Opposite of their heartwarming support for their hometown team in Boston Celtics, the jam-packed TD Garden crowd has erupted with unwanted boos and reception whenever they have a chance against Kyrie Irving.
In a Sunday night first-round intro filled with hostility and bitterness, both Irving and the Celtics faithful have hurled controversial takes against each other. Video clips have surfaced around the internet wherein the All-star guard was seen handing profane gestures against the heckling Cs supporters on and off the court.
But as Irving had his own opportunity to explain his side, he didn’t hide his real sentiments on the treatment he gained throughout the course of the match, via Yahoo Sports:
“It’s nothing new when I come into this building what it’s going to be like, but it’s the same energy that they have for me,” Irving said following a 115-114 tight defeat by Brooklyn wherein he etched a game-high 39 markers. “I’m going to have the same energy for them. It’s not every fan, I don’t want to attack every fan, every Boston fan.
“But when people start yelling ‘p***y’ and ‘b***h’ and ‘f**k you’ and all this stuff, there’s only so much you can take as a competitor. We’re the ones expected to be docile and be humble and take a humble approach. No, f**k that. It’s the playoffs, this is what it is. I know what to expect in here, and I’m giving the same energy back to them.”
Both Irving and the Celtics hold a lopsided history. After vowing that he’ll ink a contract extension, the 29-year-old underperformed throughout the 2018-2019 season from the eyes of every Boston fan as they failed to reach the Conference Finals. He then broke his promise in the offseason and signed a long-term deal with the Brooklyn Nets.
The rest is history, and the narrative looks poised to pile up even higher, as the heated series between the two will continue on Wednesday inside again the home turf of the two-seeded Celtics.
While what happened tonight has left an interesting, yet notorious impression across the NBA world, the only thing matters right now is that this first-round war between the two of the Eastern Conference giants is projected to become an all-time classic face-off in history – with all the drama and star-studded talent that were presented in the opener.
