From the Truehoop guru himself, Henry Abbott, a Skype interview with Kyrie Irving. They discuss Kyrie’s defense, and John Hollinger’s criticism of it. Kyrie freely admits how awful it was last year, but claims his issues on that side of the ball last year were mostly conditioning-related, and that he has already shown significant improvement. Anyways, some good stuff, and food for thought as the Cavs look to shut down a Brooklyn Nets team with one of the best point guards in the league, Deron Williams. Early on, Byron Scott has chosen a few times to stick Alonzo Gee on the star point guards, rather than watch Kyrie struggle. That may be tougher to do this game, however, as one would assume Gee will have to defend Joe Johnson. Here’s the link.
Tags: Brooklyn Nets, Kyrie Irving
Timberwolves are offering 2 1st rounders for Andy
Really? Link? Or at least, source?
The link’s right there, guess it didn’t work for you the first couple of times?
Where’d you see that, rodney?
Andy’s worth at least that. 21 and 11 and 90% shooting IN THE FIRST HALF.
Dion has come crashing back down to earth. Not worried though. It’s one game.
Here comes Luke Walton, there goes the game, DAMNIT Byron.
Maybe he’s confusing Luke with a young Bill Walton?
He must be. How is it conceivable that Kyrie isn’t in the game right now?
If you put Luke Walton in, it means the game is out of hand and you’ve given up. If you put Andy and Kyrie in, it means you’re trying to win. But what does it mean if Andy, Kyrie and Luke are all in together? Is it a prank? An avant garde performance art project?
Dang, if Waiters could hit a shot tonight we could have won. Or if the refs could call a game (I’m not one to play the “bad ref” card, but they were horrible). Oh well. It was actually a really entertaining game. I swear, Andy is a freaking STAR this year. And you could just tell Deron had more than his hands full trying to guard Kyrie.
It must be, Jon. I guess Byron thinks it’s funny or something. But the play of the starting unit (Or starting 4 + Boobie) has shown unequivocally that they need to be in the game to start the fourth.
Word from a cavs scout. Don’t want to give him up. BUt he told me that it was between beal and Waiters back in march so I believe him. Also Byron you are beyond infuriating. Having irving Waiters and Andy on the bench until way to late in the second quater cost us the game. Doesn’t he know once one of those three gets hurt he won’t have to throw games
Love it. Super young team and people here just want Byron to run them into the ground. The bench is sooo awful that the only chance we have at winning is if Kyrie plays 40 minutes and Dion plays 35 minutes. That’s not going to happen nor should it. He played Dion 17 straight minutes in the second half. He played Kyrie 20 minutes in the second half. He tried to let them win the game, but when he has to choose between Jon Leuer, Samardo Samuels, Donald Sloan, Luke Walton, Omri Casspi, and CJ Miles, we all lose. He can’t NOT play any of those guys. Those are the guys he’s been given. Yet, none of them actually deserve to be on an NBA court. So, what exactly is he supposed to do?
And people cracking on Walton, have you seen Casspi or Miles? Right now, Omri Casspi is legitimately worse than Luke Walton, and it’s not even close. He has to play SOMEONE at the wing off the bench. He can’t just leave Alonzo Gee to play all 48. One of those 3 turds is going to get time. You can’t then turn around and blame him for playing them when he simply must play one of them at some point during the game.
You can blame him for having all three off the court for 5 consecutive minutes. Many teams regularly use 7 man rotations. I not saying he’s definetly doing the wrong thing but if his only goal is winning now and in the very immediate future he is. Also I’m watching Kentucky vs Duke and I want Alex Polywhatever on the cavs next year him or Alex Len one of which I hope will slip out of the top 5 into the cavs
Can’t find me a team in the league right now using a 7 man rotation. You’d struggle to find one using just 8.
Rich,
I don’t think anyone wants Kyrie playing 40 minutes or Dion 35 (and they shouldn’t be playing that much). The starters need spread out better across all minutes. The “five subs at a time” thing will not work with the bench the Cavs have. There is no ball movement, and a bunch of guys that can’t create their own shot are forced to try to create their own shots. And it ends up looking really ugly. Miles, Leuer, Samuels, etc need to get some minutes with Kyrie, with Varejao, with Dion after he didn’t play the whole third quarter, etc, in order to benefit from the ball movement and easy shots those guys can create.
That’s my opinion at least. I may never be proven wrong either, as it appears Coach Scott isn’t ready to mix the starters with the subs.
Rich, you can play the exact same minutes per player (minus Luke Walton’s) Stagger the rotation, and actually give the bench a chance.
Contrary to your opinion, CJ Miles, Boobie Gibson, and Jon Leuer have proven to be decent NBA players at some point in the recent past, and none should be past their primes by any means. Perhaps having to play with Donald sloan running the point every time the kyrie and andy leave the court doesn’t help. Every time you see Kyrie, Andy, or Dion pass the ball, its pretty much only to a starter or boobie gibson (coincidentally our best bench player). Not getting passes from the biggest offensive threats tends to curb your effectiveness. Byron needs to stagger the lineup, and tell kyrie and Dion to get the bench involved during the increased face-time with them to get them some easy buckets and some confidence.
Its hard to blame Kyrie and Andy for passing mostly to each other, it usually leads to buckets. But keeping them on the court together so much and never having them interact with the bench on offense only disengages the bench guys, causes them to force things on offense, and causes them to be disparaged on defense. Byron needs to give them a chance to contribute. I seriously have never seen such and all or nothing substitution strategy.
Byron, STAGGER THE LINEUPS. CONVINCE GUYS TO TRY ON DEFENSE AND LEARN ROTATIONS! Or continue what we’re doing, and go for that lottery pick.
Is there any merit in bringing a guy like Delonte in to try to be the 2nd unit sparkplug that Miles was supposed to be? Someone who can create their own shot or at least handle the ball at a PG level?
Casspi is not worse than Walton. At least Casspi can rebound.
Btw, Dani my link comment was to Rodney Mac’s Varejao rumor. Thought that was obvious but should’ve addressed Rodney in my response. Cheers…