Kyrie Irving: Hardwood Magician

Reardon's Beard

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Dec 3, 2005
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Loved the trade at the time but like others pleasantly surprised by the D and how well he operates this team.

Sure, he makes the team better overall. But epecially the youth. Elevates their game, boosts confidence, and accelerates development.

Just a phenomenal acquisition and a joy to watch play in green.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Oct 1, 2015
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It shows you how much defense is actually effort, assuming the length is there.
There was no reason that Kyrie couldn't be a good to really good defender. He has every physical tool to be a good defensive player. And in the playoffs, he often showed what he was capable of on that end of the floor. It's all effort for him - both physical and mental.
 

Cesar Crespo

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There was no reason that Kyrie couldn't be a good to really good defender. He has every physical tool to be a good defensive player. And in the playoffs, he often showed what he was capable of on that end of the floor. It's all effort for him - both physical and mental.
Yeah, the length comment was in regards to IT4. All the effort in the world wouldn't change jack.
 

BaseballJones

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Yeah, the length comment was in regards to IT4. All the effort in the world wouldn't change jack.
Agree 100%. That's one reason I liked the Kyrie deal. Love IT, but he has a deficiency that was impossible to fix. Irving's deficiency...well...very possible to fix, assuming he was willing. And it does appear that he's willing. That makes him a MUCH better overall player than a fully healthy IT.
 

moly99

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The interesting thing about Kyrie is that during his six years in Cleveland he improved very little after his award winning rookie season. But all of the other Cavs picks have underachieved: Anthony Bennett (playing in the G-League), Sergey Karasev (playing in Russia), Dion Waiters (starting for the Heat, but doing so badly), Jared Cunningham (playing in Germany), Tristan Thompson (still on the roster, but underachieving for a #4 pick) and Christian Eyenga (playing in Spain.)

Personally I disliked most of those guys when they were drafted, and have always thought that the Cavs are just stupid at picking players. But maybe they can't develop players either. Of those seven first round draft picks for the Cavs, Irving is the only guy who has not underachieved based on his draft position. That is a pretty appalling draft record.
 

Marciano490

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Nice scene with him giving his jersey and shoes to some uniformed armed service members. I don't know why I thought I might not like rooting for this guy, but I do. I definitely do.
 

Soxfan in Fla

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Nice scene with him giving his jersey and shoes to some uniformed armed service members. I don't know why I thought I might not like rooting for this guy, but I do. I definitely do.
He genuinely loves being a Celtic. Guy has worked his ass and it shows. Has come in and been a very good leader. Every game I've seen he's giving something away after the game, shirt, shoes, etc.
 

southshoresoxfan

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I’m just still stunned every day that he’s on the Celtics. He’s just a phenomenal basketball player just entering the prime of his career.
 

sezwho

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It shows you how much defense is actually effort, assuming the length is there.
Effort for sure, but I think it just as much shows coaching team and defense matter. I'm continually impressed by the rotations, hedges, challenges and forcing their man into the teeth of the defense nearly every trip down the court.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Up to .468/.375/.893 shooting for the year. His career averages are .456/.382/.890, so more or less what you'd expect. His rate stats are pretty much up across the board and the defense has been discussed. Kyrie is so good.
 

Euclis20

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His shooting percentages are now .489/.410/.89s (fg% is a career high and 3p% is well above his career average). He's taking 6.5 3p attempts per game, a career high. He's averaging just 2.2 TOs, a career best. His counting stats (24.6 ppg, 5.0 apg) are similar to last year, but he's on pace for a career year by efficiency.
 

lovegtm

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His shooting percentages are now .489/.410/.89s (fg% is a career high and 3p% is well above his career average). He's taking 6.5 3p attempts per game, a career high. He's averaging just 2.2 TOs, a career best. His counting stats (24.6 ppg, 5.0 apg) are similar to last year, but he's on pace for a career year by efficiency.
Based on what they did with IT, and how how Kyrie seems to be focused more on jacking 3s off screens than earlier in the year, I wouldn't be surprised to see him shooting 8+ 3s a game by next year.

It that happens, I think we'll really start to see Tatum, Brown, and Hayward get opportunities to unlock their games, since that kind of volume shooting from Kyrie would really demand double teams and traps.
 

InstaFace

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An in-depth article was put up on ESPN this morning that goes into Kyrie's background, his hunger for new challenges, and - for possibly the first time - reveals details about where the origins of the trade came from. Kyrie says, and the article backs up, that his request to be traded came only after they were already exploring trades for him (in particular to get Eric Bledsoe, who shares an agent with LeBron, onto the team).
 

SoxinSeattle

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Does that article make anyone else concerned that he might want yet another challenge via free agency? He's never been one of those after all.
 

