Kyrie Irving Told the Truth About What’s in His Bag
Kyrie Irving was on Kevin Durant’s ETCs Podcast and was asked the proverbial question by co-host Eddie Gonzalez…”10 seconds left in a one-point game, who’s shooting”? Irving’s initial response was, “it depends on who’s hot” and then Irving’s truth serum kicked in. “One thing I’ve always been comfortable with is, I felt like I was the best option on every team I played for down the stretch. This is the first time in my career where I could look down and be like, that [expletive] can make that shot too, and he’d probably do it a lot easier”. The tone of the cackling and laughter from Durant and Gonzalez was priceless and almost make it seem like this wasn’t the first time this topic was discussed on some level between the two Brooklyn Nets stars.
Many felt this was a shot at LeBron James, especially the James loyalist like Shannon Sharpe, Nick Wright and Colin Cowherd. But Sharpe indicated on Undisputed that players value other players comments about themselves more so than the media or those outside the basketball community.
Around the same time this podcast episode was released, the Ringer NBA Show with Raja Bell and Logan Murdock addressed this issue more directly. In an exchange with Murdock, Bell indicated that James this year (especially in the bubble) hasn’t seem to really have a steady offensive game in the half court, he’s setting the table and he gets to the rim from here to there, but you give LeBron the ball and you say — GET A BUCKET, I’ll pick a lot of other people right now in the half court… Murdock is surprised and responds with whoa…!!! Some of this was based on what Bell was seeing in the 2020 NBA Finals where the Miami Heat was switching, and James hasn’t been attacking and exploiting the mismatches.
Murdock then ask Bell specifically — “who would you take over LeBron in a half court set to get a bucket”? Bell then responds to clarify the question and for Logan to provide the specific context… “Half court, defense is set, purely a one-on-one, I need you to get me a bucket, you are not passing it…” Logan goes down a list of NBA players and Bell responds —
Kawhi Leonard — Yes…
Kevin Durant — Absolutely…
James Harden — yes…
Dame Lillard — yes…
Steph Curry — no…
Klay Thompson– no…
Steve Nash — no…
Kobe Bryant — yes, what you talking about… yeah!!.
Dwayne Wade — Hmm — that’s a really good one…
Giannis — No, no…
Luka — Yeah, yeah, I would…
Chris Paul — no…
Russell Westbrook — no, I’m not bias here…
Bell further qualified his comments by stating… “the exercise in not based on the last 10 seconds of a game, we need a basket, who you are giving the ball to… You’re talking about a bunch of guys that can create, not only going to the basket, but they all have legitimate mid-post, mid-range games, and they all can shoot. So, if you were to back up or if they were going to wall you off you can pull a jumper”.
Murdock then asked Bell, on this team right here (Lakers 2020) would you tell AD (Anthony Davis) to get the ball before LeBron in a half court set to get a bucket? Bell qualifies, with a live dribble, around the elbow, 18 feet from the basket on the wing… for a bucket, yeah, absolutely. It should be noted that Bell isn’t a James “hater”, he actually indicated earlier in the podcast episode that he’s a huge believer and fan of James.
Bell has a reputation of being an elite defender. Bell made First Team NBA All-Defensive team in 2006 and Second Team in 2007. In an article by Jasmyn Wimbish for CBS Sports, she identifies Bell as one of the five all-time NBA 3-and-D specialists who helped pave the way for others in that role today. Bell was a tough nose defender like others on the list to include NBA Champions Michael Cooper, Robert Horry, Shane Battier, and Bruce Bowen… so Bell comments should be taken a bit serious given his reputation as an elite wing defender in the NBA.
Both podcasts whether implicit or explicit, indirect or direct were all pointing to the opinion that James offensive game is limited if he’s not bullying his way to the basket or scoring in the open court. What’s really remarkable about this topic on James is that he’s on the doorsteps of becoming the league’s all-time scorer, but yet in some circles many feel he’s not that skilled offensively. This is what resonates in the Irving exchange on Durant’s podcast, it’s unspoken and no one can really come out and say it without being accused of being a James hater. Yes, it’s true James is on the heels of Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but I don’t think that matters in the context of what Irving was insinuating, or what Bell was trying to express with his critique of James offensive repertoire.
