JJ Redick gives props to Kyrie Irving for overcoming his lack of size on defense
JJ Redick gave Kyrie Irving his flowers for competing on defense despite his lack of size and length. Some of the best perimeter players in the league often target Irving by manipulating switches as he becomes an easy matchup due to his 6-foot-2 frame.
That's increased this season as the Brooklyn Nets have size and length in the wings, with players like Ben Simmons, Kevin Durant and TJ Warren among others taking care of business on the defensive side of the ball.
Irving has become an obvious target for the opposition's offense when they want to get going. While dissecting Brooklyn's resurgence on his podcast, Redick rightly pointed out that Irving is no push-over. Here's what the former NBA player said:
"Kyrie gets picked on a lot... He's gonna have those matchups, whether it's Luka [Doncic] or [Jayson] Tatum or [DeMar] DeRozan, those iso creators that target him and manipulate switches to get on him.
"He's gonna have a size disadvantage. I think he's battled, I think he's really competed on that end of the floor."
JJ Redick highlighted Kyrie Irving's playoff runs have been crucial in him learning how to compete on defense despite his lack of size. Irving can be a solid threat as an on-the-ball defender and frustrate opposing point guards. He also understands the skill of ball-handling better than most players, which contributes to him racking up steals at a decent rate.
Kyrie Irving playing at an All-NBA level instrumental in Brooklyn Nets' resurgence
Kyrie Irving's off-court antics seem to have come to a halt. In turn, it's allowing him to be the best version of himself on the court. Over the past month, Irving has averaged 28.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game, shooting on 50/40/90 splits across 11 games. The Nets have gone 10-1 during that stretch.
This is the exact version of Irving the Nets wanted when they acquired him in 2019 but didn't get up until now. His tenure in Brooklyn has been overshadowed by his off-court controversies and injuries, leading to him being an unreliable asset to the team.
However, Kyrie Irving has bought into the team's mindset under coach Jacque Vaughn. His performances show that. Irving seems to be more connected with his teammates, allowing him to produce the goods when needed.
Kevin Durant's burden of carrying the team by himself has also eased amid Irving's resurgence. It could work well for the Brooklyn Nets in the long run. KD and Irving sharing responsibilities will allow both superstars to be in decent condition physically, which remains crucial to the Nets' championship aspirations.