Why doesn t Irving score?

Irving is very good at scoring. Invincible singles.

But the scoring champion is not just singles.

In my heart, Irving is the first singles skill in the No. 1 position in history, dribbling first, active No. 1 position mid-range shot, layup finishing technique (not referring to the effect).

His straight sprint speed and bounce were not as good as Ross and Westbrook. But he has strong lower limbs and core strength.

Like Wade, he can suddenly step down when the center of gravity is not lowered; or he can stop suddenly when the center of gravity is on his right foot, and then suddenly send his left foot to cross step through, or change hands and change directions.

If he fails to break through the opponent instantly, he can dribble the ball behind his back, turn his right foot quickly after landing on the ground, and immediately change to the second direction after receiving the ball with his left hand, jump to the ground and break through, or push the ground hard and withdraw the step.

So frequently, greatly, without buffering, as if twisting one's knees.

After grabbing the position, his handling method is complicated enough:

can complete a high-point hitting in the confrontation: he can magically find the hitting point. He can also forcefully pull up and complete his shot in the air: his starting point is very high, but the shooting point is in front of him, in order to maximize the arc and shooting point. Only by the strength and tenacity of legs, feet, core strength, and upper limbs can he play like this and complete so many movements of turning from hard to soft.

But on the other side...

"Single Joe" Joe Johnson, he has never won the scoring champion.

Leonard played very well in his health and did not win the scoring champion.

He has played the best center forward in history and has never won the scoring champion.

Probably, singles masters can forcefully demolish and solve - but the scoring champion does not rely on singles.

Curry averaged 5.1 and 5.3 three-pointers per game in two-time scoring champions - Irving averaged 3.4 three-pointers per game in a single season.

Alexander scored last season, averaging 9 free throws per game - Irving averaged 5.1 free throws per game in a single season.

Three-pointer, free throw.

Harden: Speaking of this...

Harden averaged 3.7, 4.8, 4.4 three-pointers per game, 10, 11, 12 free throws per game - free throw + three-pointers.

2019-2020 season, Irving made 10 goals in 20.8 shots per game, and Harden made 9.9 goals in 22.3 shots per game.

At first glance, Irving is better - but Harden averaged 34.3 points per game with three-pointers and free throws, and Irving is 27.4 points.

"We are all free throws on three points, you play two points and two points? No wonder you are stuck in traffic!"

By Curry said: No ball.

Bill has averaged 30 points per game in two years in the Wizards - Irving hasn't.

Why? In those two years, Bill's assist rate was over 40% of the two-pointers and over 70% of the three-pointers - Irving's two-pointer was 3/4 of his career, and half of his three-pointers were sprinted by himself.

Kobe's singles are good enough, but he has two scoring champions in the season, and he also scored about 40% of his points and assists. Jordan's singles were good enough, but in the last two scoring seasons, five percent assists were taken - both of them were integrated into the triangle offense.

Curry/Bill/Lillard received the ball in one running position, and then went out after scoring a three-pointer.

Irving made a strong shot by himself.

Who saves more effort?

Harden tells you: pick-and-roll.

2016-17 season, NBA averaged empty singles scores: Harden 6.6, Westbrook 6, Irving 5.7 - Irving and Harden Westbrook are almost the same.

But average pick-and-roll balls per game: Harden 12, Kemba 12, Westbrook 11, Lillard 11-Irving 8.

2024 playoffs, single-handed score: Alexander averaged 12 points per game, Luca averaged 6 points per game, Irving averaged 5 points per game - but holding the ball, Luca scored 12 points, and Irving scored 6 points.

"We are all running without the ball or pick-and-roll. If we see opportunities, we can make a sudden pass, we can pass, and we can play. If we run to death, we are called a one-on-one challenge; if you fight one by one? You deserve to race!"

Physical talent.

Irving has good balance and coordination, but he does not have Westbrook Ross' speed and Harden Luca's physique. His skills mainly support him to avoid fighting, rather than attacking hard.

He has played 55 games per season in 14 years. Last season, he became the main controller of the Mavericks, and was burdened and injured.

Everyone likes to joke that Leonard can play but doesn't.

Leonard and Irving entered the industry in the same year. Irving has played a total of 30,000 minutes of games so far in his career. Leonard is 28,000.

still have to go back to this one-on-one thinking.

Irving has partnered with LeBron, Harden and Luca, the core players of the ball.

He is obviously a playback, so why can't he hold the ball? The ball-holding core of the space generation needs to pick-and-roll to destroy the opponent's defense, and the vision needs to seize the opportunity to pass the ball to start the attack.

Westbrook and Harden's personal attacks have reached their peak, while Trae Young-Ye suffers from attack efficiency; Durant (and Edwards) is not good at playing the ball.

Irving can play pick-and-roll, but it is not his strength to score the ball: his vision limits him.

So in the Cavaliers, in the LeBron organization, in the Net, in the Harden organization, and in the Mavericks, in the Luca organization:

Irving is always the scorer who broke the deadlock, and can also enter the finals with the Ace, but not the core of the team.

Irving was born in Melbourne, Australia. His father, Drederick Irving, is a professional basketball player. Carey arrived in the United States at the age of two. Two years later, his mother passed away, and his father played basketball and raised Carey with four sisters - Kelly's aunts.

They live in New Jersey. He was taken to the sidelines of the court by his father since he was a child to watch his father play. In his life, there are the noise of his aunts opening their mouths and the basketball that pounded the wooden floor in his dad's hands.

Drederick teaches his son to play basketball. When he was nine, Carey was shy about talking trash. Dad said to him:

"Never be afraid of anyone, and don't be afraid of failure." So when he was 19 years old, Kyrie Irving said:

"I may be one of the best people in history. I just want to destroy my opponent. I like this. My dad taught me. Before participating in the NBA draft, Kyrie said that the greatest moment in his life was when he was 16 years old, he fought with his 42-year-old dad, and he won 15-0. Another game, 15-0. What Drederick is most satisfied with is not that his son won, but that he is:

"He was not ruthless just because I am his dad. He destroyed me and was talking trash all the way. I know, he's ready. ”

I always feel that this part is similar to Zebei Rongzhi's experience in "SLAM DUNK":

Playing one-on-one with his father, playing one-on-one, and fighting Dugu Qiubao, being childish.

Last season's regular season, Irving, even the Mavericks were the first in the ball, averaged 5.4 per game, scoring 5.4 per game, and ranked fifth in the league (sixth Durant); scored 5.5 in pick-and-roll, not as good as Lakers Reeves.

"We all pick-and-roll, running without the ball, shooting three-pointers, and breaking through to free throws, you are looking for one-on-one to score two points? ”

He is essentially a master of singles, but in this era, his playing style is too classic.

When playing basketball, especially in the space era, not every single ball is single.

So he has no scoring king.