First off I would like to say that Kyrie Irving is one of the great talents in the NBA that has a bright future ahead of him. Irving has been the face of the Cleveland Cavaliers since being drafted in 2011. Irving has won Rookie of the Year and has been selected to two NBA All-Star games in his short career.
When watching Irving it’s always entertaining, because of his style of play and ability to be an instant highlight with a blip of a second. Though, Kyrie Irving has his “Uncle Drew” moments on the floor he is not as nearly efficient as many thinks he is. Today’s version of the NBA is dominated by perimeter players, and is a point guards league. Irving has the ability to score, but I believe he does not make his teammates better.
This season Irving is averaging a career high in points and assists, but all of his shooting percentages are down across the board. With the acquisition of Andrew Bynum and emergence of Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters Irving’s Cavs were expected to be a playoff team in the lowly Eastern Conference. Things are not going planned, and they are currently in eleventh place in the East. Bynum is now on careerbuilder.com seeking employment, Dion Waiters is looking more like Stacy Patton from the movie Eddie, and head coach Mike Brown has dwarfed the development of Kyrie Irving. It seems highly unlikely that LeBron James would even consider returning to the Cavs, due to how they are looking thus far.
The Cavs are sitting at 16-29, which is the same record as the Utah Jazz. Now looking at both teams the Cavs have more talent, and are in the weaker conference, but their record does not show it. The Jazz are led by rookie Trey Burke, and are in the brutal Western Conference, but somehow they are fighting harder than Irving’s Cavs. I am not saying that Burke is better than Irving, but if Irving is labeled as a superstar that is a cause for concern.
From top to bottom the team in Cleveland is a mess, but since they are in the East they still can make a playoff push. I know that Kyrie doesn’t have a uber talented team, but he can play a lot better than what he is doing. John Wall has arguably been the best point guard in the Eastern Conference, and has a similar roster to Irving. Wall’s Wizards are in the playoff hunt, and his numbers are overall more impressive than Irving. Wall doesn’t have the endorsements and accolades like Irving, but Irving may be lacking in some areas where Wall has improved.
I am not saying it is all bad for Irving, but something has to shake. On paper it appears that Irving hasn’t missed a beat, but that what blinders do. Kyrie may need to turn into Uncle Drew awfully fast to save the season of the Cleveland Cavs, and to possibly make a pitch to King James.
I have faith in Kyrie that he can turn it around, but if he doesn’t it’s time to take off the blinders.
