Kyrie Irving

[godfather]

Im glad he shitted on Knight.....I think Knight believes he was as good as Kyrie after their rookie year

What's wrong with that? Knight clearly isn't as good, but I do love it that he's not afraid to take that challenge. I don't know about you, but I personally love it when players have that mindset.

Too many aren't like that today.

[Tornicade]

Hmm...

I can break that down further

5 of those ten for westrbook also had Durant scoring 30 in which they were 4-1 and the other 5 he was 4-1. what interesting is that the Thunder are 15-0 when Durant takes 15 or less shots.

[STAT]

In Kirk Goldsberry's CourVision All-Stars article (from 2/14 and 2/15), he selected his own all-star teams on the basis of shooting efficiency. The CourtVision all-stars are the guys who are scoring much higher than league averages at their most common shooting locations.
http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-tr...ern-conference
http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-tr...ern-conference

Of course, Kyrie was on his list:

Though to most Americans he’s still most famous for dressing up like an 80-year-old Unabomber and hustling unsuspecting playground dudes, NBA fans have come to recognize Kyrie Irving as a true superstar. Everybody loves watching the Cavs all of a sudden, and with all due respect to Alonzo Gee, it’s pretty obvious why. Although he’s only starting in the “real” All-Star game because of Rondo’s torn ACL, one could easily argue Irving deserves to start anyway. He’s having a great season and there are only a handful of players more enjoyable to watch play basketball in 2013. While we all know that he’s got the slickest handle in the league, I still don’t think many people realize what a great shooter he is. Irving scores at high efficiencies from everywhere, but he’s especially potent beyond the arc, where he’s shooting 43 percent this season. Also, despite the fact that he’s still only 20, he has the kind of midrange arsenal you would only expect from a cagey vet like Steve Nash or Tony Parker.

And here's Kyrie's brilliance in Goldsberry shot chart from:



Mid-range. Top of the arc. Left wing. Baseline. Too good.

(Until you look at Durant's that is; also check out Blake's sea of red around the basket in the West article.)

[UDcleveland]

In Kirk Goldsberry's CourVision All-Stars article (from 2/14 and 2/15), he selected his own all-star teams on the basis of shooting efficiency. The CourtVision all-stars are the guys who are scoring much higher than league averages at their most common shooting locations.
http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-tr...ern-conference
http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-tr...ern-conference

Of course, Kyrie was on his list:



And here's Kyrie's brilliance in Goldsberry shot chart from:



Mid-range. Top of the arc. Left wing. Baseline. Too good.

(Until you look at Durant's that is; also check out Blake's sea of red around the basket in the West article.)

Hate to question something that obviously has a lot of data behind it.... but below average around the rim? For real???

[rosebowl89]

Hate to question something that obviously has a lot of data behind it.... but below average around the rim? For real???

If it was guard average instead of league average it would be higher. As it is, tall guys are blowing the curve.

[Jon]

If it was guard average instead of league average it would be higher. As it is, tall guys are blowing the curve.

Kyrie is currently at 55% on his inside shots, and that is on the low side. No doubt because he takes a lot of tough shots. 60% is about where you want every player to be when it comes to finishing inside.

There are plenty of bigs pulling down the average as well. For instance, Roy Hibbert is only at 49% this season (pretty weird considering he was at 60% last year).

[CavsinFL]

[wuck]

Kyrie is currently at 55% on his inside shots, and that is on the low side. No doubt because he takes a lot of tough shots. 60% is about where you want every player to be when it comes to finishing inside.

The Cavs overall have a *long* way to go. Only two are above 60%, and they barely shoot inside. Here are the "inside 5 ft" percentages (www.nba.com/stats) for some members of the team this year.

Livingston - 70 % (19-27) - he's the only Cav in the NBA's top 100
Walton - 62.5%
Thompson - 56.9% (178-313) - he's in 219th place overall
Varejao - 56.4% (92-163)
Jones - 55.6%
Ellington - 55.6%
Irving - 55.4% (108-195)
Gee - 54% (109-203)
Miles - 53%
Zeller - 52.5%(83-158)
Speights - 52.4%
Waiters - 48.9% (109-223)
Gibson - 46%
Pargo - 44%
Leuer - 37%
Casspi - 37%
Sloan - 35%

A few notes here:

Irving finished at 58.7% on these shots (176-300) last year. If he were shooting 58.7% this year, he would have made 6 more shots. Probably missed most of them vs. the Spurs. Anyway, I think the numbers for him look very good, even though they have dipped this year. I also think his numbers will just go up as the general talent on the team improves. More options, more openings, etc.

Thompson finished last year at 49.4% (153-310), so he's already improved substantially. More significantly, since Dec. 15 this season, he is shooting at 61.7% (#152 in the league).

Until Jan. 1 this season, Waiters shot 40.1% on these shots. Since Jan. 1, Waiters is shooting at a 58.5% clip.

[Rob]

@kobebryant

Novak on the 3? I think Kyrie can rise to the challenge

[CavsinFL]

As much as I dislike Kobe, I love that he respects Kyrie.

Kyrie and Rondo are two guys that you really hear Kobe constantly praise.

You also have KD saying he'd pay to watch Kyrie... I just love how the best in the game already respect him, that's so hard to earn at 20. Even if someone that young earns it, the veterans don't admit it. Kyrie seems to be the exception

[TyGuy]

What are the odds that the inevitable cliché of "he's a scorer Kenny, not a shooter" gets uttered from the tnt crew when Kyrie gets up to bat?

Sent from my ass using tapatalk 2

[jpow6636]

Now 3 point contest? Can you say Stud!

[Stitches]

Not showing off the Cavs jersey this year.

[apolo29]

One of the best finishers in the league, best handle in the league, best 3 in the league...

What can't this kid do?

[Spectre]

I wonder if the TNT crew has figured out that Kyrie can shoot yet?