LeBron James: Stephen A. Smith makes huge Kyrie Irving playoffs claim
LEBRON JAMES will not allow his Cleveland Cavaliers team to be beaten by Boston Celtics if the two sides meet in the playoffs because of his relationship with Kyrie Irving.
As it stands, the Cavaliers could meet the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semi-finals which would see the former team-mates clash for the first time in the playoffs.
Irving was traded by Cavaliers last summer after growing disillusioned at life in Cleveland and his relationship is LeBron is understood to have soured.
Publicly, Irving and James have been complimentary about each other and even played together for the East in the All Star game.
But the prospect of Irving preventing James from reaching an eighth consecutive NBA finals is a mouthwatering opportunity.
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LeBron James cannot lose to Kyrie Irving this year. If LeBron James loses to Kyrie Irving, he will not live that down
Irving is a doubt for the Celtic’s first round clash after undergoing knee surgery last month.
Should the Celtics come through that round unscathed, they could face against the LeBron’s Cavaliers.
But Smith is adamant that LeBron will do everything to prevent defeat to the Celtics because of his legacy and Irving.
“There is no greater negative that can happen to LeBron James this year than losing to Kyrie Irving,” Smith told ESPN’s First Take.
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“And this is why I said Cleveland is coming out of the East. LeBron James cannot lose to Kyrie Irving this year.
“Lose to the [Washington] Wizards in the first round, it wouldn’t be as bad. Lose to Toronto, it wouldn’t be as bad.
“If LeBron James loses to Kyrie Irving, he will not live that down.
“They are not losing to Boston.”