Just days after saying he would emphasize efficiency for the rest of the Boston Celtics’ playoff run, Celtics superstar Kyrie Irving was apparently unconcerned about his lack of efficiency over the last three games after going 7-22 (31.8 percent) from the field in Game 4. Irving has now went 19-62 (30.7 percent) from the field in his last three games, clearly struggling to finish around the Milwaukee Bucks’ length.
“Who cares,” Kyrie Irving said, bristling at a question about his shooting struggles. “I’m a basketball player.”
“For me, the 22 shots? I should’ve shot 30.”
Irving, a protege of Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant, surprises few by adopting the perspective that his shooting struggles should be swept under the rug in the process of the Celtics attempting to secure a win. After all, as the best player on the floor for Boston, it makes sense that the Celtics’ top playmaker would draw the most attention from Milwaukee, which would effect any player’s efficiency.
However, so shortly after claiming that Boston wouldn’t see anymore nights that he shot with unprecedented inefficiency, it would seem like Irving’s answer was also a bit of a cop-out.
Nonetheless, Irving’s work ethic has been well-documented, with the perennial All-Star proving himself to be one of the league’s most diligent and dedicated workers. It’s beyond question that he’s prepared himself but, over the course of Games 2-4, his shots just haven’t been falling. Prior to this playoff run, Irving had shot 46.5 percent from the field in his three previous postseason experiences.
His first as a team’s first option, Irving entered Game 4 shooting 41.2 percent from the field.