DavidTai

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Does that article make anyone else concerned that he might want yet another challenge via free agency? He's never been one of those after all.
Maybe, but I got the feeling he wanted to be challenged -on the court-. That is, constantly evolving and improving his game. This could be handled if the coaching staff keep challenging him to add wrinkles to his play/getting on him to improve his defense/etc. I got the impression that what the Cavs were trying to do, approachwise, was to tell him to fit his game to his teammates, in a way that it came across less as a 'challenge to him' and more as a 'subordinate yourself to the Majesty that is Lebron'.
 

the moops

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Most interesting thing to me was the supposed trades CLE had lined up to get Bledsoe and George. Kyrie to PHO, George and Bledsoe to CLE, Thomspon and #4 pick to IND? Haven't checked the money on any of that, but sure am curious what the parameters were
 

lovegtm

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Maybe, but I got e feeling he wanted to be challenged -on the court-. That is, constantly evolving and improving his game. This could be handled if the coaching staff keep challenging him to add wrinkles to his play/getting on him to improve his defense/etc. I got the impression that what the Cavs were trying to do, approachwise, was to tell him to fit his game to his teammates, in a way that it came across less as a 'challenge to him' and more as a 'subordinate yourself to the Majesty that is Lebron'.
It also seems that he really enjoys being the older guy who has been through it all, as opposed to LeBron's little brother. As long as the Celtics don't implode, I'd guess that playing for Brad and being on a winner will keep him around just fine. His dad also seems to have a big influence on his decisions, and clearly likes Boston.

Most interesting thing to me was the supposed trades CLE had lined up to get Bledsoe and George. Kyrie to PHO, George and Bledsoe to CLE, Thomspon and #4 pick to IND? Haven't checked the money on any of that, but sure am curious what the parameters were
The money should be about fine--Thompson and Kyrie are each pretty similar to George and Bledsoe. It mostly works because George and Kyrie got paid earlier when 2nd year contracts were smaller.
 

nighthob

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Most interesting thing to me was the supposed trades CLE had lined up to get Bledsoe and George. Kyrie to PHO, George and Bledsoe to CLE, Thomspon and #4 pick to IND? Haven't checked the money on any of that, but sure am curious what the parameters were
How badly does it suck to be a Phoenix fan? Knowing your team could have turned a point guard with no knees and the #4 pick into Kyrie and instead getting stuck with Greg Monroe and Josh Jackson’s extremely disappointing rookie season.
 

lovegtm

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How badly does it suck to be a Phoenix fan? Knowing your team could have turned a point guard with no knees and the #4 pick into Kyrie and instead getting stuck with Greg Monroe and Josh Jackson’s extremely disappointing rookie season.
To be fair, I doubt Kyrie would have stayed with that tire fire in free agency, and probably would have (understandably) demanded another trade immediately.
 

BigSoxFan

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How badly does it suck to be a Phoenix fan? Knowing your team could have turned a point guard with no knees and the #4 pick into Kyrie and instead getting stuck with Greg Monroe and Josh Jackson’s extremely disappointing rookie season.
I just don’t know what this team’s identity is. Booker, Bender, Jackson, Chriss, Warren isn’t a horrendous young core but what are they? And they’re currently on the outside looking in of all the top guys in the 2018 draft.

I don’t see any of these guys reaching their potential in this environment.
 

cheech13

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Most interesting thing to me was the supposed trades CLE had lined up to get Bledsoe and George. Kyrie to PHO, George and Bledsoe to CLE, Thomspon and #4 pick to IND? Haven't checked the money on any of that, but sure am curious what the parameters were
I think you have a couple of the parts wrong. It was Kyrie and Frye to PHX, George and Bledsoe to CLE, and #4 to IND. I don't think Tristan Thompson was ever a part of the discussions.

Not mentioned here, but there may have been a second deal that would have sent Love to Denver for pieces to acquire Jimmy Butler. But maybe that was either or and not both. Either way they had a ton going on at draft time. Good thing they canned their GM in the middle of it.
 

DJnVa

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Rebounds the last 3 games: 8, 9, 9

Before those games he only had 5 or more 3 times all season.
 

lovegtm

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Rebounds the last 3 games: 8, 9, 9

Before those games he only had 5 or more 3 times all season.
Some of that is luck/randomness, but he looked way more energetic on both ends, really competed on defense guarding Butler and Wiggins a decent amount.
 

amarshal2

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Their opponents missing 62% of the shots they take is helping rebound totals.
 
