The Boston Celtics have gotten off to a promising start to the season having won 10 straight games after dropping the first two.
Offseason addition Kyrie Irving has led the charge helping push the Celtics to the best record in the league. Prior to the Charlotte Hornets' matchup against Boston, head coach Steve Clifford voiced that he recognized that the 25-year-old appears to be highly motivated.
“It’s the best I’ve ever seen him play . . . defensive effort is far greater than I’ve ever seen before . . . he looks like he’s playing frankly like he’s on a mission” – Steve Clifford on Kyrie Irving on @wfnz to @Kroeger #Celtics #Hornets
— Bill Herenda (@billherenda) November 10, 2017
In Irving's first opportunity to lead a championship caliber team, he has taken full advantage of the situation as the leading offensive force, averaging 22 points with 5.7 assists per game. This has seen him notch at least 20 points in all but three times while knocking down multiple three-pointers on eight occasions.
Irving has also stepped up in an increased leadership role with the Celtics, one that has helped them make another step forward through the early portion of this season. He has been everything and more than the organization had anticipated getting from him and has helped further the development of the team toward becoming a legitimate title contender.
What has been most encouraging is that Boston has been able to do this without the services of All-Star forward Gordon Hayward, who suffered a season-ending injury in the season-opener. If anything, it's clear that Irving has found a team where he can take the next step in his career while competing for an NBA title.
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