Go back to Game 1 of last year's Finals and you'll recall just how much the Cleveland Cavaliers needed Kyrie Irving. Prior to breaking his kneecap, which would keep him out of the rest of the series, Irving put up 23 points on 10-of-22 shooting along with seven rebounds, six assists and four steals. It was one of the better all-around games Irving had played in a meaningful game, and his absence the rest of the series left the Cavs and their fans wondering, "What if?"
Fast-forward a year to Game 1 of the 2016 NBA Finals and Irving is healthy. He remained healthy throughout the game. And yet his impact on the first game of this series left the Cavaliers looking like they were in ruins. To be blunt, Irving was terrible in Cleveland's Game 1 loss to the Golden State Warriors, despite being the top scorer in the game with 26 points. He shot 7 of 22 from the field and his efficiency was only saved by early trips to the free-throw line in the first half.
Irving hijacked the offense. He ruined the flow of an offense that was designed to play fast, even if playing an uptempo style against the Warriors was a risky strategy in the first place. He settled for mid-range jumpers instead of getting into the teeth of the defense to force a decision by the team he was going against. His troubleshooting option against a great Warriors defense was going into isolation basketball, and that's how they feast against your bravado.
You can't beat the Warriors with isolation ball. In the previous round, the Oklahoma City Thunder were at their most dangerous when they moved the ball and forced the Warriors to scramble on offense. But in the final couple of games during that series, the Thunder became stagnant on offense and the Warriors were able to get the big stops they needed. They relied on help defense to shade the player away from going to the basket and settle for contested jumpers.
Kyrie Irving was 1-of-9 in the half court when he brought the ball up and did not pass
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 3, 2016
This has been the worry for the Cavs having Irving as their No. 2 guy since LeBron James returned to Cleveland. His game has always been dazzling. The same moves he uses in commercials while dressed up as an old man are used to undress defenders on the court. His handle is as sharp and full of chicanery as anybody else's. His shot-making ability is one of the best in the league. He's often a dead-eye shooter. He's one of the craftiest players around the basket, turning seemingly impossible situations into spectacular layups.
However, there is a stickiness to his game when it comes to the ball. He'll often get criticized for being a point guard and yet not setting up teammates. For most of the past two seasons, it looks like the chemistry between he and Kevin Love on the court would indicate they're strangers who have never played together. Irving has always seemed to shine within the attack but not necessarily added to the team attack. It was a criticism when he was on bad teams that many were hoping would be erased when he was finally given a better team to contribute to.
Some of it is unfounded because his primary job is to be an awesome scorer while LeBron directs the offense. We can over scrutinize the stats of a player, especially when Kyrie did such a good job within the flow of the Cavs' offense this year. But there are still questions about how much he helps his teammates when things aren't going well for them.
Stakes are much higher in the Finals, too, and the ball sticking to his hands when he's not scoring with a quick potency can be detrimental to the game plan. It isn't Irving's fault that the bench was so bad, getting outscored 45-10 on the night. He can't be scapegoated for all of the poor play by the Cavs in Game 1, but he also can't be lauded for being the game-high scorer when it felt like he was putting up empty possessions with his me-against-you offensive attack.
The Warriors are begging for him to play like this again the rest of the series. If they can eliminate Kyrie from being a part of the team and just trick him into trying to take the Warriors on as a personal challenge, the Cavs' offense can't be good enough to take down the opposing defense, unless Irving goes for 40 or 50 points.
The fuzzy feelings from last year and the questions of "What if?" have now become sighs of discontent with what Irving brought to the table. He can be much better in Game 2 and he'll have to be. But it isn't so much about the baskets he makes as much as it's about the attempts he takes. The shots he took in Game 1 are the shots the Warriors' championship parade route will be paved with, if he keeps doing this.
