Bucks vs. Celtics Game 5: Will the real Kyrie Irving please stand up?

The Milwaukee Bucks host the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at 5:00 p.m. PT on TNT. The Bucks currently have a 3-1 series lead, meaning a win at home would propel them to the Conference Finals.

Boston, on the other hand, is backed up against the wall. They need three straight wins against the team with the league’s best record.

If they want to have any chance, they’ll need a star performance from Kyrie Irving. While many around these parts remember Irving for his spectacular NBA Finals performance against the Golden State Warriors in 2016, he’s struggled mightily in this playoff series.

In the last three games, Irving is averaging 20.3 points per game, but shooting just 30.6% from the field, and 20.0% from beyond the arc. He needs to play much better, and perhaps call his number less often.

Still, don’t be shocked if the star version of Irving shows up. He’s third all-time in points per game in elimination games, trailing only LeBron James and Michael Jordan. Perhaps you’ve heard of them.

It should be a good game, but my money’s still on Giannis Antetokounmpo to get the job done.

If you’re watching the game, join us in the comments!