Cleveland Cavaliers: Players Frustrated With Kyrie Irving
The LeBron-Less Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 99-98 Wednesday night. Kyrie Irvingâs 28 shots and one assist in 39 minutes left some players frustrated.
The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 99-98 Wednesday night despite LeBron James taking the night off. Kyrie Irving scored 33 points, but thatâs not what had his teammates talking after the game. Irving took 28 shots and managed just a single assist in 39 minutes.
Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com had some telling words regarding the point guard today.
"After the game, a few players were puzzled to how their point guard managed to register just one measly assist while playing 39 minutes. They were frustrated, but the win and Irvingâs huge defensive play lessened the anger.The notion within the locker room is that the situation is tolerable, because it isnât permanent. If the Cavaliers were dealt the misfortune of playing without James for an extended period of time, this locker room would be boiling over.Players are growing tired of Irvingâs inability to not only register a proper amount of assists at the lead guard position, but also to just move the ball."
This is kind of what Iâve been saying all along about Irving. Thereâs no doubting his skill set and ability on the basketball floor, but there is plenty to question of his willingness to distribute.
Haynes goes on to single out one of several times Irving went into full-fledged âhero ballâ mode during last nightâs game.
"Did Irving pass more than once? Of course, but only when he was forced to do so. At one point in the second quarter, he dribbled relentlessly for 24 seconds and went nowhere. Dallasâ Chandler Parsons stayed in front of him and let him do all that fancy dribbling in one spot. Irving ended up settling for a tough mid-range jumper that clanked off the rim.His teammates were in disbelief."
Well, I canât say Iâm surprised by the team feeling a little slighted by Irvingâs performance. It felt like he was just using Jamesâ absence as an excuse to put up as many shots as he could. He doesnât lack the ability to pass the ball, he just doesnât want to.
The particular sequence Haynes referred to was just as putrid as he described it to be. No, I wasnât watching a Harlem Globetrotter attempt to shake and bake a defender for 24 seconds. It was our starting point guard halting all rhythm and flow in our offense, one dribble at a time.
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I havenât kept quite about my own personal frustration with Irving, but hearing how the players feel lends credibility to my argument. The Cleveland Cavaliers would be a better basketball team with a more traditional point guard. This team needs some one to facilitate and keep the ball moving on offense, which is exactly the opposite of Irving.
In Irvingâs last two games he has just four assists, in stark contrast to his 51 shot attempts (20-of-51). Something has to click for him, but Iâm beginning to wonder if it ever will. Before Jamesâ return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Irving taking 25 shots and recording a single assist was not an issue, because he was on bad basketball teams.
All Irving needs to do is remind himself of the talent he has surrounding him. Even when James sits, the talent level of his teammates is in another stratosphere compared to what he had to endure his first three years in the league. Yet somehow, heâs putting up the lowest assist totals of his career (4.5 assists per game).
Players expressing frustration with their starting point guard isnât ideal heading into the postseason, but maybe this is exactly what Irving needs. He seems to say all the right things to the media regarding his play, but words are only as good as the actions that follow them. He looks downright selfish with the rock in his hands at times.
Next: Cavs: 3 Takeaways From Trip Out West
The frustration the players felt last night will continue to grow if he doesnât begin consistently playing team basketball. Great players recognize when to be selfish. Irving just isnât there yet.