Boston Celtics are currently in a position that makes it look like they might not make it to the postseason this year. With a disappointing 15-17 record, they are tied with Miami Heat for the ninth position.

On top of that, they are on a three-game losing streak, having recently lost to the Atlanta Hawks. But it looks like the Celtics’ CEO thinks it is Kyrie Irving leaving that has resulted in their downward spiral.

The fall of the Boston Celtics?

The Boston Celtics acquired Kyrie Irving in 2017 from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their hope and expectation from him were that his prowess will lead them to a championship, just like he did alongside LeBron James‘ Cavs.

But the injury-ridden star couldn’t compete in 2018, leaving the Celtics inches away from making it to the NBA Finals.

After another failed attempt for a title the following year, Irving decided to move on and left in free agency to sign with the Brooklyn Nets. The Celtics ended up with Kemba Walker from the Charlotte Hornets.

Despite that, Wyc Grousbeck recently confessed that if it wasn’t for Irving leaving, Boston would have been in a much better position.

“We had hoped Kyrie would stay forever and lead us all the way,” he stated.

“He’s on maybe the best team on the league right now and so that’s that. That change touched off a lot of stuff because he left, we weren’t maybe able to recruit free agents in the same way, and a bit of a domino effect. But it is what it is. We went for it with Kyrie. We had a good year with him. He tried hard and then he moved on.”

Is Kyrie Irving leaving the real problem?

It is clear that that this subtle statement means that Grousbeck still rues Kyrie’s decision to move on. However, it doesn’t look like the Celtics are doing as bad as he is making it out to be.

Even when the Celtics were without Irving towards the end of the 2017-18 season, they made an appearance in the ECF’s. In fact, the one time Kyrie was healthy, they could only reach the second round of the playoffs after being eliminated by the Milwaukee Bucks.

Last season too, they made a trip to the Conference Finals, only to be sent back by the Miami Heat. The facts are pointing in a different direction altogether. So, what is it that they are missing? Leave your comments down below.

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