Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving has had a nightmare of a series against the Milwaukee Bucks. After an excellent Game 1 in which he scored 26 points on 12-21 shooting, the star has disappeared. Between Games 2-4, he has shot a combined 19-62 and has not looked comfortable against the Milwaukee defense.
When asked about his offensive performance, Irving downplayed his shooting woes and said he doesn't really care, knowing that the expectations on him will always be high.
Kyrie on his shooting woes (19-62 the past three games): “Who cares? I’m a basketball player. Prepare the right way. … The expectations on me are going to by sky high … for me, the 22 shots? I should’ve shot 30.“
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) May 7, 2019
“Uncle Drew” is certainly right about one thing: expectations for him in Game 5 will be through the roof. When the Celtics picked up his $20 million contract, they were expecting a star that could help them prevail in tough playoff series like this. Instead, they got a player that hasn't been able to hit a crucial basket in three straight games.
Article Continues BelowNow, these performances don't reflect Irving's entire career or even season. He is without a doubt a top five point guard in the NBA, at a point when the position is the most competitive spot in the league. He is still one of the best isolation scorers in the NBA as well, and a contender for the best ball handler.
Unfortunately for Irving and the Celtics, he is hitting a bad streak at the worst time. Credit the Milwaukee Bucks defense, and Eric Bledsoe in particular, for ensuring that Irving doesn't have another offensive breakout.
Perhaps Irving will come out firing in Game 5, gunning for the 30 shot attempts he mentioned. One thing is for certain though, another Irving off-game will doom the Celtics and send the Bucks to the Eastern Conference Finals.