Portland Trail Blazers: Ranking the top five point guards in the NBA
Number five – Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets
Though he only played 20 games this year, the last time Kyrie Irving had a full regular season, he was one of the best point guards in the league.
Yes, the Boston Celtics experience didn’t work out in the regular season, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that Irving is still one of the best shot makers in the league. One of the most efficient guards in the league, Irving is a true three level scorer who can do it all with ease.
He can finish at the rim and get to the line, he is a strong midrange shooter and he is a great three-point shooter. His injury issues are a concern for the longterm outlook of his career, but when fit he is still a top point-guard in the league.
In two seasons with the Boston Celtics, Irving averaged 24 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists on shooting splits of 48 percent from two, 40 percent from three and 88 percent from the line. The second year these numbers were good enough for him to make the All-NBA second team.
Though he was heavily criticised for his lacklustre performances for the Celtics in the playoffs last year, we all know how he performed at the highest levels in the playoffs for the Cleveland Cavaliers. When fit, Irving may be at the top of people’s lists of players who can get you a bucket in the post-season.
Still only 28-years-old, if he can get healthy again, there’s no reason he can’t reach the mountaintop again with Kevin Durant alongside him on the Nets.