Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving - 24-25 Thread

XTC · Post #41 » by **XTC** » Mon Feb 3, 2025 5:56 pm

I also think Kyrie's playstyle has evolved from his younger days. He's become a midrange maestro, and someone who can kill you from 3. He's probably the best player in the league at hitting those tough Kobe-esque shots. He's become an amazing off ball scorer as well, who can play next to any star.

With that being said I have noticed he can't get to the rim like he used to, and there are times he gets clamped up. He still has his ATG ball handling, but instead of getting to the rim I've noticed he tends to pull up inside the free throw area. This has affected his playmaking IMO, because he's not dragging that extra defender to him anymore.

AD is going to have to be the #1 option offensively IMO, and I do wonder if that's going to effect his defense. Lebron might be older, but he can still get a bucket at any time, he's just more conservative. He really did allow AD to get a breather, he wont have that luxury in Dallas. I also do wonder if AD at the 4 is truly ideal. Other than bubble AD, he hasn't shown the ability to consistently hit three pointers. If AD is occupying the midrange, and Gafford/Lively are taking up the paint, spacing might become an issue... Kyrie is really going to have to embrace being a 3 point gunner ala Curry/Dame for this experiment to work IMO. The AD/Kyrie pick & roll/pop combo with Gafford/Lively being lob threats is going to be absolutely lethal, and beautiful to watch.

I'll definetly be tuning into more Maverick games, it seems they're building a roster which would have absolutely thrived and won a championship in the 2010's. I have absolutely no idea how they're going to do, but it's going to be interesting.

TroubleS0me · Post #42 » by **TroubleS0me** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 2:13 am

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Pelly24 · Post #43 » by **Pelly24** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 7:11 am

XTC wrote:I also think Kyrie's playstyle has evolved from his younger days. He's become a midrange maestro, and someone who can kill you from 3. He's probably the best player in the league at hitting those tough Kobe-esque shots. He's become an amazing off ball scorer as well, who can play next to any star.

With that being said I have noticed he can't get to the rim like he used to, and there are times he gets clamped up. He still has his ATG ball handling, but instead of getting to the rim I've noticed he tends to pull up inside the free throw area. This has affected his playmaking IMO, because he's not dragging that extra defender to him anymore.

AD is going to have to be the #1 option offensively IMO, and I do wonder if that's going to effect his defense. Lebron might be older, but he can still get a bucket at any time, he's just more conservative. He really did allow AD to get a breather, he wont have that luxury in Dallas. I also do wonder if AD at the 4 is truly ideal. Other than bubble AD, he hasn't shown the ability to consistently hit three pointers. If AD is occupying the midrange, and Gafford/Lively are taking up the paint, spacing might become an issue... Kyrie is really going to have to embrace being a 3 point gunner ala Curry/Dame for this experiment to work IMO. The AD/Kyrie pick & roll/pop combo with Gafford/Lively being lob threats is going to be absolutely lethal, and beautiful to watch.

I'll definetly be tuning into more Maverick games, it seems they're building a roster which would have absolutely thrived and won a championship in the 2010's. I have absolutely no idea how they're going to do, but it's going to be interesting.

I might actually have to watch more closely, but I've actually been encouraged by his rim attempt rate. He's at like 2.8 attempts at the rim compared to 3.2 in 2022-2023. EVen in these games with Luka out, he's been getting by most even great defenders like against OKC, wolves, etc. His first step is still one of the quickest in the league at 32. He started going to the rim less beginning in like 2020. I think maybe he lost a quarter step and maybe the motor isn't quite what it was, but also his ability to shoot low-50s, high-40s on midrange makes it a good way to save energy. His free throw rate is still at around the level it was, too (which was never high enough in my eyes, thought he could get to 6, but not his style).

I do wonder how his back injury is possibly effecting him. He shot pretty bad from three last month. I also wonder about his stamina since he can seem to lose steam in the fourth quarter at times. But that's kind of always been him. He's not an apex, average 32 ppg on 64 TS% kind of guy. He's more of an average 23-26 ppg on 61 or 62 TS% type of guy, and if not totally loaded up on, 24/5/5 on 58 TS% or so in the playoffs. He's really always been best suited to be like an amped up Tony Parker or something where there's still a better volume scorer on the team, and he jumps in and out of that role when needed, but really more of an emergency safety valve than the constant SGA, Luka, prime LeBron stuff.

