Kyrie Irving has perhaps the best handles in the league. It’s like he has the ball on a string, or as if it’s simply an extension of his arm. Whatever the correct metaphor, one can usually count on Irving to have at least one mind-boggling crossover every game.
He didn’t disappoint tonight. Avery Bradley is one of the best young perimeter defenders in the game, yet even he was powerless to stop Irving. He tries to stick with Irving at first, but Kyrie just pulls so many little moves on him – jittering and shaking and head-faking – that it’s impossible to predict which way he’s going. While Kyrie doesn’t crossover Bradley per se, he freezes him for a split second, baiting him into reaching for the ball. Bradley’s not the first to make this mistake against Kyrie, and he won’t be the last.
Kyrie’s finish is also noteworthy here. He puts the ball up high, showing it just for a fraction of a moment, tucks it back in, then perfectly lofts it at the ideal angle necessary for it to fall right into the hoop.
Behind LeBron James’ 31-point, 11-rebound double-double and 23 points from Kevin Love, the Cavaliers beat the Boston Celtics, 103-95. They’re now up 3-0 in the series.
