Kyrie is a top 10, maybe top 5 player

[sicknastydunker]

Kyrie in the past had been somewhat overrated, but this may have been due to the fact that he was simply used incorrectly and ended up with mediocre numbers.

This year, Kyrie ranks #6 in both RPM and BPM.

The players ahead of him in RPM are
Harden
Paul George
AD
Jokic
Curry

The players ahead of him in BPM are
Harden
Giannis
Jokic
AD
Lebron

with Kyrie's improved defense this year, I think he's pretty damn close to Curry. I'd put Harden, Lebron, Giannis, AD and probably Jokic above him, but after that, everything's up in the air. Kyrie's definitely top 10, possibly top 5, if you put him ahead of Jokic, PG13, Curry, Kawhi and Durant. I think those 10 guys are a clear top 10 though.

[clyde21]

in his division, sure

[HMFFL]

While I like what Jokic is doing early in his career I need to see postseason success. Until that time Curry is still in my top 5.
Curry is a talent that has never been seen before in the league and often he's taken for granted by many basketball fans.

Sent from my SM-N920P using RealGM mobile app

[nzahir]

Kyrie in the past had been somewhat overrated, but this may have been due to the fact that he was simply used incorrectly and ended up with mediocre numbers.

This year, Kyrie ranks #6 in both RPM and BPM.

The players ahead of him in RPM are
Harden
Paul George
AD
Jokic
Curry

The players ahead of him in BPM are
Harden
Giannis
Jokic
AD
Lebron

with Kyrie's improved defense this year, I think he's pretty damn close to Curry. I'd put Harden, Lebron, Giannis, AD and probably Jokic above him, but after that, everything's up in the air. Kyrie's definitely top 10, possibly top 5, if you put him ahead of Jokic, PG13, Curry, Kawhi and Durant. I think those 10 guys are a clear top 10 though.

So you taking Kyrie ahead of KD, Kawhi, and Curry huh? I think I would even take Joel over Kyrie.

[alessandrux]

At the point guard position, probably.

[mg]

I can't put him in my top 10 mainly due to his defense.
I rate LBJ, Durant, Curry, Harden, PG, Westbrook, Giannis, Kawhi, Jokic, and AD all ahead of Kyrie. I might even Luka ahead of him soon too. Embiid is another on the bubble. Dame is an equivalent for Kyrie too in my book.

I will say that if you need to make a last second shot to win a game Kyrie is definitely in that top 5.

[dukes_wild]

Nice sig OP

[sicknastydunker]

Kyrie in the past had been somewhat overrated, but this may have been due to the fact that he was simply used incorrectly and ended up with mediocre numbers.

This year, Kyrie ranks #6 in both RPM and BPM.

The players ahead of him in RPM are
Harden
Paul George
AD
Jokic
Curry

The players ahead of him in BPM are
Harden
Giannis
Jokic
AD
Lebron

with Kyrie's improved defense this year, I think he's pretty damn close to Curry. I'd put Harden, Lebron, Giannis, AD and probably Jokic above him, but after that, everything's up in the air. Kyrie's definitely top 10, possibly top 5, if you put him ahead of Jokic, PG13, Curry, Kawhi and Durant. I think those 10 guys are a clear top 10 though.

So you taking Kyrie ahead of KD, Kawhi, and Curry huh? I think I would even take Joel over Kyrie.

I don't know, it's close. I think something that is generally borne out by the data is most point guards/distributors have much more of an effect on an offense than high scoring forwards by nature of the fact that they have the ball in their hands for longer and both score and distribute. If you look at the top players in ORPM or ORAPM for the past few years they're almost always point guards or de facto PGs like Harden or somewhat Lebron.

Where forwards can make up for it is on defense. KD and Kawhi have both shown the ability to be elite defensive players. In Kawhi's case, the best defender in the NBA. However, this season, I don't think either has been all that great on defense, and I think Kyrie's defense has been pretty great for a PG, so this year, I'd say Kyrie has been better than KD and Kawhi so far. If KD and Kawhi come out in the playoffs and play monster defense, that could change things, but remember, Kyrie also ups his game in the playoffs. I think I'm taking Paul George over Kawhi and Durant though, and probably Kyrie.

Curry is a different story. Curry is one of the best offensive players I've ever seen. Kyrie is definitely better on defense, considering his defense this season has been great, but I think I'd take Kyrie over Curry.