If you look at the decisive play in Game 5 of the 2020 NBA Finals where James passed the ball to Danny Green, many thought James made the right basketball play… but to hoopers like Durant and Irving, no need to pass when you can get to any spot on the court and get in your bag to get a bucket. That was the mentality of elite scorers like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, get a bucket as the first option, if not there, pass it to the open man. Most elite offensive players are deadly from just about anywhere on the court which make the situations discussed in the podcasts interesting.
When James got the ball at the end of Game 5, there was at least 13 seconds left in the game, he is near half-court defended by Jimmy Butler on the right side of the court. It appears the Lakers are in a one-four flat with James isolated at the top, but Danny Green suddenly flashes to set a pick above the three point line but James doesn’t use it and drives into a triple team, with a fourth defender lurking in the paint. The play materializes into James being forced to pass back out to the open Green for three pointer.
James never really looked comfortable doing what Irving and Bell all were talking about. There was plenty of spacing in the set and ample time for James to get into his bag, use his size and strength to get to a spot on the floor to create a good (high percentage) shot for himself. The Lakers were down 108–109, and didn’t need a three pointer to win the game. Former Duke player and ESPN Analyst Jay William chimed in and said, “Yes, Danny Green was open but I don’t care what no one says. Bron needed to shoot that shot. PERIOD”.
Fair or unfair, this is where some of the comments about James “killer instinct” can come into play. It’s hard to have that confidence on the offensive end of the court when your offensive skills are limited. Heaving up a shot falling out of bounds right before the time expires take some pressure off you because it’s a tough shot, but in the confines of “I need a bucket” that require you to go into your bag to create a shot without getting to the rim, no layups is something that James hasn’t been able to do consistently throughout his career.
To Bell’s point, and Irving’s indirect comments about James — to be in the category that Irving describes you need a mixed bag of mid-post moves, mid-range sniping ability, and pull up ability to be considered an elite scorer. Many will tend to see this as a knock on James, but it’s true and the numbers don’t lie. Here are some interesting stats that further amplify Bell and Irving comments.
What’s interesting about these shot charts is the fact that with the exception of James, there’s balance from both sides of the floor in terms of areas of attack. With the proliferation of data analytics and machine learning it’s becoming easier to take away areas on the court and having the ability to score from different areas on both sides is a huge advantage. For instance, if you go back and look at the Game 5 of the NBA Finals, James has the ball on the right side (from an offensive perspective) of the court. This is clearly a weak area on the court for James based on analytics (as seen in his career shot chart) and teams will know he’s going to drive, draw and pass so it makes it a lot easier to defend him and get the ball out of his hands.
Typically for situations discussed in the podcast teams are scheming to prevent layups and referees seldom call fouls in those situations unless it’s a blatant foul. If you look at the shooting charts for Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Kawhi Leonard, they all have heat spots in mid-range areas on the court — foul line extended, pinch post area, low post area, and right around top of the key. James heat spots are mainly in the paint where he causes a lot of havoc, and primarily left side low block/corner areas. James has a lot of white spaces foul line extended, pinch post, and top of the key around the free throw line area, typically where most elite scorers attack and dominate.
It’s no secret there are individuals in sports media who brag about and flaunt their connections to James. In their eyes James is the greatest NBA player that ever lived, a bit exaggerated, but there’s truth to that sentiment. However, if we are being honest, James offensive game is limited. He doesn’t have a mix bag like other highly skilled offensive players, he mainly relies on this athleticism and power. Popular NBA podcaster Ekam Nagra on his Ball Don’t Stop podcast discussing which version of LeBron James is the scariest echoes the same sentiments. “He’s not the most skilled guy, the foundation of his games has always been his freakish athleticism and explosive power, but he pairs that with a good handle, excellent vision, high basketball IQ, great awareness, good touch and finishing around the rim”.
Many NBA players acknowledge James greatness and respect his all-around game, but elite scorers and great defenders tend to look at and/or measure greatness slightly different and it come down to skill level. It’s more of a purist perspective and take into account the things the average fan doesn’t see or appreciate about a player and their craft, especially for players who don’t have the superior athleticism or power James possess. James need shooters around him because it plays to his strengths and create the spacing for him to get to certain spots on the court to overpower his opponents. But if you look closely, there are moments during the game where you can see the chinks in his armor, his empty bag.
This is what Irving was hinting at with his glowing comments about Durant. This doesn’t change the fact that James is arguably one of the greatest to ever play in the NBA, what it does do is expose the limitations in his game that many people miss or ignore. Like it or not, Irving told the truth about what’s really in James bag.
