Brotherhood Playoff Watch: Kyrie Regrets, Lively Maturing, But Can Tatum & Boston End It In Game 5?

As the Celtics go for title #18

As Game 5 draws closer, Kyrie Irving has gotten more reflective about his time with the Boston Celtics, saying this:

“You have to show your respect here. I think that’s what I struggled with initially, was figuring out how I’m going to be a great player here while winning championships and also leading a team and selflessly joining the Celtics’ organization or the cult that they have here.

“That’s what they expect you to do as a player. They expect you to seamlessly buy into the Celtics’ pride, buy into everything Celtics. And if you don’t, then you’ll be outed.

“I’m one of the people that’s on the outs. I’m perfectly fine with that, you know what I mean. I did it to myself. They don’t welcome me with a warm embrace.”

He’s probably right in some respects here. If you play for a franchise like Boston, the Los Angeles Lakers, the New York Yankees or the New England Patriots, there are expectations and it’s probably best to accept those and to live up to the expectations. That doesn’t mean you can guarantee titles, but that’s the standard for teams like Boston. There’s no getting around that.

Calling it a “cult” suggests that while he’s reflective, he still hasn't completely figured it out.

Rookie teammate and fellow former Blue Devil Dereck Lively has shown striking maturity for such a young player. He called out star teammate Luka Doncic for complaining about the referees and it seemed to hit home with Doncic, who complained less in Game 4.

He is still a teenage rookie though and his comments about the Boston crowd not being too loud weren’t the smartest thing he might have said. The Celtic fans are very likely to get all over Irving and Lively on Monday night, and also likely to try to disprove his (and Irving’s) comments about their volume level.

Boston’s Jayson Tatum thinks so. Here’s what he said after the blowout loss to Dallas in Game 4: “I think it’s going to be as loud as it’s ever been in my seven years of being a Celtic. Excited to go back home. Celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday and compete for a championship on Monday.”

• Kyrie Irving Apologizes, Wishes He Could ‘Write a Letter’ to Celtics Fans & Organization
• Kyrie Irving comments on video of his dad and Luka Doncic’s dad
• Kyrie shares theory for why he’s ‘on the outs’ in Boston
• Kyrie Irving Warns Players About Signing With Boston; Calls Celtics a ‘Cult’ and ‘Different Vibe’
• Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving goes viral over nicknames for his dad, Luka Doncic’s father
• Kyrie Irving Unleashes Fierce Reality Check on Celtics Before Game 5 of NBA Finals
• “Ended up becoming the little big brother”: Dereck Lively II gets candid about his relationship with Mavs coach Tyson Chandler
• Dereck Lively II Drops Bombshell Secrets on Mavericks’ Strategy Before Game 5
• Rookie Lively leaving an impression as Mavericks try to stay alive in NBA Finals
• Dereck Lively II’s blunt message to Luka Doncic changes everything for Mavericks
• Jayson Tatum Shows Love To Celtics Fans Ahead Of Potential NBA Championship Win
• Jayson Tatum reflects on how being a dad changed his life and career​
• Jayson Tatum reflects on how fatherhood shaped his career with Celtics on brink of title
• Jayson Tatum admits he didn’t know who one Celtics legend was as a rookie
• Kyrie Irving admits he didn’t embrace Celtics history, Jayson Tatum did
• Commentary: It’s time for Jayson Tatum to lead Celtics to NBA title
• 2024 NBA Finals: Can the Boston Celtics Keep Their Core Together?
• Knicks Star Sounds Off on Jayson Tatum