Kyrie Irving: A Star in the making

Scoring Ability:

Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles against Manu Ginobili #20 of the San Antonio Spurs

This is not to be misunderstood as shooting ability. Irving is a good shooter but he is a better scorer. For example, if in his prime Michael Jordon was told to take a contested 3-pointer with a top-notch defender up his face, the odds were, he would miss the shot. However, if you had told Jordon that he had to score against the very same defender, Jordon would have gotten himself open with ease and knocked down an easier shot.

Irving’s case is similar. He can shoot well, but he can score better.

He can lay it up, shoot from all ranges, post up and dunk. Now, when I say “dunk”, don’t imagine ferocious throw downs like those of Derrick Rose or Russell Westbrook. Irving’s dunk aren’t top notch and he needs to work on those. When compared to the other point guards, Irving scores at a higher rate per 36 minutes than any other point guard.

Although he is a point guard, due to poor teammates, Irving has to take the larger share of shots making him the go-to guy in offense.

Here’s a clip of Kyrie Irving’s ability:

Ball Handling:

Irving’s ball handling ability is brilliant. He can pretty much pull off every possible move a Star Point Guard should be able to. His slight frame and quickness also complements his skills. He is also able to shoot of the dribble and pass accurately as well. Most of his assists come after he dribbles past a defender from an isolation set. His abilities resemble that of a younger Chris Paul. Take a look:

Defense:

This attribute of his stands out because the wrong reason. It’s the only link in the chain that prevents Irving from being called a complete Point Guard as opposed to the Offensive point guard he is right now. In a league where point guards are no more the passers but are evolving as both scorers and passers, Irving really needs to up the ante when it comes to defense.

He’s playing against guards like Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Monta Ellis and Steve Curry- all of whom can score at will. More than scoring at will, they can score via different shots. All are more than adept at post moves and this is one aspect of defense which Irving needs to develop rapidly if he wants to be considered as a force to be reckoned with not only on offense but on defense as well.

Many basketball pundits feel that Irving is modelling his game after Chris Paul, arguably the best NBA point guard in the league right now. They’re similar in many ways. Everything which Paul can do, Irving can too, albeit at a lower level.

Can Kyrie blossom and develop into the next Chris Paul? All the evidence at hand, points to YES.