Kyrie Irving has had a very quiet year and that shouldn't be the case. He averaged over 20 points per game and helped the Cavs get into the Eastern Conference Finals. Irving's ability to dribble and drive to the paint makes him one of the best inside scorers in the game. Kyrie Irving showed his greatness after putting his team on his shoulders in game four, dropping a playoff career-high 42 points. His epic performance helped the Cavs take a commanding 3-1 lead over the Boston Celtics. The Celtics failed to put a defender on him that could slow him down and it wasn't just in Game 4.
For the majority of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics have not been able to defend Irving, as he is having a field day against anyone who guards him.
Who's stopping him?
Kyrie Irving has been unstoppable since the beginning of the Eastern Conference Finals. In this series, he is averaging 26.3 points per game, two points higher than his playoff average. He is scoring these points by taking great shots, as he is shooting 62 percent from the field in this series. This is unheard of for a point guard. Irving has been taking quality shots and stepping up when needed, as LeBron James struggled in games three and four. Kyrie picked up the slack in the second and third quarter of Game 4, putting on a scoring display that everyone -- including LeBron James -- could appreciate.
The Celtics have put many defenders on Kyrie Irving but to no avail. In Games 2-4, Kyrie Irving shot at least 50 percent from the field regardless of who was guarding him. He is shooting especially well against the Celtics' best defender in Avery Bradley, as he is shooting 10-14 against him. The Celtics have no answer and are in trouble.
More of the same
The Celtics should expect nothing to change, as Kyrie is in one of those grooves right now. Uncle Drew has the Celtics on skates, failing to keep up with the shifty guard and allowing open lanes to the bucket or shooting space. Irving is hitting his stride at the right time, with The Finals coming in about a week.
Irving is nursing an ankle injury he suffered in the third quarter of Game 4, but that didn't stop him, and it probably won't hold him back in Game 5.
The Celtics must figure out a way to slow down two out of the three big stars on the Cavs' roster, but that is never an easy task. With James and Irving cooking on the court, the Celtics are at the mercy of the Cavs' offense. Kyrie Irving looked like a man among boys in Game 4, showing that Uncle Drew still has the ability to carry the team.
