Hardwood Houdini
Fansided

Kyrie Irving Adds Fuel to Celtics Cavaliers Rivalry

By Joshua Bateman

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 09: NBA TNT Reporter, Doris Burke interviews Kyrie Irving #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers after Game Four of the 2017 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 9, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 09: NBA TNT Reporter, Doris Burke interviews Kyrie Irving #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers after Game Four of the 2017 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 9, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Kyrie Irving brought the Celtics Cavaliers rivalry to center stage by appearing on First Take

The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers were already cemented as the best rivalry in the East, and probably the league as a whole. They already have plenty of history with LeBron James, both in the current era and the past big three era.

James has enjoyed a run of dominance over the Celtics, but the Celtics were also the last team to knock him out before the finals.

Then the blockbuster trade sent the rivalry into hyperdrive, creating too many story lines to keep track of. This rivalry did not need any more fuel, but in one of the most remarkable interviews you’ll ever seen, Kyrie Irving took it up a notch once again.

It wasn’t necessarily anything Irving directly said, but he made it quite clear that he is not interesting in catering to LeBron James on a personal level. And if you are going to question him about it, you better get ready for a mind twisting response.

More from Hardwood Houdini

Even though Irving himself was composed and did not show any signs of resentment, it might be hard for the same to be said going the other way. Irving made it clear that he owed James nothing in terms of his departure, and he does believe his game will be elevated with the Celtics.

Sorting through everything Irving said could be a bit difficult to understand, but he made sure that everyone’s interest on opening night sky rocketed.

This may not have added much to the rivalry, because there was already so much there. What his First Take interview did do is make it public. Everyone was able to see how Irving felt about the situation, and it did not look like he would be phased by anything that might come from it.

There may not be any new material here, but everyone is going to be talking about it a lot more now.

The Celtics Cavaliers rivalry was already going to be the most fascinating story line of the season, and by giving such an odd and interesting interview, Irving is getting more and more people watching.

Anyone who pays attention to any kind of basketball at least saw the clips from that interview, and you better believe that will impact the mindset of a lot of fans as the regular season approaches.

Next: Should the Celtics Sign Anthony Randolph

If you also look at the questions Irving was asked, and clearly people are going to eat this rivalry up, and that could be the best thing for the NBA.

Home/Celtics News