As for AD being the no. 1. I think it's still going to be a 1a, 1b type of thing they shift between. Because It's just easier for the ballhandler to initiate offense. But AD will get more lobs and can get his midrange game off.

This Mavs team could be really good. But i think the Mavs should consider moving Lively for another playmaking guard that can also score. Lively is really injury prone and though he's a better defender, idk Gafford has been great, and I don't see Lively developing into a legit offensive force. He's kind of awkward with the ball and his touch is considerably worse than Gafford's.

But even as is, I actually think this Mavs team could make a surprise run to the conference finals. they can beat the KIngs, Suns, I think the Wolves, Clippers ... they oddly seem to have OKC's number, but they probably can't really beat OKC without Luka, unless AD goes supernova and they get another playmaker. The lakers will take time to build the team they need. Nuggets are ... ehhh. But Jokic is too good. Warriors aren't good.

Still — a horrific trade. But AD is a top 10 player. Kyrie is a top 20 guy that remains very versatile.

GSP · Post #44 » by **GSP** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 8:31 am

TroubleS0me wrote:

Read on Twitter

He seems really excited and ready to leave.......................already got the photoshopped Mavs jersey pfp :lol:

Maybe im reading too much into it but i dont think Ad liked the role he was in being in the "shadow" of Bron or La not getting the support around the team. Maybe he just didnt think they were good enough and w/ Dallas having Gafford and Lively it prolly excites him to be playing 4 more too. I dunno if i buy the report that Bron had no idea this was happening but at the least i think he and Ad talked about it being over to some degree. Bron making public comments they have no margin for error w/ roster and Ad saying they were pieces away and need a center............

jalengreen · Post #45 » by **jalengreen** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 8:51 am

GSP wrote:
TroubleS0me wrote:

Read on Twitter

He seems really excited and ready to leave.......................already got the photoshopped Mavs jersey pfp

Maybe im reading too much into it but i dont think Ad liked the role he was in being in the "shadow" of Bron or La not getting the support around the team. Maybe he just didnt think they were good enough and w/ Dallas having Gafford and Lively it prolly excites him to be playing 4 more too. I dunno if i buy the report that Bron had no idea this was happening but at the least i think he and Ad talked about it being over to some degree. Bron making public comments they have no margin for error w/ roster and Ad saying they were pieces away and need a center............

He chose LA as his preferred destination knowing that he’d be in the shadow of LeBron and he’s been in his shadow less than ever before this year. So that seems like a stretch.

I do think he’s been disgruntled with the org though - he had the interview w Shams where he said they needed a center and that he felt he was still best at the 4. So I’m sure he is looking forward to that part, along with a better defensive roster. I just doubt that it has anything to do with LeBron.

GSP · Post #46 » by **GSP** » Tue Feb 4, 2025 8:56 am

jalengreen wrote:
GSP wrote:
TroubleS0me wrote:

Read on Twitter

He seems really excited and ready to leave.......................already got the photoshopped Mavs jersey pfp

Maybe im reading too much into it but i dont think Ad liked the role he was in being in the "shadow" of Bron or La not getting the support around the team. Maybe he just didnt think they were good enough and w/ Dallas having Gafford and Lively it prolly excites him to be playing 4 more too. I dunno if i buy the report that Bron had no idea this was happening but at the least i think he and Ad talked about it being over to some degree. Bron making public comments they have no margin for error w/ roster and Ad saying they were pieces away and need a center............

He chose LA as his preferred destination knowing that he’d be in the shadow of LeBron and he’s been in his shadow less than ever before this year. So that seems like a stretch.

I do think he’s been disgruntled with the org though - he had the interview w Shams where he said they needed a center and that he felt he was still best at the 4. So I’m sure he is looking forward to that part, along with a better defensive roster. I just doubt that it has anything to do with LeBron.

Not Bron specifically or personally just that he wasnt ever gonna be seen as the de facto 1st option and "star" on the team. I mean most ppl still considered Bron the best player on the team and still getting 1st priority for All star and All nba........I dont think Ad cared before when Bron was still an Mvp level player but Bron being 40yo now and still having narrative that Ad is 2nd fiddle to many fans prolly aggravated him to some degree even if he doesnt admit it