This had to be what the Boston Celtics envisioned when they traded for Kyrie Irving: the star guard taking over with the game on the line in the playoffs, leading the C’s in their pursuit of another championship banner.
Irving hadn’t been able to deliver on that vision until Wednesday night’s 99-91 Game 2 come-from-behind win over the Indiana Pacers. Irving’s path to this point with the C’s hasn’t always been picturesque, but in the moments when Irving rose to the occasion to pour in a game-high 37 points, he was pretty much picture perfect.