Overall, I think I'd rank things
Harden
Lebron
Giannis
AD
Curry
Jokic
Paul George
Kyrie
KD
Kawhi

But I think 5-10 are all pretty close. I think there's a clear top 4 though, assuming Lebron turns it up in the playoffs again. Numbers-wise, Lebron would belong in 5-10, but I have to believe he's got an extra gear these other guys don't have

Don't think Embiid's game fits the modern NBA well enough for a top 10. In fact, if my goal is to win a championship, I might take Gobert over Embiid, as I think a defensive high efficiency low-scoring center is more conducive to winning in the modern NBA than Embiid's game, even though Embiid's talent is incredible, and it'd be a very tough choice. Embiid would definitely be top 5 30 years ago, and he's still easily top 20, probably top 15, but not top 10 IMO

[sicknastydunker]

I can't put him in my top 10 mainly due to his defense.
I rate LBJ, Durant, Curry, Harden, PG, Westbrook, Giannis, Kawhi, Jokic, and AD all ahead of Kyrie. I might even Luka ahead of him soon too. Embiid is another on the bubble. Dame is an equivalent for Kyrie too in my book.

I will say that if you need to make a last second shot to win a game Kyrie is definitely in that top 5.

Kyrie's defense has been pretty damn good this year. Big improvement. I can't put Westbrook ahead of Kyrie because I don't think his game is conducive to winning in the playoffs, and Doncic has been incredibly impressive for a rookie, but isn't anywhere near the top 10 yet for me.

Embiid is a fantastic talent, but his game is too dinosaur-ish to be in the top 10 in the modern NBA. 30 years ago, he'd be top 5.

[SamSepiol]

Definitely top 5 in terms of players to watch on the court.
He has been really good this season, but there are 10 players in the league that I’d take over him.

[sicknastydunker]

Nice sig OP

LOL, this is even worse than it looks.

If this post were written around the time of the draft, it would not be in my sig, as I think the draft is basically a crapshoot for all but the best GMs, so I don't hold bad draft predictions against people.

This post was written last offseason after Fultz sat out the whole season with an "injury" that was pretty obviously fake to anyone that was paying attention and Tatum had a crazy good rookie season. This person was just willfully ignorant

[Triple M]

I'm not concerned about where Kyrie ranks because that will be proven in the playoffs, and the same goes for Antetokounpo, Harden, Leonard, etc. Kyrie has duelled with Curry in the Finals, and I think he had possibly edged him in those one on one matchups, but he has to prove himself again in the playoffs in his new role.

[SOdisciple]

What makes Kyrie in any way better than Damian Lillard? I think what Lillard has accomplished so far this year has been more impressive to be honest.

[sicknastydunker]

I'm not concerned about where Kyrie ranks because that will be proven in the playoffs, and the same goes for Antetokounpo, Harden, Leonard, etc. Kyrie has duelled with Curry in the Finals, and I think he had possibly edged him in those one on one matchups, but he has to prove himself again in the playoffs in his new role.

Why do Kyrie and Leonard who have been elite playoff performers who helped their teams win rings get placed in the same category as Giannis who has done nothing in the playoffs? Harden is on another level

[azwfan]

I would not have ranked Kyrie this high, but haven't watched any Celtic basketball this season.
Kyrie must have really improved this year. Can't wait for the game tonight.

[youngmoney2]

Not top 5 but he's probably top 10. His playoff performance is close to top 5 though

[ThumbsUpBaby]

He's a top 10 player, but definitely not top 5 right now.

[Triple M]

I'm not concerned about where Kyrie ranks because that will be proven in the playoffs, and the same goes for Antetokounpo, Harden, Leonard, etc. Kyrie has duelled with Curry in the Finals, and I think he had possibly edged him in those one on one matchups, but he has to prove himself again in the playoffs in his new role.

Why do Kyrie and Leonard who have been elite playoff performers who helped their teams win rings get placed in the same category as Giannis who has done nothing in the playoffs? Harden is on another level

To be clear Harden, Kyrie, Leonard, and Antetokounpo all need to prove they are great in the playoffs in their current roles. While Kyrie and Leonard are already proven and champs they need to prove it again in their new roles. For example, if Kyrie is a top 5 player than i expect nothing short of the Celtics in the Finals.

[THE J0KER]

Clearly the best 2018-19 backcourt player on the East, but I'm not sure he is TOP10 of this regular season (for sure not TOP5). LBJ AD KD Giannis Harden Curry Kawhi Jokic Embiid George are my TOP10. He belongs to all-NBA all-star team (TOP12) when you add Westbrook and him to these 10.

[Dez]

So he was overrated but now that he's playing for Boston he's a top 5 player? Fancy that opinion change.