Kyrie credits 'long plane ride' for bounce-back win vs. Warriors
For the first time in what feels like an eternity, the Boston Celtics looked like they were having fun Tuesday in their blowout win over the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors.
Kyrie Irving has been at the center of the negativity, with reports suggesting he's become disengaged from the team. However, the All-Star credits the flight to Oakland as a positive turning point after dropping five of their last six contests.
"That long plane ride helped us out," Irving said after finishing with 19 points and 11 assists in the Celtics' 128-95 win, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps. "I'll just say that. That long plane ride helped us out.
"We needed it. It was just we were going to get to a point where we were just going to get tired of fighting each other, fighting the outside world. And it doesn't even really matter. So, we just wanted to come out here and just play basketball. This is our sanctuary. And we have to do everything to protect it. We can't let anybody infiltrate it."
Irving has been vocal about his issues with the media and has grown frustrated with the rumors surrounding his future and standing with the Celtics. But the point guard says discussions with head coach Brad Stevens and team president Danny Ainge helped him blow off some steam and enabled him to revert his attention back to on-court success.
"Well, I mean, it gets a little overwhelming, like I said, but this is just the business I'm in," Irving said. "The business part of it is what makes it terrible for me, honestly, dealing with all this s---. I'm going to be honest with you guys. The basketball part, I have to keep that fun. That's where I'm great, that's where I love to play and be around my teammates, that's what makes me happy."
He added: "Talking with Brad was very helpful, talking with Danny was very helpful, and just expressing myself rather than keeping it all in. That made it very easy to just go out and just have fun playing basketball."
The Celtics sit in fifth place, 2 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference standings with 17 contests remaining.