He's shown he can create shots off the dribble, getting to and making isolation midrange jumpers on multiple trips over his first two games. His defense has held up when challenged. All positive signs. Kyrie Irving has also played two games since his return to the Nets -- both on the road, of course -- and he's fared pretty well, too.
Irving had 22 points and four assists in his first game back, a win over the Pacers, and put up those same numbers in a loss to the Blazers on Monday.
Prior to the Blazers game, Portland coach Chauncey Billups called Irving the "most skilled" point guard in history. I agree. I think. It's a very interesting debate between him and Stephen Curry, but I lean Irving. After the Portland game, Irving was asked about the play below -- in which Nassir Little dives for a loose ball and ends up crashing into Irving, who wound up twisting his ankle.
Here's what Irving had to say:. I could've broke my ankle or done something worse. There's just no place in our game for it.
I get the intent from Nassir I would never hurt someone on purpose, I have the utmost respect for Kyrie! Count me in Little's camp. Was this a dangerous play? But it wasn't reckless. Watch the play again, and you'll see that the ball is still on the logo, a good distance from the sideline, when Little leaves his feet, and he gets his fingertip on it before knocking it out of bounds.
Another few inches, and he could've corralled that ball or knocked it backward off Irving. Necessary context: Little is not a star like Irving, whose place in the league and financial future is percent secure. Little is on a rookie contract trying to prove his place on the Blazers and in the league in general. He's trying to earn money and playing time every single time he steps on the floor. He's playing hard, plain and simple, and this was more than justifiable effort in a close game where possessions were at a premium.
Also, Kyrie said he "tried to get out of the way," but if you look at the tape, you can plainly see there is absolutely no effort on the part of Irving to get out of the way. In fact, he stutter steps right in front of the ball, slowing to a halt, becoming a human shield of sorts, to block Little's path to it. So I'll say this loudly for the entitled folks in the back: If you don't want to be caught in the path of a guy who is playing harder than you, get out of the path.
I keep seeing this push to make Ja Morant an All-Star. He started hot early, scoring 17 points in the first period going a perfect 7-of Then, after a quiet middle two quarters when he only scored 13 combined, he scored 12 in the fourth and final period as the Pacers held off a strong fightback from the visitors.
Along with his points tally, Sabonis also recorded six rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block in 38 minutes of action. His performance along with Lance Stephenson's double-double of 16 points and career-high 14 assists helped the Pacers get back in the win column, snapping a six-game losing streak.
With this victory, Indiana improves to for the season, which is a somewhat puzzling record given the talent at their disposal on their roster. Nothing can be changed but if a few plays went another way, things would have been very different for the Pacers as 11 of their 25 losses have come by a margin of five points or fewer.
Sabonis, who has been an All-Star for the previous two seasons, does have a case to be in the star-studded game in Cleveland with season averages of Earlier this season, he had a triple-double with a career-high 25 rebounds. Elvin Hayes 92 Kevin Garnett 88 Dave Cowens 81 Larry Bird 79 Bob Cousy 78 Carmelo Anthony 75 Kobe Bryant 75 Karl Malone 74 Dikembe Mutombo 74 Julius Erving 70 Dwight Howard 70 Oscar Robertson 69 Harry Gallatin 65 Jerry Lucas 64 Show Assists 1.
Chris Paul 2. Magic Johnson 3. LeBron James 98 4. Isiah Thomas 97 5. Bob Cousy 86 6. Oscar Robertson 81 7. Gary Payton 73 8. John Stockton 71 9. Kobe Bryant 70 Jason Kidd 69 Kyrie Irving 64 Dwyane Wade 58 Allen Iverson 56 Jerry West 55 Michael Jordan 54 James Harden 52 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 51 Steve Nash 47 Stephen Curry 44 Larry Bird 41 Bill Russell 39 Elgin Baylor 38 Show Steals 1.
Kobe Bryant 38 2. Michael Jordan 37 3. Isiah Thomas 31 4. Dwyane Wade 27 5. Chris Paul 26 6. Jason Kidd 24 7. Larry Bird 23 8. Allen Iverson 21 Magic Johnson 21 9. LeBron James 19 Gary Payton 19 Julius Erving 18 Scottie Pippen 17 Kevin Durant 17 Hakeem Olajuwon 15 Kyle Lowry 14 Sidney Moncrief 12 Show Blocks 1.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 31 2. Hakeem Olajuwon 23 3. Shaquille O'Neal 19 4. Patrick Ewing 16 5. David Robinson 13 6. Kevin McHale 12 7. Kevin Garnett 11 Julius Erving 11 8. Dikembe Mutombo 10 9. George Gervin 9 Dwight Howard 9 Dirk Nowitzki 5 Show Turnovers 1.
LeBron James 55 2. Magic Johnson 48 3. Michael Jordan 42 4. Isiah Thomas 41 5. Allen Iverson 38 6. Kobe Bryant 35 7. James Harden 30 9. John Stockton 29 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 28 Gary Payton 26 Hakeem Olajuwon 26 Chris Paul 25 Jason Kidd 23 Patrick Ewing 23 Shaquille O'Neal 22 Moses Malone 19 Julius Erving 19 Shawn Kemp 18 Stephen Curry 18 Show Personal Fouls 1.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 57 2. Oscar Robertson 41 3. Elvin Hayes 37 Bill Russell 37 4. Kobe Bryant 35 5. Dolph Schayes 32 6. Rick Barry 30 8. Jerry West 28 Larry Bird 28 Patrick Ewing 27 Bob Cousy 27 David Robinson 26 Moses Malone 26 Wilt Chamberlain 23 Chris Paul 22 Show Points 1.
Kevin Durant 6. Oscar Robertson 7. Bob Pettit 8. Julius Erving 9. Shaquille O'Neal Dwyane Wade Carmelo Anthony Isiah Thomas Magic Johnson Bob Cousy Karl Malone Ray Allen Giannis Antetokounmpo James Harden David Robinson Show Field Goal Pct 1. Rudy Gobert. Brandon Roy. Blake Griffin. Giannis Antetokounmpo. Anthony Davis. David Thompson. Eddie Johnson. Dwight Howard. Ralph Sampson. Dwyane Wade. Paul Westphal. Anfernee Hardaway. Artis Gilmore.
John Wall. Dikembe Mutombo. Rolando Blackman. Wilt Chamberlain. David Robinson. Kyrie Irving. Bob Lanier. Bob McAdoo. Shawn Marion. Jaylen Brown. Glen Rice. Kyle Korver. Deron Williams. Jason Kidd. Magic Johnson. Mark Price. Chris Paul. Khris Middleton. Bradley Beal. Paul George. Damian Lillard. James Harden.
Kawhi Leonard. Tim Hardaway. Vince Carter. Klay Thompson. Tracy McGrady. Kevin Durant. Free Throw Pct 1. Archie Clark 1.
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