Kyrie Irving

SOURCE SPORTS: 3 Reasons Why the Brooklyn Nets Are Home Early From the NBA Playoffs

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Brooklyn Nets Secure 7th Seed Ahead of Play in Tournament

From projected NBA champions to a first-round sweep, the Brooklyn Nets season is over. The Boston Celtics swept the Nets in 4 games in the NBA playoffs first round. The Nets were the only team to be swept in the first round of the playoffs. Here are three reasons why the Nets are off to Cancun.

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Lack Of Chemistry

The Net’s lack of playing time together finally showed its ugly head going up against a Celtics core that has been playing ball together for several years. The Nets were without Kyrie Irving for most of the season at home, and Kevin Durant missed significant time with a knee injury. The two All-Stars didn’t get time to gel much this season.

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James Harden Factor

Midway last season, the Nets formed a big three by acquiring Harden, who, midway through this season, already had a change of heart that led him to Philadelphia. To first get Harden, the Nets had to give up many assets for him, and when they traded him, they were stuck with a disgruntled Ben Simmons.

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Lack Of Size

The Nets are a small team, and the Celtics took every advantage of it. The Celtics outrebounded the Nets, bullied the Nets, and out-hustled the Nets for four straight games. Durant and Irving were harassed and contested on every possession, and many turnovers both stars had shown.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Kyrie Irving Fined $50K for Flipping the Bird at Celtics Fans During Game 1

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Kyrie Irving knew he would be hit with a hefty fine for giving the Boston Celtics fans the double bird during game 1 of the NBA playoffs. Well, the league hit the Brooklyn Nets point guard in the pockets. The NBA has fined Irving $50k for his actions toward the fans Sunday afternoon.

“The same energy they have for me, I’m going to have for them,” Irving said following the game. “And it’s not every fan. I don’t want to attack every Boston fan, but when people start yelling “p****” and “b****” and “f*** you” and all of this, 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*** that. It’s the playoffs. This is what it is.”

Heading into tonight’s game 2 with the Nets trailing in the series 1-0, it will be interesting to see if Irving will continue to stand by his word to give the Celtics fans the same energy again.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Lebron James on Kyrie Irving: “Damn Shame He Ain’t Top 75!”

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The Los Angeles Lakers are at home for the NBA Playoffs this year, affording LeBron James the opportunity to watch talent across the league on the highest stage. One of which is his old teammate Kyrie Irving, who is now suiting up for the Brooklyn Nets and playing against his former team the Boston Celtics.

After a stellar 39-point effort, James reflected on the NBA 75 list from earlier this year and wondered how was Irving not a part of the historical run of names. James would retweet DJ Steph Floss and add in his opinion, “Damn shame he ain’t Top 75!”

Earlier in the game, King James had more praise for his former point guard: “Young God-rie is so damn good at basketball man!!! INSANE SKILL!!”

You can see Kyrie’s highlights below.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Kyrie Irving Explains His Dislike for Celtics Fans After Getting Caught Giving the Middle Finger

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The Boston Celtics took game one of their first-round matchups against the Brooklyn Nets on a buzzer beating layup by Jason Tatum. The battle between Kyrie Irving and the Celtics fans could have gotten lost in such a great game.

After hitting a difficult shot over Jaylen Brown late in the third quarter, Irving can be seen flipping the middle finger to fans in the crowd.

After the game, Irving talked about how he felt about the Celtics Fans and how they showed a lack of respect for him and the game of basketball.

“Look, where I’m from, I’m used to all these antics and people being close nearby,” Irving said after scoring a team-high 39 points in 42 minutes. “It’s nothing new when I come into this building what it’s going to be like — but it’s the same energy they have for me, I’m going to have the same energy for them.

“And it’s not every fan, I don’t want to attack every fan, every Boston fan. When people start yelling ‘p—y’ or ‘b—-‘ and ‘f— you’ and all this stuff, there’s only but so much you take as a competitor. We’re the ones expected to be docile and be humble, take a humble approach, f— that, it’s the playoffs. This is what it is.”

For decades, Boston has been a tough place to play for African American players. Irving was a Celtic for two seasons, and during that time, it was all love. After signing with the Nets two years ago, the disconnect and animosity started to occur.

“I know what to expect in here,” Irving said after Sunday’s game. “And it’s the same energy I’m giving back to them. It is what it is. I’m not really focused on it, it’s fun, you know what I’m saying? Where I’m from I’ve dealt with so much, so coming in here you relish it as a competitor. … This isn’t my first time at TD Garden so what you guys saw, what you guys think is entertainment, or the fans think is entertainment, all is fair in competition.

“So if somebody’s going to call me out on my name, I’m gonna look at them straight in the eye and see if they really ’bout it. Most of the time they’re not.”

Irving put up amazing numbers despite the drama and appears to be willing to be the villain in Boston. Game 2 is set on Wednesday night, right back in Boston.

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NY Mayor Eric Adams Doubles Back On Vaccine Rule For Pro Athletes, Performers

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kyrie irving new york city mayor eric adams

Professional athletes and performers in New York City no longer have to comply with the private sector coronavirus vaccine mandate. Mayor Eric Adams says he’s making an exemption because hometown teams had an unfair disadvantage because visiting players who weren’t vaccinated were allowed to play.

