continued.  “Once, you can lead by example on the court.  The other part about being a leader is getting your teammates to buy in.  That’s one thing I can always say about LeBron James.  For the most part, up to this year, we’ve seen LeBron James get his teammates to buy in to what they’re trying to do, and that’s win a championship.  That’s the ultimate goal.  If you look around, you see the Celtics, Kyrie struggled to get these guys on the same page.”"

Things can still turn around for Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics.  The leadership he seeks has to be organic.  The young players – Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Terry Rozier etc…- have to be able to look in his eyes and see the passion.  They have to be able to play alongside him knowing they are going to battle with a warrior.  Most importantly, they have to see the green blood pumping in his veins in the form of sweat.

Once that happens, perhaps everyone will see and experience what this Celtics team is truly about.  But time is certainly running out.