Brad Stevens praises Kyrie Irving before Celtics host Nets

The fact Kyrie Irving isn’t playing at TD Garden against the Celtics isn’t sitting well with Boston fans. He also might miss the second game of their home-and-home.

Before Wednesday’s game in Boston, Kenny Atkinson did not have a status update or a set timetable for the point guard.

While there are those quick to criticize Irving, Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens is not one of them. Though some reports indicate there were issues between the two of them last season, Stevens made clear before Wednesday game his stance hasn’t changed. He wishes Irving nothing but the best:

I think that is one of the things that, unfortunately, when you’re really, really good at something, the level of scrutiny is even higher. He’s one of the best players in the NBA. And the level of scrutiny is unfair, but it comes with the territory of all those guys. I think that’s why it’s so important that we constantly remind ourselves how good they are. The way that people talked about his time — I mean, he was second team All-NBA. He was ridiculous the year before. He’s a heck of a player and he gets to choose where he wants to go play, gets to go home. I think that’s just part of it. I don’t particularly like it. Even being in the seat where you’re getting too much praise is uncomfortable. But get gotta react to something and, unfortunately, we’re pretty reactionary.