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[Saba Sports News] A Boston Celtics icon believes the team has successfully “exposed” Kyrie Irving in the NBA Finals.
In an interview with Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe, Celtics legend Bob Cousy argued that the team had revealed Irving as a non-superstar by effectively containing him. According to Cousy, a player must excel in the playoffs to be considered a superstar, and the Celtics have prevented Irving from doing so.
“The Celtics have exposed Kyrie Irving as not quite a superstar,” Cousy said. “He has been severely subdued. They’re not even trapping him a lot. They’re doing it one-on-one. Kyrie’s working hard, and they’re still stopping most of his plays. He’s no longer in the superstar category. You’ve got to perform in the playoffs to determine where you are in the hierarchy.”
Cousy’s comments came after the Celtics held Irving to just 28 total points in the first two games of the series in Boston. Irving improved in Game 3 with a 35-point effort, though the Mavericks still lost.
At 95, Cousy remains deeply invested in the Celtics and is eager to see them win another title. Like many Celtics fans, he is particularly keen to see Irving fail in this series, given Irving’s history with the team.
While Luka Doncic has faced the sharpest criticism in the series, Irving has also underperformed, especially in the first two games. Cousy’s critique might be harsh, but it underscores the high standards for playoff performance.