Links to the Present: February 23, 2012

2012-02-23 Off By Colin McGowan

“Kyrie Irving is quickly developing the reputation as a clutch player. Now the stats are beginning to back it up. According to the website 82games.com, Irving ranks 15th in the league in scoring during clutch time, which the website defines as the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when neither team is ahead by more than five points. Irving has been involved in 12 games under that circumstance, and his clutch-time production, when stretched across 48 minutes, is 36.4 points. His free-throw percentage in that instance is 87 percent, up slightly from his season average of 85 percent.” [Jason Lloyd]

“Not only could the Cavaliers offer [Wilson] Chandler more money this season, but with the contract of Antawn Jamison slated to come off of their books at year-end, a longer-term deal could certainly be in the mix. Couple all of this with the team potentially sliding down in the lottery enough to focus their efforts on big men like Myers Leonard or either Zeller brother, addressing the wing via free agency may not be a misguided concept, as unsubstantiated as this specific possibility may be.” [Scott Sargent]

“One can see why Tristan Thompson is logging so many minutes at center. He had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the 89-84 loss to New Orleans on Wednesday — more rebounds than starting center Semih Erden (three) and primary backup center Ryan Hollins (six) had combined. Thompson is averaging 5.7 rebounds on the season, which dwarfs the numbers put up by Hollins (1.9) and Erden (2.6). In 203 minutes this season, Hollins has 14 defensive rebounds.” [CBS Sports]

Share