During the All Star game last Sunday, Kyrie Irving and Stephen Curry went at it. Both statistically identical throughout the season battled it out on the court at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, home of Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans. It seemed as though high milestone records were set that night, including the most points combined in one All Star Game. The league's top two performers, Kevin Durant and LeBron James battled it out on the hardwood. King James was 11-22 from the field with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. The Slim Reaper who has had stellar performance throughout the first half of the season and sits atop the entire league averaging 31 points per game was 14-27 from the field, 6 of 17 from 3 point range, 38 points, 6 assists and 10 rebounds. What a game he had! We can discuss the difference between these two tough competitors all day long, but that is not the purpose of writing this piece...at all.
Other than King James and The Slim Reaper going at it in Sunday's All Star game, you had two of the most prominent and promising point guards in the NBA going at it as well. Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry, and Cleveland Cavaliers' leading scorer and NBA All Star MVP, Kyrie Irving. Now, those were the ones to look out for during that game. I knew that the spotlight would be on those two once they were confirmed and announced to be on their respective conference's All Star teams on Jan. 23rd. I would be the first to admit that Curry was relatively quiet that game. Irving blew up in the second half of the highest scoring All Star game in history and earned the MVP by scoring a double-double with 31 points and 14 rebounds. Curry, the lesser made 12 points that night. He was more of a supportive kind of player that game. However, his point game does not take away from him being one of the best offensive minded players in the game. Everybody in Oakland, including Mark Jackson knows that the Warriors need Curry to survive. Same story for the Cleveland fan base and subpar head coach, Mike Brown.
So, the question is: Who's been better this season? Who would you give the ball to in the first half of the season if you were down by one point with 3.6 seconds left in regulation? Well, lets break this down in something I love....STATISTICS.
According to espn.com, Kyrie Irving leads the Cleveland Cavaliers who is coming into tonight's game against the Philadelphia 76ers with a 4 game winning streak in points per game (21.5), assists (6.2) and steals (1.3). I guess you can say that he's the LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Both he and King James are leading in most team categories. Anyway, Irving is a solid player. Quick on his feet. Fast hands. Has been known to cross over and break the ankles of his competitors despite a not so good first half of the season. The Cavaliers are currently 11th in the league in rebounds which Irving has contributed 3 of those per game. In the former Duke University player's past 5 games, he has scored an average of 23 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds per game. From 3 point range, he has a percentage of .571. He was a perfect 4-4 against the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 9th.
Irving is assisting the Cavaliers in adding numbers to the Win column. Going back even further, he scored an average of 21 points or more in his last 7 of 8 games. Can you say CONSISTENCY? This guy is far from stingy and it shows in his assists during his past few games. He is a team player. Nobody could tell that at the beginning of the season where the Cavaliers were losing games, Anthony Bennett was averaging 2.1 points per game, and Mike Brown was losing his mind. Now, the Cavaliers are rolling in the Eastern Conference and are 3 games out of having possession of the 8th seed in which the 23-30 Charlotte Bobcats currently own. They are definitely going to need Irving to step up...and that he will do! I can see him being better in the first half of the season. The Cavaliers are Irving's team. I am sorry Mike Brown, but that is not your team. You may manage the team, but Irving runs the team.
Irving's field goal percentage as gone up since November. True enough, he sat out a couple of games this year, and I believe that is what contributed to his monthly field goal percentage coming down. The 21 year old was great in December and shot a surprising .461 from the field which was a big step up from shooting .406 in November (his lowest this season.) 21, 24, 19, and 20. Those are his averages from November to right now. With a lot of hard work and more consistency, Irving can be better than he thinks he can.
On the flip side is Steph Curry. The Golden State Warriors most prized possession. I have seen Kyrie's ball movement and handling...its a lot better than Curry's. However, Steph Curry has the ability to make his own shot and take chances. Not only is he solid like Irving, but he is consistent like Irving. The son of former NBA player, Dell Curry has averaged 24 points, 9 assists and 4 rebounds per game in the first half of the season. He has been in the league for 4 years and has proved himself this year in more than one category. Excellent ball movement he has. Smart moves he makes. In his last five games, he has been superior to Irving in with an average of .958 in free throw percentage. However, Irving takes the credit for a distinctively higher 3 point percentage.
In the All Star game, Curry was 2 for 11 from 3 point range. Certainly not the Stephen Curry we are used to seeing. He has been struggling as well as Irving, but Curry always makes up for it. Mark Jackson makes him on the court, and oftentimes, he does not disappoint.
I see Curry doing a lot more than he has done in the first half of the season. Look out for the 25 year old to make headlines in the second half of the season. Bet on it!
The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors will meet again on Friday, March 14th at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. The last time these two teams met were on December 29th when the Warriors pulled away with a victory 104-108. Curry had 29 points and 11 assists. In the first half of that game, Irving was perfect from 3 point range. Irving's crossovers were grand that game! Despite losing, Irving battled with Curry and earned himself 27 points and 9 assists.
If you look at these two...closely...you will see that whether they are going head to head or competing against other teams...they are almost completely identical. (Except for as I have said before...Irving has a mean crossover and can break ankles)
Looking and considering everything, again, I give you the scenario: Who would you give the ball to in the first half of the season if you were down by one point with 3.6 seconds left in regulation?
Sports Kings Pass The Pill Contributor, Briyant Hines
@CST_SportSnitch
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