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How Kyrie Irving Could Jumpstart the Celtics Offense

By Jeremy Stevens

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 20: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball against Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the second quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on October 20, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 102-92. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 20: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball against Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the second quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on October 20, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 102-92. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Kyrie Irving needs to be the one to get the offense back on track

The Boston Celtics‘ offense, led by Kyrie Irving, has struggled to find consistent scoring in it’s first three games of the season. This puts a lot of pressure on Irving, who was to reinvent himself as a playmaker after stepping out of LeBron James‘ shadow, to write his own story.

Following the injury of Gordon Hayward, it seems that Irving has stepped out of one shadow just to find himself in another – the shadow of Isaiah Thomas.

The Celtics offense last year had Thomas as the primary scoring option with Al Horford as the third, and no real second option in between. Avery Bradley on his own is a decent second option, but maybe not so much that you’d want him in that role on a contending team, and the same could have been said about Jae Crowder. Having two elite role players, however, was almost enough.

Now, the not-quite-second-options are Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. The ceiling for that tandem is much higher, but they have so much more room to grow before the offense can rely on them.

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This is why the “new” Kyrie Irving needs to adapt. I understand and appreciate the reputation that he wants to build for himself, but Kyrie the playmaker isn’t who the Celtics need right now. They need a new King in the Fourth.

To be clear, Irving is not to be blamed for the slow start. Irving is certainly not to be blamed for having to play without Hayward, Marcus Smart, and Marcus Morris in just the third game of the season, a game where 55 fouls were called while only about 30 were actually committed. I don’t think Irving is the problem at all, but he is the solution.

It’s important to remember that at this time last year, there was still some doubt as to whether or not Thomas could lead the Celtics past the first round of the playoffs. And if he could, it was pretty widely accepted that the Celtics’ ceiling at the time was the second round, and we were fine with that.

You’re probably tired of hearing the excuse that the Celtics got younger and they need time to figure things out. Well, get used to it, because there are 79 games left and nobody is getting much older in just one season.

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All I want to see is a little more of a take-charge mentality from Irving. I want him to not only take every open shot the defense gives him, but to pull up for the screw-you-I’m-Kyrie-Irving shots as well. So long as he doesn’t take 15 seconds of the shot clock to get to his spot, I’m fine with any shot he wants to take.

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