Kyrie Irving attributes Game 1 loss to the Boston Celtics rather than the spectators.

Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks has found it difficult to exact revenge on the Boston Celtics and their supporters.

The eight-time All-Star’s old squad, the Celtics, were the victims of a change of heart nearly five years earlier, and the Mavs lost 107-89 to them in Game 1 of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals on June 6. This made him 0-11 versus his former team.

In October 2018, Irving told the Boston fans at TD Garden that he wanted to sign back with the Celtics when the free agency window opened eight months later.

However, on June 30, 2019, he made his decision and went with the Brooklyn Nets.

Even though his choice was made almost five years ago, it was evident that everybody wearing green and white for Game 1 was still aware of it.

Irving was subjected to taunts whenever he touched the ball, and his 12-point performance was surely insufficient to quiet the mob.
He yet maintains that the tumultuous environment did not deter him from his game, as he focused on Game 2.

“I thought I looked really good.” However, Irving stated, “They were slightly to the left or right or struck the back rim.”

“The situation will unfold as it will, but my attention is on our strategy, ensuring that my teammates and I both feel secure and that I can keep making big shots.”

The 32-year-old may have even fanned the flames by remarking that he thought the atmosphere at TD Garden would have been “a little louder.” He did commend the Celtics, though, for always being the superior team when facing him.

They’ve had a few games better than me, and I don’t want to continue to let it get to me,” Irving said.

“You have to acknowledge a talented group. For the last three or four years, they have performed well.

Kristaps Porzingis, a large man from Boston, was able to clearly hear his own supporters, unlike Irving.

Due to a right calf issue, the Latvian forward had not played since April 29 and had missed Boston’s previous ten games.

Even though Jayson Tatum may be a little nervous, the Celtics are eager to play, even though Game 2 is on June 9 in Boston. “I was nervous (before Game 1) I ain’t gonna lie, I was nervous in an anxious way, like I was a little kid. It’s surreal being in the Finals,” he said.

“But we still have a lot of work to do.” If having Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as their star duo was not enough, Boston now has Porzingis back.

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