If Kyrie Irving was trying to start a fire with his comments over the weekend, Brad Stevens is putting it out real quick.
Speaking with the media on Sunday, the Boston Celtics head coach responded to Irving’s criticisms of the team’s defensive schemes following a 124-117 loss to the sub-.500 Charlotte Hornets the day before. Stevens said simply that he had no problem with the All-Star guard’s remarks and was not too caught up in them, per Jay King of The Athletic.
Saturday’s defeat was particularly bitter for the Celtics, who have now gone just 6-9 since the All-Star break, as they blew an 18-point fourth quarter lead to the 33-39 Hornets. Irving was especially displeased with the way that the team defended Hornets star Kemba Walker.
That said though, Boston still ranks a solid sixth in the league on the year in defensive efficiency, per ESPN. Thus, their struggles right now may have less to do with that side of the ball and more to do with overall team chemistry.
