I know it is a shortened season but it is all we have to go on; straight baller. So here is his comparison to rookie Paul, Rose, Wall, Westbrook and Williams. Per 36 Pts #1 Ast #3 TOV #5 FG% #2 3P% #2 FT% #1 TRB #3 Advanced Per #2 TS% #1 eFG% #1 Ast% #2 TOV% #4 TRB% #3 WS/48 #2 Included Per Game comparison to reflect difference in minutes played.
Kyrie Irving is uber clutch as a rookie in the league. He really is special considering he played what... 10 games in college?
I've been calling it ever since I saw his college games. He's probably the most complete player I've seen as a rookie that I can remember. I hear people saying all the time that he won't be a superstar because hes a jack of all trades and isn't exceptional in any one area... what they forget is that Kyrie Irving is a PHENOMENAL shooter. Dudes putting up Nash-like field goal percentages across the board 47% FG, 40% 3P, 87% FT - as the offensive focal point of his team. In college he was putting up 53%/46%/90% as well...Give him a couple years and he'll be in the CP3/Dwill debate for best point guard in the league.
I said the same thing about Derrick Rose early in his rookie season and was ridiculed. I'm also a believer in Kyrie Irving. He is probably a superstar in the making.
Drose is interesting. He's definitely one of the top players in the league, but isn't in the conversation for best PG. If he ever learns to slow down and play at different speeds he'd create so much more open space for both scoring and passing, he'd be unstoppable.
LOL! If being "one of the top players in the league" and winning an MVP doesn't put Rose in your conversation for best PG, I don't know what to say. In a couple of years, this "pure PG" nonsense won't even be an issue for discussion. Some people have a hard time dealing with change. Way back in the day, the PG/SG designation almost didn't exist. Then the NBA went through a period where it did. Now it's coming full circle. People should accept that but change is hard for some. Yesterday, old school JVG said Russell Westbrook is the best PG in the NBA (I don't agree). Let's embrace what the NBA is now.
We're definitely moving toward a more athletic, scoring-oriented conception of what the point guard position should be.
He is way better than I ever expected. I'd take him over Wall easily. The question is, what is his ceiling? Hard to believe he would get too much better as a scorer, but could definitely use to improve his A/T ratio, but some of that may be due to carrying a garbage team.
All of his skills will improve considerably. He's only 19--a player's peak usually happens between age 24 and 29. Irving's ceiling is the #1 point guard in the NBA.
He's having a better rookie season than Rose and Paul had in their rookie seasons. He's pretty damn good.
Wouldn't be surprised if everyone who has posted in this thread thus far has viewed, on average, Irving play less than 2.5 complete games in Cavs uniform this year.
