Who's Better I.T. or Kyrie Irving? (Added poll)

[Pucaccia]

Who's Better I.T. or Kyrie Irving?

Thomas

[gouki88]

We've had many of these sorts of threads over the last few days.

There's a group who say "Kyrie hands down!" and provide no real evidence as to why.

There's a group that views the difference between the two as negligible, if there really is one at all.

And there's a small group who believe IT is better.

Considering all factors, such as injury history, age, size, and contract situation, I'd put myself in the second group.

[CelticSince83]

Currently = about even, IT had a better season

Going Forward = Kyrie by a wide margin

[Birdman]

I rather have Irving

[tonydelk]

Irving is the better player but it's not by a wide margin.  It's more of an edge then a cavern.  Irving is younger and taller and can still be effective into his mid 30's while IT will struggle when he loses some of his speed. 

For the C's I like IT better then Kyrie until next year comes and IT wants 30+M.  That's a lot to give a 30 yr old player that will not be worth that contract when it ends. 

[mutineer33]

Right now the differnce is negligible.  Over the next 3 to 5 years i think irving projects as a much better player.  He is younger, bigger, and has more room to grow once he gets out of LBJ's shadow and gets some decent coaching.

IT is a fantastic player but his absolute best years might be behind him.

[fairweatherfan]

Kyrie has more potential, largely because he's younger and physically able to be a better defender if he expended the effort, but they're very comparable right now. Really similar skillsets with some differences (Kyrie better handles, IT better blowbys) that mostly even out in the end.

Flipside is Kyrie doesn't seem to want to win nearly as much as IT. I think IT would be thrilled to be the second superstar behind a LeBron type and make the Finals every year.

[aingeforthree]

We've had many of these sorts of threads over the last few days.

There's a group who say "Kyrie hands down!" and provide no real evidence as to why.

There's a group that views the difference between the two as negligible, if there really is one at all.

And there's a small group who believe IT is better.

Considering all factors, such as injury history, age, size, and contract situation, I'd put myself in the second group.

Irving is better by about 5 inches

[tarheelsxxiii]

Kyrie is naturally more gifted, Thomas is a better player.  But it's unclear why we care..

[ThaPreacher]

Kyrie is naturally more gifted, Thomas is a better player.  But it's unclear why we care..

We care because, never in the history of the NBA has someone won a series of championships with a 5'9 point guard. I am a big IT4 fan. I respect what he  brings day in day out.  However, you can go back to Tiny Archibald  34 PPG  11.4 assists and that didn't even come close to winning a championship. 

Calvin Murphy?
AI

who else.

Cousey was 6'1 btw....

Building around IT4 at the price he will command is an issue. Also, the smaller you are the harder you fall.  Can't see IT4's body holding up. He's a driving guard, a penetrator.
AI declined early, I think IT will also. 

Irving would be an interesting exchange for IT4.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Kyrie is naturally more gifted, Thomas is a better player.  But it's unclear why we care..

We care because, never in the history of the NBA has someone won a series of championships with a 5'9 point guard. I am a big IT4 fan. I respect what he  brings day in day out.  However, you can go back to Tiny Archibald  34 PPG  11.4 assists and that didn't even come close to winning a championship. 

Calvin Murphy?
AI

who else.

Cousey was 6'1 btw....

Building around IT4 at the price he will command is an issue. Also, the smaller you are the harder you fall.  Can't see IT4's body holding up. He's a driving guard, a penetrator.
AI declined early, I think IT will also. 

Irving would be an interesting exchange for IT4.

Ironically, the saying goes "the bigger you are..."

So the argument against IT is that "he's short."  It's a keen observation.  It's also not at all meaningful - they both suck defensively, and IT has been more efficient and consistent offensively.  It literally has no bearing on the comparison at all, yet it's the common basis of the pro Irving argument.

[Ilikesports17]

Kyrie is naturally more gifted, Thomas is a better player.  But it's unclear why we care..

We care because, never in the history of the NBA has someone won a series of championships with a 5'9 point guard. I am a big IT4 fan. I respect what he  brings day in day out.  However, you can go back to Tiny Archibald  34 PPG  11.4 assists and that didn't even come close to winning a championship. 

Calvin Murphy?
AI

who else.

Cousey was 6'1 btw....

Building around IT4 at the price he will command is an issue. Also, the smaller you are the harder you fall.  Can't see IT4's body holding up. He's a driving guard, a penetrator.
AI declined early, I think IT will also. 

Irving would be an interesting exchange for IT4.

There are like 3 all star 5'9" players in NBA history. The sample size isn't big enough to conclude that these allstars are any less likely to win a ring than a 6'3" point guard.

5'9" guys are unlikely to average 30 points IT  has already beaten the odds.

[BitterJim]

Kyrie is naturally more gifted, Thomas is a better player.  But it's unclear why we care..

We care because, never in the history of the NBA has someone won a series of championships with a 5'9 point guard. I am a big IT4 fan. I respect what he  brings day in day out.  However, you can go back to Tiny Archibald  34 PPG  11.4 assists and that didn't even come close to winning a championship. 

Calvin Murphy?
AI

who else.

Cousey was 6'1 btw....

Building around IT4 at the price he will command is an issue. Also, the smaller you are the harder you fall.  Can't see IT4's body holding up. He's a driving guard, a penetrator.
AI declined early, I think IT will also. 

Irving would be an interesting exchange for IT4.

How many teams in the history of the NBA have made the conference finals while being led by a 5'9" PG? Seems like you're taking a tiny sample size and extrapolating it to mean that it can't be done.

[Fred Roberts]

All I hope is that IT is healthy and ready to continue blossoming.

Kyrie has the skills and pedigree, but does he have the heart of IT.

[Androslav]

Old vids from coach Nick to help the discussoon.

https://youtu.be/htiURZVuoks
https://youtu.be/6ofiEqogb8w