Should Kyrie come off the bench?

[RCM88x]

He just needs to play better, simple as that.

[Duke4life831]

Before todays game the combo of Lebron/Kyrie were tied for the most assists per game with 14.7, they were tied with Draymond/Curry. Yes Lebron did the heavy lifting with 10.7 assists per game. Lets take a at all the other combos that have a guy averaging 10 assists in the playoffs

Lebron: 10.7 / Kyrie: 4
CP3: 10.3 / Blake: 2.3
Westbrook: 10.3 / Oladipo: 2.7
Wall: 10 / Beal: 2.3
Rondo: 10 / Wade: 3.7

So again if we are comparing Kyrie to secondary facilitators with the other secondary facilitators who play alongside an elite facilitator like Kyrie does with Lebron, hes on the same level if not higher than everyone else.

I dont think its really hard to get, Lebron is the primary ball handler and facilitator. Kyrie is basically playing as the SG and secondary facilitator. So when you compare him to the other guys with similar roles, hes a solid facilitator. Again you can look up at an earlier post of mine and see how Kyrie compares to some other big name PGs and his assist numbers are very similar to theirs.

[Vee-Rex]

Bench Kyrie and you get fired (rightfully so). Talk about crazy/pathetic overreactions.

[gino_giode]

Why does Kyrie need to be a floor general? Lebron is the actual point guard on that team. Kobe, and Jordan didn't need a floor general and neither does Lebron.

My main point was the offense undoubtedly stalls with him going full scorer mode. When he's on the Cavs look unguardable. But when he stalls or just cant get hot the Cavs waste precious possessions.

Even comimg off the bench Kyrie doesn't need to facilitate, but keep shooters out there tp spread the floor.

The differwnce with Kobe/Jordan is they didnt have ball hog scorers. Pippen, Shaq, Gasol etc didn't need to hold the ball for long stretches.

Wade was the one other ball dominamt player Lebron played with, but Wade soon realized they wete successful if he played off ball and made quick decisions with the ball.

So although Kyrie is an offensive juggernaut, he's limiting the teams potential by taking away possessions LeBron could use for himself and others.

[tundraknight]

Sure why not.

He could be like Ginobili used to be with the Spurs when he was in his prime winning 6th man of the year awards.

Ginobili used to play starter minutes coming off the bench.

So just because Kyrie comes off the bench wouldn't mean he would play less minutes. Just provide a big scoring punch off the bench.

[Duke4life831]

Why does Kyrie need to be a floor general? Lebron is the actual point guard on that team. Kobe, and Jordan didn't need a floor general and neither does Lebron.

My main point was the offense undoubtedly stalls with him going full scorer mode. When he's on the Cavs look unguardable. But when he stalls or just cant get hot the Cavs waste precious possessions.

Even comimg off the bench Kyrie doesn't need to facilitate, but keep shooters out there tp spread the floor.

The differwnce with Kobe/Jordan is they didnt have ball hog scorers. Pippen, Shaq, Gasol etc didn't need to hold the ball for long stretches.

Wade was the one other ball dominamt player Lebron played with, but Wade soon realized they wete successful if he played off ball and made quick decisions with the ball.

So although Kyrie is an offensive juggernaut, he's limiting the teams potential by taking away possessions LeBron could use for himself and others.

Ball hog scorer? I get criticizing his facilitating and saying he goes ISO too often. I dont think you will see anyone argue that. But the dude still averaged basically 6 assists a game this year. He was 2nd in the NBA this year behind only Curry for most assists for a guy that was 2nd on their team in assists. So he was basically as good as you can hope for as your secondary facilitator. His per 36 assists numbers on the year were basically equal to guys like Dragic, Lowry, IT, Kemba and Lillard.

Again Im not saying hes a good facilitator or that he doesnt need to become more consistent with it. But this idea that he is this horrible ball hog that is killing a team's flow. Yet the team is +10 better offensively with him out on the court and again, when comparing him to other secondary ball handlers and facilitators, hes near the top of the league.