This now means unvaccinated Nets star Kyrie Irving no longer has to sit out home games and Yankees and Mets players who have not gotten the shot can play at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field once baseball season starts.

The mayor is getting backlash from some who say this is unfair to other employees who were forced to get the shot. Hundreds of city employees were fired for not getting the vaccine and Adams says they will not be re-hired.

Councilman Joe Borelli took to Twitter saying it’s unfair to exempt basketball players from the city’s private sector vaccine mandate but not arena ushers or janitors.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Kyrie Irving Drops New Career High 60 Against the Magic

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Kyrie Irving is no magician but he pulled out the bag of tricks in last night’s 150-108 blow out victory against the Orlando Magic.

Since Irving is only allowed to play half the time, since he can’t play in home games due to New York’s covid restrictions, we must appreciate what we’re witnessing.

In Kyrie Irving’s last three games, he is averaging 44 points. In his last two games, he scored 50 plus and in his last game he dropped a career high 60! Kyrie manhandled the Magics in the Amway Center.

He scored 41 of his 60 points in the first half. Things got started right away. In 23 first-half minutes, Irving went 14-for-19 from the field, 6-for-7 from beyond the arc and 7-for-7 from the free throw line while adding 3 rebounds and 3 assists. 

Irving finished the game 20-for-31 from the field, 8-for-12 from beyond the arc and 12-for-13 from the free throw line. Along with this being a career high for Irving, he set multiple records in the first-half alone. It was the highest-scoring half of his career and the highest-scoring half for any player this season.

The last player to score as many as Irving in a half was Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, who dropped 51 points in the second half of a March 24, 2017, game against the Boston Celtics. Booker finished that game with 70 points.

Irving’s 41 points is the most one player has scored in one half against the Magic in the franchise’s history. The Nets’ 86 first-half points are also a franchise record. It was also the most the Magic have ever given up in one half.

Kyrie’s Tuesday 60-point performance and Durant’s 53 points in Sunday’s win over the New York Knicks, but the teammates in the record books. They became the first teammates in NBA history to score 50 or more points in back-to-back games.

Kyrie Irving, and the NBA has been on tear as of late. In this month alone, Kyrie 60. Karl Anthony-Towns dropped 60. Lebron James put up 56 and 50 respectively. Jayson Tatum dropped 54. Kevin Durant dropped 53 and Kyrie dropped 50 in his last game.

How can you not appreciate this caliber of basketball? Who’s going to be the next to score big? Let us know what you think.

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams Won’t Make Exception For Kyrie Iriving

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kyrie irving new york city mayor eric adams

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is continuing to say he won’t make an exception for unvaccinated Nets star Kyrie Irving.

Mayor Adams told CNBC rules are rules and that letting Kyrie Irving play home games “would send the wrong message” to the rest of New York City.

Adams has told thousands of municipal employees “no jab, no job” so the way the Mayor sees it, No COVID shot, no court time in Brooklyn.

READ MORE: Adam Silver on NYC mandate keeping Kyrie Irving out of home games.

The mayor’s comments came a day after he released a statement saying the city is looking at March 7th to lift vaccination requirements for indoor dining, fitness centers and entertainment venues.

“I can’t wait to get it done,” Adams said. “I take my hat off to New Yorkers — through masks, vaccines, through social distancing, we were hit with the uncertainty, the fear of COVID. I’m really proud of how we responded as New Yorkers. And every morning I meet with my health professionals. Because I always stated I’m going to follow the science. I’m not going to get ahead of the science, because I’m ready to get ahead of all of this and get back to a level of normalcy.”

“But they’re giving us clear instructions, they’ve given us benchmarks, we’re going to follow those benchmarks. But I look forward in the next few weeks of going through a real transformation — that I don’t have to wonder what you look like … We’re going to get the city back up and operating. And we’re going to be rolling out some things in the next day or so on how we’re going to carry that out.”

Continue the conversation on social media.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Forthcoming NYC Vaccine Mandate Lift Could Lead to Kyrie Irving Playing Home Games

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NBA Fines Kyrie Irving $25k For "Ungrateful" Comment Made Towards Fans Heckling Him

It appears Kyrie Irving’s time as a part-time member of the Brooklyn Nets is coming to a close. According to ESPN, The New York City vaccination mandate may be ending in a couple of weeks, leading Irving to be able to play at games in the Barclays Center.

On Wednesday (Feb. 23), New York City mayor Eric Adams states the vaccine mandate would soon end and he is looking forward to that moment.

“I can’t wait to get it done,” Adams said. “I take my hat off to New Yorkers — through masks, vaccines, through social distancing, we were hit with the uncertainty, the fear of COVID. I’m really proud of how we responded as New Yorkers. And every morning I meet with my health professionals. Because I always stated I’m going to follow the science. I’m not going to get ahead of the science, because I’m ready to get ahead of all of this and get back to a level of normalcy.

“But they’re giving us clear instructions, they’ve given us benchmarks, we’re going to follow those benchmarks. But I look forward in the next few weeks of going through a real transformation — that I don’t have to wonder what you look like … We’re going to get the city back up and operating. And we’re going to be rolling out some things in the next day or so on how we’re going to carry that out.”

Recently appearing on Twitch, Irving gave a message to fans: “Just watch how our squad comes out of this All-Star Break.”

Before the All-Star break, the Nets had a rough patch that saw them lose 11 of 13 games.

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