Let's have a look at the games shall we?
vs Knicks: Irving (53% shooting, 22 points, 7 assists and 4 turnovers)
Bron (33% shooting, 17 points, 4 assists and 8 turnovers
vs Bulls: Bron (46% shooting, 36 points, 5 assists, and 3 turnovers)
Kyrie (35% shooting, 23 points, 3 assists and 4 turnovers)
vs Trail Blazers: Bron (33% shooting, 11 points, 7 assists and 3 turnovers)
Kyrie (17% shooting, 7 points, 5 assists and 1 turnover)
vs Jazz: Irving (52% shooting, 34 points, 1 turnover)
Bron (44% shooting, 34 points, 4 assists and 4 turnovers)
vs Nuggets: Bron (44% shooting, 22 points, 11 assists and 3 turnovers)
Kyrie (45% shooting, 12 points, 6 assists and 1 turnovers)
vs Pelicans: Irving (52% shooting, 32 points, 9 assists and 1 turnover)
Bron (52% shooting, 32 points, 9 assists and 4 turnovers)
vs Celtics: Bron (59% shooting, 41 points, 7 assists and 3 turnovers)
Irving (50% shooting, 27 points, 5 assists and 0 turnvoers
vs Hawks: Bron (65% shooting, 32 points, 7 assists and 3 turnovers)
Irving (66% shooting, 20 points, 5 assists and 0 turnovers)
vs Nuggets: Irving (41% shooting, 20 points, 8 assists and 4 turnovers)
Bron (44% shooting, 22 points, 5 assists and 4 turnovers)
vs Spurs: Irving (46% shooting, 20 points, 3 assists and 2 turnovers)
Bron (35% shooting, 15 points, 9 assists and 5 turnovers)
vs Wizards: Irving (43% shooting, 22 points, 2 assists and 3 turnovers)
Bron (38% shooting, 22 points, 4 assists and 3 turnovers)
vs Raptors: Irving (50% shooting, 22 points, 6 assists and 3 turnovers)
Bron (50% shooting, 15 points, 10 assists and 5 turnovers)
vs Magic: Bron (52% shooting, 29 points, 11 assists and 1 turnover)
Irving (55% shooting, 12 points, 4 assists and 0 turnovers)
vs Wizards: Bron (50% shooting, 29 points, 8 assists and 4 turnovers)
Irving (46% shooting, 18 points, 5 assists and 1 turnover)
vs Pacers: Irving (52% shooting, 24 points, 5 assists and 1 turnover)
Bron (50% shooting, 19 points, 7 assists and 3 turnover)
vs Bucks: Irving (66% shooting, 28 points, 6 assists and 1 turnover)
Bron (40% shooting, 26 points, 10 assists and 7 turnovers)
vs Knicks: Irving (66% shooting, 37 points, 2 assists 3 turnovers)
Bron (41% shooting, 19 points, 12 assists and 4 turnovers)
8 games in favor of Irving (in terms of production)
7 games in favor of Bron (in terms of production)
2 games split decision (Kyrie actually performed slightly better than Bron in those games)
Irving - 22.4 ppg (15.3 field goal attempts), 49% shooting, 42% 3pt shooting, 84% FT shooting (6.2 attempts per game), 4.8 assists and 1.8 turnovers per game
Bron - 24.6 ppg (18 field goal attempts), 46% shooting, 34% 3pt shooting, 75% FT shooting (8.3 attempts) 7.6 assists and 3.9 turnovers
Bron only scored 2.2 ppg more than Irving, despite taking nearly THREE extra field goals and TWO extra free throw attempts.
Irving: 81 assists and 30 turnovers - 2.7 assists per turnover
Bron: 130 assists and 67 turnovers - 1.9 assists per turnover
Irving - 62 TS%, 56 eFG%, 8.9 TOV%, 23.9 usage%, 125 offensive player rating
Bron - 56% TS%, 51 eFG%, 15.4 TOV%, 30.9 usage%, 111 offensive player rating
And although I don't like using advanced stats, because it doesn't give you an accurate picture - you can see the considerable difference across the board in favor of Irving.
In conclusion, Bron didn't put up better numbers, given the fact he was more careless with the ball (killed the Cavs' momentum more than Kyrie did through double the amount of turnovers) and was less efficient shooting from the floor - Irving was the more productive player over that span.
No. He's only 22-year-old and doesn't have the greatest passing or vision and his lower amount of touches to build an offensive rhythm means that he can only play so well.
Of course it does, but then you also have to weigh into account what difference a new system, different personnel and allowance for star-player workloads affect a player's performances. We've seen how Love has struggled this season.
In part that's true, I wouldn't say he's had more freedom though, certainly not in the sense where he's been given free reign due to the fact that Bron handles the ball more than he does. He's had to be more conservative this season, and pick his moments more (which is certainly beneficial since he doesn't need to be scoring all game) - as I said before close to 90% of those games, Irving was the leading 4th quarter points scorer in the league while still maintaining a 49/50% shooting average.
Bron hasn't been consistent by any standard, let alone his own. The evidence is all through the first quarter of the season - high percentage high point-scoring, adequate assist-to-turnover game, followed by a low-percentage low-point scoring, abysmal assist-to-turnover game - repeat cycle. He's been up and down over that span, whereas Irving has been more consistent.
His lower level isn't on Kyrie's level - the evidence is above.
Which is exactly my point, Kyrie has been playing consistently great more than Bron has over that stretch, and given that their production (which really is in favor of Kyrie) is similar that Kyrie was the better performer. Kyrie stepped up more than Bron did throughout those games.
Nah, I think you need to watch the games you missed this season and put it next to the games you did watch. You'll see.
, instead of chef curry
