Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens has said multiple times that the team’s shortcomings in the 2018-19 season can’t be solely placed on Kyrie Irving’s shoulders.

That's why Stevens doesn't like all the hate which Irving is receiving right now with the Brooklyn Nets in town to face the Celtics sans Kyrie, who is out with a shoulder injury.

Irving averaged 23.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.9 assists last season for the Celtics while shooting 48.7 percent from the field, 40.1 percent from beyond the arc and 87.3 percent from the free-throw line. He made the All-NBA second team, but he wasn’t able to lead Boston to a deep postseason run.

The Celtics lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 2019 playoffs in five games. Irving decided to leave the team in free agency and signed a four-year deal with the Nets this summer, ending his two-year run in Beantown.

Had Irving suited up on Wednesday, he would have been heavily booed by the home fans. Uncle Drew told Celtics fans before the 2018-19 season started he was planning on re-signing with Boston. Then, the passing of his grandfather happened and Irving became withdrawn from the team.

Both Stevens and Celtics president Danny Ainge have said Irving is a great player and person and that it just didn't work out last season. The fans in Boston, though, will continue to hate Irving moving forward.