Kyrie Irving Reveals New Approach After Scoring Only 3 Points Against Pistons

Kyrie Irving was not concerned when it was pointed out that he had his second poorest game since joining the Boston Celtics last summer against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night. But, the first cannot be counted as he played only two minutes before leaving with an injury.

The Celtics point guard is aware he has a different role to play this season and it is not that of being the top scorer on every night. Irving managed just three points against the Pistons, but they still managed to record a 20-point 109-89 win.

The five-time All-Star played a different role Saturday night — one where he played the role of facilitator to his teammates. He collapsed defenses all night and found passes to the shooters on the perimeter and helped in defense.

Irving is clear that the Celtics this year have to depend on their strength in depth rather than individual talent as they seek to dominate the Eastern Conference. He played a role he is unfamiliar with but made it clear that he is comfortable in his new role.

However, the Celtics point guard will not let go of his game completely and is certain that he can step up be the scorer everyone knows him to be when it comes down to the stretch.

"I was talking to a few of my teammates about this, but my quote for this year is just, 'Be cool,'" Irving said after their win over the Pistons. "I really just have to stay cool. Because if I start bucking and getting back into the old habits of what I'm used to -- and the clear realization is that this is not what I'm used to.”

“So going from being a high-PPG scorer and being stat-dominated, and then coming to this type of environment where the best thing for us is to care about the team, and it's not going to be everyone's night every single night. But I know when it gets down the stretch, when I'm needed then I'm going to be ready. So that's just being a professional," he said.

Irving admitted that his family is also confused about his sudden change in approach, but said right now it is all about winning games as a team and not about individual brilliance.

"Even with my family, like, everyone's used to me scoring this amount of points or doing this at a certain standard," the former Cleveland Cavaliers star added. "And so am I. But at the same time the importance is us winning games and getting to the Finals. So that's where it is."

The Celtics are now 4-2 in the Eastern Conference after six games and are fifth in the standings behind undefeated pair Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors and the Pistons and Indiana Pacers, who have lost one and two games respectively.