On The Court
By Jesse Blanchard
Finding one’s footing in
the desolate wasteland that was
Cleveland basketball prior to the
return of LeBron James can be
trying for even the most talented of
young players. In his first few years
in the NBA, Kyrie Irving showcased
tremendous ability and potential, as
indicative by his 21 points and 5.7
assists career averages.
But on a young team devoid of
talent, stability, or structure, Irving’s
individual exploits were confined to
his own stat sheet—lacking wins or
relevance in the grander scheme of
the NBA. The talent to compete for
the top point guard designation was
apparent, but the lack of wins and
leadership gave pause.
and attention removed the burden
of carrying an entire offense from
Irving, who’s simply one of the most
devastating scoring point guards in
the NBA.
Irving’s game flows from his
dribbling ability, which he utilizes
to gain access to any spot on the
court at will. There’s little difference
between the top three or four ball
handlers in the world, and certainly
no consensus. Who you gravitate
towards largely depends on stylistic
preferences. While Chris Paul
provides perfect technical precision,
and Stephen Curry seamless fluidity,
neither’s handle is as obscenely
violent as Irving’s jagged crossovers.
Other crossovers are designed
to mesmerize or manipulate, but
LeBron James’ homecoming
Irving’s cuts against the ligaments
changed all that, providing new
context through which to understand in ankles and knees. His handle is
built to embarrass, and his ability to
Irving’s talents. James’ playmaking
convert shots with only the tiniest
sliver of space multiplies that misery.
To criticize Irving’s inability
to run an offense as traditional
point guards do, one must also
praise Irving’s ability to operate off
the ball. Irving’s partnership with
James allows him to concentrate on
his strengths, disrupting defenses
without having to dominate
the action on every possession.
The simple reconfiguration of
responsibilities pushes Irving’s ceiling
higher without even accounting for
the individual improvements yet to
come for a 23-year old.
The return of LeBron James puts
Irving’s development in a more stable
position so that the young point
guard can better put defenders in an
uncomfortable one.
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