Paul Pierce thinks key to Celtics is Kyrie Irving — on and off the court
LOS ANGELES >> Paul Pierce has worn the shoes that now are part of Kyrie Irving’s wardrobe. He knows they can be tight at times, crunching one’s toes into uncomfortable positions, but as the best player on a marquee team, they are required attire.
And as the Celtic legend — No. 34 in the Garden rafters — lamented his former club’s temperamental journey through 201819, he paused and, unprompted, placed the root of the seesaw season at the feet of Irving, who, it must be stated, has been exemplary in word and deed on this trip to the west.
The Celts headed into Monday’s meeting with the Clippers on a three-game winning streak fashioned on the road against Golden State, Sacramento and the Lakers. They seem to have turned a corner after losing seven of their previous 10, crediting the long flight to the Bay Area as a heal-
grimage for their self-inflicted chemistry wounds.
But Pierce isn’t buying it just yet.
“Yeah, they’re playing well now,” he said. “They beat two teams that probably won’t make the playoffs. But they’ve been doing this all year. They went on a, what, eight-game winning streak, then lose three in a row. Then go on a fourgame winning streak and lose three in a row after that.
“I’m just waiting to see some consistency. You know, they get happy for one or two weeks and then back again. It’s just tough to find some consistency with this group on a week in week out basis.”
Pierce, now a star analyst on ESPN’s NBA programming, has been fooled a bit in the past by this group.
“It’s like they play well and you say, ‘OK, they’re back. They’re going to be a contender. You know, they can compete for a title.’ Then,” Pierce added, “they go back to where they were. No way they should be a 5-seed at this point.”
As he continued — and as was the case when he was the Celtics’ leader and could set the club’s narrative with his play and public comments — Pierce looked to the top of the roster.
“A lot of it, I believe, has to do with Kyrie,” he said. “I think it starts with him and ends with him. I mean, he has to own up to it. He’s the guy that’s leading ev- erything. He controls the Celtics’ destiny.”
Pierce then made a point to add that it’s about more than Irving’s play, which has been pretty damn spectacular.
“It’s everything — on and off the court,” Pierce said. “If he’s their leader and you see their leader doing the things he does with the media talks and sideline stuff and practice stuff, then it just kind of flows to the team. One weeks he’s happy; one week he’s this way. And that’s the way the team’s been, you know?”
Irving seems to have accepted that part of his job much better of late, but Pierce noted that there is simply no way around that kind of responsibility when you’re that good.
“Absolutely, man,” Pierce said. “I mean, if you’re going to lead, it’s got to be all the time — not just when things are good. When it’s good, he’s good. He’s happy. When it’s bad, it’s like it goes the other way.
“But I don’t think it’s really his fault, because this is the first time he’s been in this position. He’s been thrown in this, and he’s learning. That’s why he’s having talks with LeBron. That’s why he talking to his pops. He’s learning to see what it is to lead as he goes, and you can see the frustration.”
Pierce then corrected himself to a degree. Rather than being “thrown into” this role with the Celtics, it’s one Irving admittedly sought when he asked out of Cleveland.
“This is what he wanted,” Pierce said. “Of course.”
The Truth then offered a verbal shake of his head and a bit of a laugh.
“He’s different, man,” he said. “This generation’s different. Definitely.”
But Pierce was in a similar place, too, years ago. He wanted the Celtics’ leadership mantle, but then struggled with it at first. Shaquille O’Neal, who had hung the Truth label on him in a prior year, told the Herald essentially that everyone wants to be the man, but they don’t realize all that being the man entails.
Pierce eventually grew to understand, and now he’s hoping that Irving, too, has realized his vast powers and the effect he can have on and away from the brighter lights.