After putting together a string of memorable performances, including the series deciding shot in the 2016 NBA Finals, Kyrie Irving has looked lost through two games so far.
Irving is at his best as a bonafide scorer, and his lack of production is part of the reason the Cavs have been non competitive thus far. Irving is averaging nearly six less points (27.1 down to 21.5) and is shooting a worse percentage, (.468 down to .400) than he did in the Finals last year.
ESPN NBA Insider Kevin Arnovitz joined KNBR 1050’s Audible on Wednesday, and argued that when Kyrie isn’t scoring or finishing at the basket with regularity, he brings nothing to the table.
“Here’s the problem with Kyrie: When he’s not doing that — when he’s not getting to the rim and finishing, he’s a fantastic finisher — he doesn’t do anything for you,” Arnovitz said. “He doesn’t move great off the ball, he doesn’t screen well, can’t play defense. On one hand it is important, I don’t know that they win a series with Kyrie being the ball dominant point guard at the top of the floor, and I think the way they get back in the series is with LeBron playmaking from the elbow.
“It’s a really tough conflict for Cleveland, because on one hand he has, all apologies to Steph Curry, I think Kyrie has the best handle in league…So Kyrie on one hand is so good off the dribble, so good off the pick-and-roll, yet, I think the Cavs best chance here is playing offense out of the high post with LeBron, and letting him be that primary playmaker. Look I think they figured some stuff out offensively the Cavs did, I mean obviously it wasn’t enough, or even close to enough, but I do think when you look up and LeBron has 12 assists in the third quarter, that i probably their preferred mode of finding shots going forward.”
Listen to the full interview below. To hear Arnovitz’s comments on Kyrie, skip to the 4:00 mark.