Kyrie Irving

[CosmoKramer]

You disagree while conveniently ignoring the argument. Do you honestly believe that Kyrie's offensive impact offsets the horrible team defense whenever he's on the floor? Shouldn't a team's greatest player make the greatest impact?

Like Battier or Bowen, Varejao's impact isn't in the box score, so fans tend to support the guy who fills it up. His defensive contributions go ignored, while Kyrie's inefficient offensive contributions get put on a pedestal. Varejao's a poor man's Noah. If he could play Noah's minutes, he'd be a rich man's Noah. And the last time I checked, Noah's twice the player Irving is.


Correct. They're both elite, contrary to what some choose to believe.

.... considering you've changed yours so often you don't have the room to accuse anyone of ignoring the argument. At this point we're all tired of debating with someone that shifts his points anytime someone proves him wrong.

In regards to AV's and Kyrie's impact, you're completely ignoring context. It's much easier to make a positive impact as a role player coming off the bench in limited minutes. Increasing Andy's minutes wouldn't make him a rich man's Noah (terrible), you'd decrease his efficiency and increase his odds at suffering another injury.

Andy also spent most of the season replacing Andrew Bynum and Spencer Hawes in the lineup, you don't think replacing two of the worst defensive bigs in the league didn't help inflate his on court impact? You can see the same effect with Nick Collision in OKC, replacing Kendrick Perkins (worst offensive player in the league) pushes his RPM among the league leaders at his position.

Anything else?

 

[amil99]

Question: has another team ever tried to press the cavs when kyrie was on the court?

I don't think anyone has even attempted to (granted, teams were rarely trailing against us) and I think being able to completely negate that strategy will be very valuable as we move into contention.

The Celtics used to try it Kyries rookie year but they stopped after Avery Bradley's 1st degree burns:chuckles: and the Nuggets tried it on him once his rookie year and he beat it with ease for the gamewinning layup.

 

[cavsfan21]

That what Lebron asked Kyrie in that now famous picture of them in the all-star game:

"Are you going to be ok if they press?"

 

[CavsFan87]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Itching for some basketball?! Tune into <a href="https://twitter.com/espn">@espn</a> tonight at 9PM ET to watch <a href="https://twitter.com/KyrieIrving">@KyrieIrving</a> in the <a href="https://twitter.com/usabasketball">@usabasketball</a> Showcase. <a href="http://t.co/7XbUJFCbUL">pic.twitter.com/7XbUJFCbUL</a></p>&mdash; Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) <a href="https://twitter.com/cavs/statuses/495257159882399744">August 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


I'm sure most of you already know about this, but just in case.

 

[Superman]

That's BEAST MODE.

Now if only we could get him to play as aggressively on defense the Bull's would be #2 in the east instead of us.

I saw some one post they thought Love > KI which made me spit out my gran patron teqkillya all over my keyboard grrrrrr.

I didn't even rebuff such lunatic appraisal though I wanted to attack viciously:chuckles:

Uhh Love is better than Kyrie, not sure what you're talking about here.

 

[shoes22]

Uhh Love is better than Kyrie, not sure what you're talking about here.

They have different skillsets, they play different positions. They are both insanely talented. I don't see any point in comparing the players at all.

 

[Double Down]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Team USA uniform is absolutely fantastic. <a href="http://t.co/WXIHglijw1">http://t.co/WXIHglijw1</a></p>&mdash; HoopsHype (@hoopshype) <a href="https://twitter.com/hoopshype/statuses/495274819085430784">August 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

1. These uniforms are excellent.

2. They show a few players in the new uniforms and one of those players is Kyrie. That may only be because he is a Nike client; however, more noteworthy is that he is in uniform No. 10. Anyone who thinks he isn't a lock for the USA team is crazy (and there are still some crazy people out there -- particularly in DC and Portland). If they've already given him a number like that, it's a lock.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kyrie Irving (<a href="https://twitter.com/KyrieIrving">@KyrieIrving</a>) rocking the New USA jerseys! <a href="http://t.co/kMIhRGnCst">pic.twitter.com/kMIhRGnCst</a></p>&mdash; Kyrie Irving Fans (@KyrieIrvingFans) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyrieIrvingFans/statuses/495283347644751872">August 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Ohio]

Kyrie made it

 

[shoes22]

Congrats Kyrie! Elite company.

 

[ChicagoCavFan]

They are talking right now on Sirius NBA about the last guard to be selected - Curry, Kyrie, Lillard or Wall? Arguing to keep the best defender of the bunch. The Coach K connection may pay off.

Honestly, outside of Team USA, here is how I rank these 4 today:

Curry
Wall
Irving
Lillard

This list will change over time.

Just heard there are some locks: Curry, Rose, Harden, George and Durant

 

[shoes22]

I would not take Wall over Irving.

 

[pr26]

I would not take Wall over Irving.

Agreed, especially since Rose is a lock. Would take Curry, Irving, and Lillard over Wall in a timeshare with Rose.

 

[Cashius X]

Agree with that list 100%. If Kyrie even plays an inkling of defense this upcoming season I'll have him passing Wall though :chuckles:

Think when it's all said and done, his defense is what will keep him off the Team USA roster. Hoping that's not the case but if average offensive players like DJ Augustine and Jeff Teague gave him fits last year I'm nervous about how he looks defending the likes of Curry, Dame, Wall, and D Rose game after game after game.

We'll see how he looks tonight though.

 

[Double Down]

Agree with that list 100%. If Kyrie even plays an inkling of defense this upcoming season I'll have him passing Wall though :chuckles:

Think when it's all said and done, his defense is what will keep him off the Team USA roster. Hoping that's not the case but if average offensive players like DJ Augustine and Jeff Teague gave him fits last year I'm nervous about how he looks defending the likes of Curry, Dame, Wall, and D Rose game after game after game.

We'll see how he looks tonight though.

Irving will be on the team. He was all but promised a spot when he got talked out of playing for Australia. He already has a jersey number (10). It's a done deal.

 

[TyGuy]

I'm surprised rose is such a lock. Even when he was healthy I thought he was very good but not great(super star) and a tad overrated. His numbers for an mvp were quite mediocre, but the bulls had a lot of success. The guy was absolutely shut down by the heat in the playoffs and we always had the bulls number when we were a playoff team. Then you have to factor in that he was away from the game for two years and never was a great individual defender despite his tremendous athletic gifts.

Curry would be the biggest lock for me of the point guards, although they are viewing him as a combo. I think right now he is the best followed by Kyrie despite his (bad) year.