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| Kyrie Irving has been clicking in his very first season in the NBA. |
*Unless otherwise specified, all images are from the Associated Press.
"He is their team right now. He is one of the better guards in the league right now. I look at him as Rod Strickland with range. He's only going to get better."
- Hornets coach Monty Williams on Cavs guard Kyrie Irving.
Rod Strickland? Really?
At his best, Rod was a 19-and-9 player. Overall, he averaged about 13 points, 7 assists and just under 4 rebounds per game playing 30 minutes per outing.
Not bad.
But forgive me if I disagree with coach Monty here.
I think Kyrie won’t be Rod Strickland with range. I think he’ll be Rod Strickland with range ON TURBO.
Granted, Irving isn’t as mature, yet, a playmaker as Strickland was at his best, but he’ll get there.
Granted, Irving is the best player on a bad team, but it’s not hard to imagine him doing well on ANY team in the NBA.
Granted, Irving is norming about 3 TOs against just 5 dimes per game, but, like I said, he’ll mature and continue to be better.
Already, he’s proven to be one of the best PGs to come out of college in the past two or three years. Already, he’s on-track to average more points, and hit a higher percentage from the field, line and long range than last year’s #1 pick, John Wall, did in his rookie year.
Right now, Irving’s numbers are a bit closer to those of the 2009 Draft’s best PG, Steph Curry.
Not bas at all.
And his effect on the Cavs has been awesome, especially considering what they had to go through last season.
Cleveland is still no world-beater, mind you, but they are a better-than-projected 5-5 in their past 10 games and, lo and behold, just a game-and-a-half behind Boston for 8th in the East.
Whoever thought the Cavs could be a fringe playoff team this soon after getting dumped by the King?
And though I honestly don’t see Irving towing Tristan Thompson, Antawn Jamison, and the rest of the Cavs to the postseason, I think they’ll make some teams a little anxious.
Why?
Because Kyrie’s clicking, and so are the Cavs.
After the JUMP, key stat-stuffers for today’s games:
CLE over DET, 101-100
Antawn Jamison scored a game-high 32 points with 10 rebounds as the Cavaliers snuck past the Pistons. Kyrie Irving added 25 points and a career-high 8 assists, while Alonzo Gee chipped in 16 points and pulled down 11 boards to give the Cavaliers their third win in four games.
IND over NOH, 117-108 (OT)
Roy Hibbert scored a career-high 30 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, boosting Indiana to an overtime win over New Orleans. David West, a first-round draft pick of the Hornets in 2003, scored 16 points and had 7 rebounds in his first game against his former team. Paul George totaled 20 points and Darren Collison ended with 18, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in Indiana's third straight win - all at home.
MIA over SAC, 120-108
Dwyane Wade scored 30 points and dished out 10 assists, and the Heat pulled away in the fourth quarter to take down the. Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers each added 20 points and LeBron James contributed 18 for the Heat, who have won seven straight and 10 of 11. All of Miami's seven consecutive wins have been by double-digit margins.
MEM over PHI, 89-76
Marc Gasol fill the stat sheet with 15 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 blocks, as Memphis started strong and beat Philadelphia, handing the 76ers their season-high fourth straight loss. Rudy Gay chipped in 14 points, OJ Mayo 13 and Marreese Speights 12 for the Grizzlies, who have won five of their last six games.
POR over SAS, 137-97
Seven different Trail Blazers scored in double figures, led by 21 from LaMarcus Aldridge, as Portland embarrassed San Antonio. Jamal Crawford netted 20 points and handed out 8 assists, while Gerald Wallace and Nicolas Batum each scored 19 points for Portland, which has won two of its last three. The Spurs were without their "Big Three" as Tim Duncan and Tony Parker both received the night off for rest and Manu Ginobili is nursing a strained oblique.
Super Scorers (Top scorers of the night!)
Antawn Jamison (CLE) – 32
Roy Hibbert (IND) & Dwyane Wade (MIA) – 30
Kyrie Irving (CLE) – 25
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| Antawn Jamison celebrates a three as the Cavs sneak past the Pistons. |
Ragin’ Rebounders (Top rebounders of the night!)
Marc Gasol (MEM) – 14
Roy Hibbert (IND) – 13
Greg Monroe (DET) & Alonzo Gee (CLE) – 11
Dynamic Dishers (Top playmakers of the night!)
Tyreke Evans (SAC), Dwyane Wade (MIA), & Jarrett Jack (NOH) – 10
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| Tyreke Evans has had a nice season so far, but it still looks like his Kings won't win many games. |
Terrific Thieves (Top thieves of the night!)
Kawhi Leonard (SAS) – 5
A LOT with 3
Boomin’ Blockers (Top blockers of the night!)
Marc Gasol (MEM) – 5
A LOT with 3
Sharpshooters (Top 3-point shooters of the night!)
Mario Chalmers (MIA) – 6
Isaiah Thomas (SAC) & Jamal Crawford (POR) – 5
Feb. 21, 2012 First Five
C – Roy Hibbert (IND) – 30pts, 13rebs, 3blks
F – Antawn Jamison (CLE) – 32pts, 10rebs, 3 treys, 2asts, 1stl
F – Kawhi Leonard (SAS) – 24pts, 10rebs, 5stls, 1ast, 1blk
G – Dwyane Wade (MIA) – 30pts, 10asts, 4rebs, 3stls, 2blks
G – Kyrie Irving (CLE) – 25pts, 8asts, 5rebs, 3 treys, 2stls, 2blks
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| Roy Hibbert rejects Gustavo Ayon. Hibbert will see action in his first All-Star Game. |
Honorable Mention:
Greg Monroe (DET) – 19pts, 11rebs, 7asts, 3stls, 1blk
Gerald Wallace (POR) – 19pts, 10rebs, 6asts, 3blks
Tyreke Evans (SAC) – 21pts, 10asts, 7rebs, 1stl
Daily Zap:
Source: HoopNut.blogspot.com
*Game recaps were compiled and compressed from the Sports Network.
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