Kyrie Irving is doing well in the playoffs....

[9erempiree]

I always loved this kid and it is great to see how much of an impact he has on the team. He has matured over the offseason and having one of the best playoffs so far and we just started.

Didn't know he would make this huge of an impact especially when he has a declining Lebron on his team. If this was 2 years ago, I would understand Lebron's impact and Kyrie's inexperience but so far Kyrie has exceeded our expectations.

At this rate, who knows what he can do. In the East, there are players equal to Lebron but I don't think anyone in the East can matchup at the PG position against Kyrie.

[LEFT4DEAD]

I always loved this kid and it is great to see how much of an impact he has on the team. He has matured over the offseason and having one of the best playoffs so far and we just started.

Didn't know he would make this huge of an impact especially when he has a declining Lebron on his team. If this was 2 years ago, I would understand Lebron's impact and Kyrie's inexperience but so far Kyrie has exceeded our expectations.

At this rate, who knows what he can do. In the East, there are players equal to Lebron but I don't think anyone in the East can matchup at the PG position against Kyrie.
And that would be...

[JohnFreeman]

Lakers and Real Madrid fan. What a little band wagoner you are.

[navy]

Weak Kobe stanning era

[Quickening]

Weak Kobe stanning era
This

[buddha]

Kyrie's the exact same player he was last year. It's just now he's playing with LeBron James instead of Dion Waiters.

[Angel Face]

Lebron is the perfect sidekick he needed, just how many times Kyrie Bailed out the Cavs this season including his game winner against Boston.

[VIntageNOvel]

Kyrie finally found his pippen :applause:

[ShawkFactory]

Kyrie's the exact same player he was last year. It's just now he's playing with LeBron James instead of Dion Waiters.
This. Instead of being double-teamed and the primary focus of defenses all the time...now he isn't. And given his strengths off the dribble and from deep, this is excellent for him.

[Prometheus]

This is a pointless post in a pointless thread.

[El Gato Negro]

:cheers: :applause:

[BuffaloBill]

Kyrie is a baller. Simple as that.

[sdot_thadon]

I've thought this year that the main difference for kyrie is he's seeing one defender more often than 2. Also he's getting opportunities where he sees zero defenders.....

[VengefulAngel]

Kyrie is bad maaaannnn.

[Spurs5Rings2014]

This. Instead of being double-teamed and the primary focus of defenses all the time...now he isn't. And given his strengths off the dribble and from deep, this is excellent for him.

:applause:

[DukeDelonte13]

he's not the same player as he was last year.

His D has really improved and so has his off-ball skills and decision making.

He's gotten better and anyone who has consistently watched his career pre and post lebron will tell you that.

[pegasus]

he's not the same player as he was last year.

His D has really improved and so has his off-ball skills and decision making.

He's gotten better and anyone who has consistently watched his career pre and post lebron will tell you that.
This. And he does not shy away from big moments, which is a must if you are on Lebron's team and want to win. He won the MVP in the all-star game last year because he brought the East back in the 4th quarter against 5 other all-stars where everyone was playing defense. That's not something to ignore just because it was an all-star game. And then he was the MVP in the World Cup, and now he's shining in the playoffs. He is proving he is made for the big stage.

[SCdac]

Kyrie's got a bright future for sure. #1 overall pick after all. Fun to watch, smooth offense. Wouldn't mind him on the Spur paired up with Kawhi :oldlol:

[RedBlackAttack]

Kyrie's the exact same player he was last year. It's just now he's playing with LeBron James instead of Dion Waiters.
It's definitely true that the talent on the roster has had a big impact on Kyrie's game. Forget the fact that he's now playing alongside the best player in the league, just having a roster that is able to space the floor properly is a major factor. Last year, the Cavs opened the season with a starting lineup of Kyrie, Dion Waiters, Earl Clark, Tristan Thompson and Andrew Bynum.

Let that lineup sink in for a moment.

Really, the only guy playing semi-heavy minutes in the rotation who defenses had to respect beyond 15 feet was CJ Miles and they played very well together. A frontcourt rotation of Bynum, Thompson, Varejao and Zeller, combined with poor outside shooters on the perimeter like Waiters, Clark, Alonzo Gee and Jarrett Jack meant defenses could blitz Kyrie outside and crowd the lane without the risk of being beaten on the perimeter.

It also didn't help that the Cavs speant his first two years actively trying to lose... and their roster reflected it.

So, just getting some shooters out there, a big who could pull his man out of the paint and a rim protector would have done wonders for Irving's ability to do what he does. Obviously, they got the shooters, the offensively talented big and the rim protector... and the best player in the league.

It shouldn't be surprising, then, that his game has become far more impactful, because he is finally playing on a talent-laden roster that fits his skillset.

But to say that is the only factor and, worse, to give all the credit to LeBron... that's just silly.

Irving is still a young player in this league and his game is growing. I thought he grew during FIBA play, where on a team with Curry and Klay Thompson, he had the best three-point percentage on the team. His growth as a catch-and-shoot threat has been vital for this team. He is also growing as a defensive player and adapting to the Cavs' defensive scheme well... something that couldn't always be said in his first three years.

He could also be a little careless with the ball at times earlier in his career. He has really cleaned up that part of his game.