Kyrie IS the difference-maker - another narrative proven correct

[QUOTE=90sgoat;14915856]You could probably swap Kyrie for SGA and see about similar results. [B]As long as he isn't distracted.
[/B]
He is basically a first option in the 4th [b]when he wants to be[/b] and you have now for the second time, the biggest name in basketball deferring to you. First Lebron and now Luka, just letting you run the show, that's mighty impressive.

I'm trying to think of similar situations. Tony Parker comes to mind. Kobe with Shaq. Wade with Lebron. Paul Pierce with KG.[/QUOTE]
That's not first option material.

[QUOTE=sd3035;14915778]He's an absolute savage in clutch situations

I remember that Warriors series when leshrivel had disappeared and was ready to go fishing. Kyrie made like 6 impossible shots in a row and brought them back from the dead. The series comeback was largely due to ref rigging, but Kyrie was playing on an unreal level in that 4th quarter[/QUOTE]

Kyrie didn't bring them back. He took them over the top. LeShrivel was shriveling the whole series right up until he got clamped up by KLove of all people. A slow, fat and on bad knees Luka was able to shake and bake the DPOY but the GOAT 3pt shooter couldn't do the same to KLove? The fact that Under Armour didn't drop LeShrivel on the spot was shocking.

[QUOTE=FKAri;14915950]Kyrie didn't bring them back. He took them over the top. LeShrivel was shriveling the whole series right up until he got clamped up by KLove of all people. A slow, fat and on bad knees Luka was able to shake and bake the DPOY but the GOAT 3pt shooter couldn't do the same to KLove? The fact that Under Armour didn't drop LeShrivel on the spot was shocking.[/QUOTE]

I meant in the series, but that game was about to get really ugly for Leshrivel's team if Kyrie didn't decide to win it himself. The momentum was changing drastically and GS was about to go on a legendary run. Leshrivel was doing his best copperfield act and nobody else could buy a bucket. Just as it seemed, GS started making everything and clamping down on defense. Their problem was that Kyrie was making one impossible shot after another and wouldn't let them go on their legendary run

Kyrie saved Leshrivel despite the series also being one of the most egregious ref rigging displays in NBA history, right up there with the 2002 WCF

[QUOTE=sd3035;14916003]I meant in the series, but that game was about to get really ugly for Leshrivel's team if Kyrie didn't decide to win it himself. The momentum was changing drastically and GS was about to go on a legendary run. Leshrivel was doing his best copperfield act and nobody else could buy a bucket. Just as it seemed, GS started making everything and clamping down on defense. Their problem was that Kyrie was making one impossible shot after another and wouldn't let them go on their legendary run

Kyrie saved Leshrivel despite the series also being one of the most egregious ref rigging displays in NBA history, right up there with the 2002 WCF[/QUOTE]

Kyrie didn't save Leshrivel. He owned him. And it did get ugly for Leshrivel's team. On and off the court.

And yes refs rigged the 2002 WCF by activating a magnetic device inside the ball every time Peja shot the ball.

He won with lebron at his peak and is helping luka, who averaged 34/10/9 this season (mvp in almost any other season in history) make the finals and lose to Boston.

1 ring, and several horrible seasons leading teams nowhere with a ton of horrible press and ridiculous distractions.

He's no Pippen, that's for sure.

The real news is that Jason Kidd has been elite and the role players for Dallas have stepped up massively and thoroughly outplayed their opponents role players. But that isn't sexy to talk about. Let's talk about kyrie who is averaging 22ppg for the playoffs.

But I do like Kyrie. He is very good as a 2nd option, so long as he's being led by a generational player near the peak who takes on most of the scoring AND passing responsibilities. Then you've got something.

I mean Kyrie has improved this year too, can’t ignore best defense of his career. Dallas is not too talented on paper outside their top 2 though their defense has been elite Guess it’s just more of an indictment on kd who only had title runs with gs or moderate success playing with a top 5-10 player in prime Russ. Downgrade to just an elite scorer like Booker or Kyrie and he’s getting swept in the 1st rd.

