Kyrie Irving responds to non-stop Kyrie Irving coverage

Kyrie Irving is frustrated.

Media outlets cover the fact that he’s frustrated.

Kyrie gets annoyed at media coverage of his frustration.

Media outlets cover his frustration of coverage of his frustration.

Kyrie waxes eloquent about media coverage and his frustration and media coverage of his frustration.

Round and round and round and round we go and the cycle doubles down every time.

These sorts of things typically go away when the team starts winning again, but does the winning come first (thus lessening player frustration) or does the peace of mind come first (thus creating a winning frame of mind)?

We all knew that Kyrie was a different kind of dude. He’s not shy about sharing his many layered thoughts that seem to link to more topics than a Wikipedia entry. He’s also apparently as moody as a preteen with parents that are desperately trying to be cool.

You’ll forgive us if we all have a serious case of Kyrie whiplash.

Today’s Ringer article by old friend Kevin O’Connor was a jarring read. In particular this portion that described Kyrie as being detached from the rest of the team.

Sources around the team told me that Irving’s persona has changed, too: He’s become disengaged and detached from those around the team. There is talk that Irving’s friendships on the team start and end with Tatum, with whom he shares an agent. Two sources peg Irving’s change in demeanor to early February, around the time he was asked about the possibility of joining the New York Knicks next season.

It sounds eerily familiar to reports during Irving’s time in Cleveland. (via SLAM)

“He saw Kyrie Irving in the playoffs this year—in between the first round when they beat Indiana and the second round when they played Toronto—go consecutive days without speaking to a teammate at practice. On that stage.

“It’s one thing for people to go through your ups and downs during the regular season. But when you get to the playoffs, the main thing is the main thing, and we’re brothers, and we’re pulling together to get this thing done.

“Even at that level, there were things that made him sullen or reclusive from his teammates.”

Remember too that one of the primary reasons (reportedly) that Irving asked to be traded from Cleveland was because he caught wind of trade negotiations where he might have been dealt. Perhaps there was something in the way the trade deadline was handled that rubbed him the wrong way. Or perhaps we’re all making way too much of this.

This afternoon, in what seems to be a sudden change of disposition, Kyrie Irving opened up and started talking more freely and openly again.

(more via the Herald)

“Obviously it was pretty rough at home, you know, just going through the losses after All-Star break and not hitting the ground running like we would have liked,” Irving said. “But that happens in a season, and someone once told me that inspiration comes from the mountain tops, and maturity comes from the valleys. It’s been pretty ugly at times, but I think that great things or great seasons that happen have come from a lot of down and out times and guys being tried, especially in a team environment. It’s been a learning experience, but we’re excited. We’re excited to be going against these great teams and really be on the road with each other.”

He didn’t stop there. Irving once again waxed eloquent about his life under the spotlight. (NBC Boston)

“Coming to work every day and doing my job at a high level, and putting on a show for people,” Irving said. “I’m an entertainer out there, but I’m a winner first and foremost. When I used to be in my backyard playing one-on-one with my dad, that was instilled in me, that winning mentality. When he taught me how to be on a team, that’s what he taught me.

Irving added, “It’s part of growing in this business and finding a balance between your working environment and your personal life.”

So where does that leave us now? Headed out on a critical road trip, Irving and the Celtics could very well bond over their trials and travels and turn this thing around. Or perhaps they could fall once again and implode completely. Thus re-starting the media cycle of frustration.

Round and round we go, until the ride stops and everyone gets off. But how long will the ride last and who will sign up for the next ride?