From a Knicks fan spitting at Trae Young to a Philadelphia fan throwing popcorn at Russell Westbrook, this week has already seen NBA players subjected to more bile than usual. Now comes Kyrie Irving’s emotionally charged return to Boston in Friday’s Game 3 at TD Garden.
Irving spent two tumultuous years in Boston, saying he planned to re-sign there before changing his mind in 2019 and bolting for Brooklyn. Now he’s bringing his new team to face his old one, the Nets holding a 2-0 first-round series lead, and the antipathy of Celtics fans is expected to be in full froth after he implied they had been subtly racist.
“We go into a hostile environment and we welcome it. We enjoy it and we want the vitriol — as long as it’s not over the line,” Nets coach Steve Nash said. “That noise and that energy from the opposing fans is something that can spur your team on, is a challenge to help you lock in and be more focused. There’s no better feeling than playing well on the road, especially in the playoffs.”
The Nets are taking that attitude to Boston, with a shot to close out the series there.
It remains to be seen if racial lines will be crossed. But hostility, noise and vitriol won’t be in short supply. The crowd will be crackling with enough energy to light the building.
Friday will see only 25 percent of TD Garden’s 19,580 permitted. It’ll be “near full capacity” for Sunday’s Game 4.
“Hopefully, we can just keep it strictly basketball, there’s no belligerence or racism going on — subtle racism — people yelling s–t from the crowd,” Irving said after Game 2. “But even if it is, it’s part of the nature of the game and we’re just going to focus on what we can control.”
Celtics point guard Marcus Smart acknowledged hearing of racial comments from the TD Garden crowd, and said it hurts both the opposition and Celtics themselves.
“Yeah I’ve heard a couple of them. It’s kind of sad and sickening,” Smart said. “Even though it’s an opposing team we’ve had guys on your home team that you’re saying these racial slurs and you expect us to go out here and play for you. It’s tough.”
Irving missed both games in Boston last season with a shoulder injury, and this season’s preseason tilt and Christmas Day clash were played sans crowds.
“He’s an all-world basketball player; he’s quite comfortable in hostile environments,” Nash said. “I’m sure he’ll relish the opportunity. There is a line, but crossed or not, Kai can handle that, no question. We hope it’s all within the sportsmanship guidelines, but Kai can handle it and has done so his whole career.”
“It never crossed my mind to talk to Kai about it because I know how strong he is as an individual, and knowing that he’s probably faced it before and has been able to handle it. That doesn’t mean it’s right, that doesn’t make it warranted. But I don’t know that he needs to talk about it [with me]. What is there to say?”
The other Nets have taken the same approach, as in hands off.
Their conversations have been about keeping Jayson Tatum bottled up, dealing with Jeff Green’s injury absence and whatever other topics they discuss. What they haven’t obsessed over is whether lines will be crossed or racial epithets hurled.
“It’s an understood thing when you go into certain places, you know it’s going to be a pretty rowdy crowd,” said Blake Griffin, who will inherit some of Green’s minutes going into his first playoff game in Boston. “Each arena is different, each state, each city is a little different. I’ve heard things throughout my time in the league. I have a lot of respect for the fans in Boston: They know the game, they’re loud, they support their team. But you just hope it stays like that and doesn’t cross any lines.”
Landry Shamet said he hasn’t experienced anything over-the-top in Boston, and theorized that being cooped up during the pandemic has some fans acting out now. As a star going back to his old city, he expects Irving will face extra bile, but that he can handle it.
“Kai hadn’t really spoken to me about it, the return or whatever. I don’t know if there’s much speaking that needs to be happening regarding it,” Shamet said. “Anytime someone goes back to their old arena, there’s going to be a hostile crowd, hostile environment. There’s more energy there when a superstar comes back, so you expect some good, you expect some bad. That’s all part of it.”