[_Game7_]

That would be pretty stupid, you roll with your best players to start, and finish games. Unless their effort is completely crap then you bench them to send a message ala game 3.

[Vee-Rex]

Why does Kyrie need to be a floor general? Lebron is the actual point guard on that team. Kobe, and Jordan didn't need a floor general and neither does Lebron.

My main point was the offense undoubtedly stalls with him going full scorer mode. When he's on the Cavs look unguardable. But when he stalls or just cant get hot the Cavs waste precious possessions.

Even comimg off the bench Kyrie doesn't need to facilitate, but keep shooters out there tp spread the floor.

The differwnce with Kobe/Jordan is they didnt have ball hog scorers. Pippen, Shaq, Gasol etc didn't need to hold the ball for long stretches.

Wade was the one other ball dominamt player Lebron played with, but Wade soon realized they wete successful if he played off ball and made quick decisions with the ball.

So although Kyrie is an offensive juggernaut, he's limiting the teams potential by taking away possessions LeBron could use for himself and others.

Dude, you're a prisoner of the moment. He missed a lot of shots he normally makes vs. the Pacers. He nearly put up 50/40/90 on the season and he's literally impossible to stop when he's cooking (which is fairly often). Coaches get fired when they start benching guys over 4-game samples - it's completely idiotic.

[Method28]

Im sure a CP3 to Cleveland rumor will stir up again in the off-season

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[Benedict_Boozer]

Kyrie is a good fit next to Lebron because his weaknesses are offset and vice versa. Without Lebron you would have to build around him differently, better rim protectors on the front line and a SG who can cover for him (like Klay in GS).


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[Tinseltown]

Kyrie coming off the bench doesn't change anything for the Cavs because Kyrie + four bench players is not a good lineup, even against other benches. Kyrie has played with the bench before and it's ugly whenever LeBron isn't on the floor to facilitate for him. The real problem facing the Cavs is the same one they've had for 15 years. They're amazing when LeBron is on the floor and they're really bad when he's on the bench or playing for Miami.

[gino_giode]

Why does Kyrie need to be a floor general? Lebron is the actual point guard on that team. Kobe, and Jordan didn't need a floor general and neither does Lebron.

My main point was the offense undoubtedly stalls with him going full scorer mode. When he's on the Cavs look unguardable. But when he stalls or just cant get hot the Cavs waste precious possessions.

Even comimg off the bench Kyrie doesn't need to facilitate, but keep shooters out there tp spread the floor.

The differwnce with Kobe/Jordan is they didnt have ball hog scorers. Pippen, Shaq, Gasol etc didn't need to hold the ball for long stretches.

Wade was the one other ball dominamt player Lebron played with, but Wade soon realized they wete successful if he played off ball and made quick decisions with the ball.

So although Kyrie is an offensive juggernaut, he's limiting the teams potential by taking away possessions LeBron could use for himself and others.

Dude, you're a prisoner of the moment. He missed a lot of shots he normally makes vs. the Pacers. He nearly put up 50/40/90 on the season and he's literally impossible to stop when he's cooking (which is fairly often). Coaches get fired when they start benching guys over 4-game samples - it's completely idiotic.

His shot selection has been pure garbage. These games should not have been that close. With tougher defenses in the playoffs Kyrie will continue to struggle, and on the other side he'll be a leaky faucet with more elite back courts on deck.

Maybe he scores but his pacing and control of the game is non existent, even during the regular season.

[Kevin Johnson]

0 assists for him tonight and 11 as a team. yikes

not gonna cut it against the Warriors IMO

I hope Dubs win but all that matters for the Cavs probably is Kyrie being a cold bloody killer in the clutch taking, making and manufacturing shots in the finals when Lebron can't.

[Vee-Rex]

My main point was the offense undoubtedly stalls with him going full scorer mode. When he's on the Cavs look unguardable. But when he stalls or just cant get hot the Cavs waste precious possessions.

