The Celtics are set to tangle with the Western Conference Champion Denver Nuggets starting Thursday, June 6 at 8:30 p.m. in Beantown. Before the two teams battle it out on the hardwood, Coach Joe Mazzulla of the Celtics felt the need to clear the air on a Kyrie Irving question that has stuck out in his mind for quite some time.

Mazzulla's comments on Irving occurred during a time when the Celts were installed as the odds-on favorite to win the Finals. Irving's stomp on the Celtics logo got a spooky Mavericks twist.

Mazzulla was asked about the city of Boston's “hate” for Irving, who had a cup of coffee with the Celtics, in colloquial sports terms, from 2017-2019. Mazzulla's devil-may-care attitude has set the stage for what should be an emotionally charged scene for the NBA Finals' opening act in Boston.

Mazzulla's ‘villain' comment on Kyrie Irving 

Mazzulla's comments were published by reporter Jared Weaver on X.

When asked about the city of Boston's “hate” for Irving, he had a simple and direct response.

“We're all villains in someone's eyes.”

Mazzulla has a .738 winning percentage since taking over the Celtics in 2022. The former West Virginia Mountaineers guard took over for embattled coach Ime Udoka, who now coaches the Houston Rockets.

Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) reacts in front of head coach Joe Mazzulla during the second quarter of game three of the eastern conference finals against the Indiana Pacers in the 2024 NBA playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
© Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Celtics must key in on Irving to win Mavs series

Irving has averaged nearly 23 points per game with the Mavericks so far this postseason, second behind Luka Doncic in overall points for the Mavs.

The Celtics have strength at the forward position with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum manning the three and four positions. Boston's ‘Big Two' should be able to keep pace with and surpass the great Doncic's scoring  in this series, but Irving's production could be a deciding factor if the Celtics don't focus closely on him defensively.

Celtics point guard Jrue Holiday is one of the best on-ball defenders in the NBA. If Holiday can get the ball out of Irving's hands and force the rest of the Mavs to pick up the scoring slack from Doncic, the Celtics could have this one in the bag, but it won't be easy by any stretch of the imagination.