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3 reasons why it’s a Lakers blessing that Kyrie Irving is staying with Nets

By Cameron Salce

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Kyrie Irving #11 and Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets look on from the bench during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Barclays Center on April 05, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets won 118-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: Kyrie Irving #11 and Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets look on from the bench during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Barclays Center on April 05, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets won 118-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Kyrie Irving is a defensive liability

When the Lakers won the championship, they did it with a hard-nosed defensive mentality. This was partly because of their complimentary guards like Alex Caruso and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope who were comfortable focusing on locking down their man and did not mind having low-scoring numbers.

If they want to get back into title contention, they should try to replicate that roster and surround Anthony Davis and LeBron with players that can excel in their specific roles. Irving is the exact opposite type of player, if he is not scoring, he has a hard time having an impact on the game.

Even if he is the best scoring point guard in the league, the benefit of adding him offensively hardly outweighs the negative of him being hunted by the opposing team on defense. Teams are increasingly using screens to get the matchup they want switched on to them, and Irving is a player teams target because of his size and lack of motivation on that end.

Irving himself admitted after a loss to the Wizards two seasons ago that he “couldn’t guard a stick” because guys (ironically mainly Westbrook) were going right around him.

Kyrie is definitely quick enough to stay in front of most guards at his position, but he is one of the smaller combo guards in the league and his lack of size allows him to get taken advantage of and picked on.

His defensive rating has gotten worse almost every season in the league, and that trend continued last season when he posted a defensive rating of 113.8 in 29 games. He ranked 184th in the league in that category.

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