Even comimg off the bench Kyrie doesn't need to facilitate, but keep shooters out there tp spread the floor.

The differwnce with Kobe/Jordan is they didnt have ball hog scorers. Pippen, Shaq, Gasol etc didn't need to hold the ball for long stretches.

Wade was the one other ball dominamt player Lebron played with, but Wade soon realized they wete successful if he played off ball and made quick decisions with the ball.

So although Kyrie is an offensive juggernaut, he's limiting the teams potential by taking away possessions LeBron could use for himself and others.

Dude, you're a prisoner of the moment. He missed a lot of shots he normally makes vs. the Pacers. He nearly put up 50/40/90 on the season and he's literally impossible to stop when he's cooking (which is fairly often). Coaches get fired when they start benching guys over 4-game samples - it's completely idiotic.

His shot selection has been pure garbage. These games should not have been that close. With tougher defenses in the playoffs Kyrie will continue to struggle, and on the other side he'll be a leaky faucet with more elite back courts on deck.

Maybe he scores but his pacing and control of the game is non existent, even during the regular season.

His shot selection is the exact same as it has been for his entire career. He has faced tougher backcourts and held his own and have done quite well. Again, you're basing everything off a 4 game sample size. - mine is 30'ish.

The entire regular season produced 25/3/6 47%FG, 40%3pt, 90%FT 23.0PER .580TS%. That's very good 'pacing and control' right there.

If you don't like Kyrie as a player that's fine - maybe you prefer point guards like Mike Conley and George Hill. But only a fool would bench Kyrie over 4 games.

[gino_giode]

Cavs obliterated the Raps with Kyrie on the bench AGAIN. If Kyrie's shot isn't going he's absolutely trash. His 2 10+ assist games this series are deceiving mostly because LeBron is converting at an absurd efficiency.

I repeat, Kyrie will be shut down by Wall/Bradley/Klay. It's best to hide him until he gets a weaker matchup off the bench.

[Baseline Runner]

Cavs obliterated the Raps with Kyrie on the bench. If Kyrie's shot isn't going he's absolutely trash. His 2 10+ assist games this series are deceiving mostly because LeBron is converting at an absurd efficiency.

I repeat, Kyrie will be shut down by Wall/Bradley/Klay. It's best to hide him until he gets a weaker matchup off the bench.

Kyrie just demolishes teams year after year in the playoffs but yeah he is just trash.

[gino_giode]

Cavs obliterated the Raps with Kyrie on the bench. If Kyrie's shot isn't going he's absolutely trash. His 2 10+ assist games this series are deceiving mostly because LeBron is converting at an absurd efficiency.

I repeat, Kyrie will be shut down by Wall/Bradley/Klay. It's best to hide him until he gets a weaker matchup off the bench.

Kyrie just demolishes teams year after year in the playoffs but yeah he is just trash.

What has he done lately? I don't care about pass heroics and neither should the team. He's shooting worse and worse, and on top of that he'll run into lockdown defenders in the upcoming rounds. Wall owns him in the H2H, and Avery showed he can easily shut Kyrie down.

Look, I hate to dog on Kyrie because he's currently my fav player, but the guy is a black hole on offense. It's only more apparent now that his shot is broken (and won't get better until he really rests and heals it).

I'm not saying give him bench scrub minutes, but when he starts he takes away from valuable possessions that LeBron/Deron are better at orchestrating. Same goes for Love, but nobody really expected much from him.

[Dupp]

He just needs rest. Close it out in 4 and hope to win the ecfs fast and he may be o in the finals.

[msr999]

He has been underwhelming this year in the playoffs. They didn't really need him so far but he will be critical going forward. Hopefully not injury related and he will be back to top form

[Buzissa]

The Cavs are 7-0 in the postseason, no need to change anything.
Kyrie will come through when the Cavs really need him. Probably in the next round against the Celtics.