[QUOTE=NBAGOAT;14916184]I mean Kyrie has improved this year too, can’t ignore best defense of his career. Dallas is not too talented on paper outside their top 2 though their defense has been elite Guess it’s just more of an indictment on kd who only had title runs with gs or moderate success playing with a top 5-10 player in prime Russ. Downgrade to just an elite scorer like Booker or Kyrie and he’s getting swept in the 1st rd.[/QUOTE]

Had a title run with OKC when he was 23, wins title in most other years.

Averaged 35/11/8 vs Bucks in 21 and likely wins title if Irving isn't hurt

And now he's just old. You put 25 year old KD with current Irving and solid role players and it's an easy title run.

[QUOTE=NBAGOAT;14916184]I mean Kyrie has improved this year too, can’t ignore best defense of his career. Dallas is not too talented on paper outside their top 2 though their defense has been elite Guess it’s just more of an indictment on kd who only had title runs with gs or moderate success playing with a top 5-10 player in prime Russ. Downgrade to just an elite scorer like Booker or Kyrie and he’s getting swept in the 1st rd.[/QUOTE]

Kyrie has been great. I agree on the on paper thing but Dallas role players have shown some grit. It feels like they are playing at a sum better than their parts at the moment and clicking a bit. I really like their format of good athleticism and defense paired with luka and kyrie being the closers. That combo is pretty insane when it’s down the stretch in a tight game. What are the chances that both Kyrie and Luka aren’t feeling it and cooking? One can pick the other one up when they are down or they can both be cooking simultaneously. I felt bad for SGA down the stretch of some of those games last series because it felt like a bit of 2v1 where Kyrie and Luka can trade off to get clutch baskets down the stretch where on the other side it was all up to SGA to make it happen over and over during the closing moments

[QUOTE=NBAGOAT;14916184]I mean Kyrie has improved this year too, can’t ignore best defense of his career. Dallas is not too talented on paper outside their top 2 though their defense has been elite Guess it’s just more of an indictment on kd who only had title runs with gs or moderate success [B]playing with a top 5-10 player in prime Russ.[/B] Downgrade to just an elite scorer like Booker or Kyrie and he’s getting swept in the 1st rd.[/QUOTE]


Except down the stretch of close games when Russ was nowhere near a top 5-10 level player, even in his prime. Just the opposite. He was like the anti Luka/Kyrie. An absolute liability guaranteed to **** it up when things got tight.

[QUOTE=FultzNationRISE;14916188]Except down the stretch of close games when Russ was nowhere near a top 5-10 level player, even in his prime. Just the opposite. He was like the anti Luka/Kyrie. An absolute liability guaranteed to **** it up when things got tight.[/QUOTE]

Russ wasn’t that bad some of those years. Early prime sure but 14-16 kd was a culprit in clutch situations too

[QUOTE=AlternativeAcc.;14916186]Had a title run with OKC when he was 23, wins title in most other years.

Averaged 35/11/8 vs Bucks in 21 and likely wins title if Irving isn't hurt

And now he's just old. You put 25 year old KD with current Irving and solid role players and it's an easy title run.[/QUOTE]

That is fair Russ wasn’t top 5-10 til 16. That year they choked but gs is also an all time team

[QUOTE=warriorfan;14916187]Kyrie has been great. I agree on the on paper thing but Dallas role players have shown some grit. It feels like they are playing at a sum better than their parts at the moment and clicking a bit. I really like their format of good athleticism and defense paired with luka and kyrie being the closers. That combo is pretty insane when it’s down the stretch in a tight game. What are the chances that both Kyrie and Luka aren’t feeling it and cooking? One can pick the other one up when they are down or they can both be cooking simultaneously. I felt bad for SGA down the stretch of some of those games last series because it felt like a bit of 2v1 where Kyrie and Luka can trade off to get clutch baskets down the stretch where on the other side it was all up to SGA to make it happen over and over during the closing moments[/QUOTE]

Jalen will hopefully become that guy. Not a good playoffs but already looking like an all star in his 2nd year