WALTHAM — Kyrie Irving dribbled his way around an expletive yesterday, but, in part because he’s not the leader of the free world and also because he happened to be right, his statement will not cause an international uproar.

The All-Star guard was simply discussing the Celtics’ penchant for digging large holes, out of which they often escape. So far, the Bostonians have come back from deficits of 17 (Golden State), 18 twice (Oklahoma City and Charlotte), 22 (Philadelphia last Thursday in London) and 26 (Houston) to help their record reach 34-10.

So how much should they worry about this issue?

“I mean, it’s concerning when you’re out there,” said Irving. “I think that when you look back on the game, you look back on some controllable things, you know, the way we start off games probably with our pace offensively, how much we are into the ball and making teams uncomfortable — things that we can just control, and the effort.

“And then when we come in and watch it on film, sometimes it could be we’re not making shots and it affects our defensive end, or defensively it’s affecting us offensively. We’ve had a tale of kind of playing both, of playing well offensively and not playing so well defensively and vice versa. So for us, we just try to find that balance, and when we do, then, I mean, we’re a really effin’ tough team to play against.”

The choice of that modifier may be offensive to some and a deft move around more serious danger to others. But, in fact, the Celtics have proven capable of playing against the NBA’s best when they’re focused and on their game. They’ve also struggled to beat Brooklyn, Atlanta and Dallas.

“When we get into the ball and then we’re getting out in transition, like I always say, it’s easier to play offense when you’re not taking the ball out of the rim all the time,” said Irving. “That’s just the identity for us is on the defensive end, and if we stick to that we’ll be fine.”

As for having the best record in the Eastern Conference and knowing there’s still room for improvement, Irving said, “That makes it exciting, because we have yet to see what a full 48 minutes of consistency actually looks like for us game to game. I think that we’ve done it for one game and then something will happen defensively or offensively. That’s just part of developing as a team, and you’ve got to enjoy those times as well, which I do.”

His coach, meanwhile, isn’t resting on early season laurels and what his club has been able to accomplish with the most crowded schedule in the league until the London trip.

“No,” said Brad Stevens. “I mean, it’s something we’ll look at at the end of the year, but no, not in the middle of it. You don’t exhale ever. You stay with your foot on the gas.

“The minute you feel good about yourself in this league, you get crushed. And we have to get a lot better. We were down 22 again (against Philadelphia). We were great in the late second and third quarters, but we can’t play a 30-minute game or a 35-minute game and expect to be any good.”

As for the demonstrated ability to come back from big shortfalls, Stevens said, “I think it’s something that you can lean on if it shows itself down the road, but I don’t think you want it to become an issue. I don’t really feel that with this group, because when you look at it, we came out great against Cleveland. We played poor offensive games against Minnesota and Brooklyn from a shooting standpoint, but guarded the whole games. It’s not something I’m too concerned about.”

Irving believes the comebacks speak to the way the Celts deal with one another.

“Celtic pride, man, and also what we expect from one another on a day to day basis,” he said. “We demand excellence, and if we’re not getting it, then Brad will bring in the team and have a talk or I’ll say something or Al (Horford) will say something or Marcus (Smart) will say something. That’s just holding everybody accountable, whether you’re a rookie or whether you’re in your 11th year.

“I think you’re able to communicate best like that when you hold everyone accountable and there are no ill will feelings toward what you’re saying. The question is how bad do you want it and are you willing to sacrifice and commit yourself to go get it?”

Tatum on hold

Jayson Tatum was held out of practice to deal with a left knee issue that evidently occurred near the end of the third quarter in Thursday’s win over the 76ers in London.

The rookie will be undergoing further tests.

“I didn’t see it,” said Stevens, “but they said that he got his knee hit and it stiffened up, swelled up a little bit the next morning. But he’s going to have further testing done.

“They don’t think it’s a big, big thing, but certainly we want to be cautious and want to know exactly what happened.

“We’re going to get more imaging on (it). We don’t know what’s going on, but it was stiff (yesterday), so we wanted to make sure we held him out.”

Horford caution

Horford skipped the session as part of the maintenance for his left knee/calf injury. The big man didn’t play in Brooklyn last Saturday, but had 13 points in 35 minutes in London.

“We just wanted to be cautious with that,” said Stevens. “He said it got a little bit sore at the end of the game, but this is more about making sure Al feels great the rest of the way.”

Horford underwent a stretching and maneuverability session with a member of the training staff after the Celts’ formal workout.

Shane Larkin (illness) was also a practice absentee.