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nighthob

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To be fair, I doubt Kyrie would have stayed with that tire fire in free agency, and probably would have (understandably) demanded another trade immediately.
I mean he might have, but I think that with Irving they might have had something there. It’s a tire fire because what they have is Greg Monroe and a mopy Jackson that’s been having a crap rookie campaign (I still think he’ll be OK long-term, but this year he sucks like a French supermodel).
 

allstonite

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Kyrie is on JJ Redick's most recent podcast (taped last night after the London game). They start with discussing conspiracy theories and he comes off as more curious and doesn't take it too seriously. He just likes asking questions about things and then doing his research, although he admitted he got some of his ideas from going down Instagram video rabbit holes. I was listening to the Mickstape podcast earlier in the week and they were discussing Jaylen's interview with the Guardian and they came to the conclusion that Jaylen is as smart as Kyrie thinks he is. That's about right

He's an interesting guy and definitely thinks for himself. Also had a little bit to say about the trade and taking control of his own career and life. He loves Brad Stevens and the environment he's built in Boston.
 

DannyDarwinism

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Kyrie is on JJ Redick's most recent podcast (taped last night after the London game). They start with discussing conspiracy theories and he comes off as more curious and doesn't take it too seriously. He just likes asking questions about things and then doing his research, although he admitted he got some of his ideas from going down Instagram video rabbit holes. I was listening to the Mickstape podcast earlier in the week and they were discussing Jaylen's interview with the Guardian and they came to the conclusion that Jaylen is as smart as Kyrie thinks he is. That's about right

He's an interesting guy and definitely thinks for himself. Also had a little bit to say about the trade and taking control of his own career and life. He loves Brad Stevens and the environment he's built in Boston.
Love the discussion about Kyrie's handle, and just them shooting the shit about their craft generally. They both come off as really likeable. JJ Redick. Likeable. The end is nigh.
 

The Social Chair

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Kyrie is on JJ Redick's most recent podcast (taped last night after the London game). They start with discussing conspiracy theories and he comes off as more curious and doesn't take it too seriously. He just likes asking questions about things and then doing his research, although he admitted he got some of his ideas from going down Instagram video rabbit holes. I was listening to the Mickstape podcast earlier in the week and they were discussing Jaylen's interview with the Guardian and they came to the conclusion that Jaylen is as smart as Kyrie thinks he is. That's about right

He's an interesting guy and definitely thinks for himself. Also had a little bit to say about the trade and taking control of his own career and life. He loves Brad Stevens and the environment he's built in Boston.

This made me laugh

 

DJnVa

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Seeing twitter talk that there’s a report out of Cleveland that Kyrie threatened to have knee surgery and miss the entire season if Cavs didn’t deal him.

The politics of that aside—surgery?
 

BillMuellerFanClub

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Seeing twitter talk that there’s a report out of Cleveland that Kyrie threatened to have knee surgery and miss the entire season if Cavs didn’t deal him.

The politics of that aside—surgery?
Looks like a required procedure to clean up his previous knee injury in 2015. Not something that impacts his performance, but would be nice to have taken care of - reducing swelling and aching during recovery.

According to sources, Irving needs minor knee surgery as a follow to the procedure he underwent during the 2015 Finals to repair his broken kneecap. It's not pressing -- Irving is averaging 24.5 points and shooting a career-high .477 from the field -- but the procedure would ease some of the swelling and day-to-day pain he feels.

Such a procedure is typically done in the offseason, but he threatened to not come to training camp (first reported by ESPN) and then have the procedure during the season, leaving the Cavs without a point guard.
Source
 

Jimbodandy

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According to sources, Irving needs minor knee surgery as a follow to the procedure he underwent during the 2015 Finals to repair his broken kneecap. It's not pressing -- Irving is averaging 24.5 points and shooting a career-high .477 from the field -- but the procedure would ease some of the swelling and day-to-day pain he feels.

Such a procedure is typically done in the offseason, but he threatened to not come to training camp (first reported by ESPN) and then have the procedure during the season, leaving the Cavs without a point guard.
Run that quote through Google Translate, and it comes out as "please don't hold it against me for getting a bad return for Kyrie".
 

benhogan

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This feels like Lebron or Cavs front office playing Monday morning quarterback and using hindsight to rationalize trade/current situation.

They should read the Kyrie trade thread (start on page 3) and then they'd realize how bad Danny lost this trade.

Can you imagine if some around here had known about Kyrie's 'bum knee'?

 
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DJnVa

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And apparently LeBron is upset that team worked on Kyrie deal instead of getting into Paul George discussions.
 

RetractableRoof

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If Cleveland knew Irving needed surgery, did they disclose that to the Celtics? Maybe there needs to be a return of draft picks? lol
 

mikeot

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Dec 22, 2006
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Form today's Wa Po: "Kyrie Irving threatened to sit out with knee injury if Cavs didn’t trade him"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/01/26/report-kyrie-irving-threatened-to-sit-out-with-knee-injury-if-cavs-didnt-trade-him/?utm_term=.ff1f9bc82df6&wpisrc=nl_break&wpmm=1

"Irving needs follow-up surgical work to relieve swelling and chronic pain that resulted from his broken kneecap in 2015, sources told the website. That surgery isn’t pressing. He is averaging 24.5 points per game and looks just fine. Players typically have these kinds of procedures done in the offseason."