Daily MVP Film Breakdown: Kyrie’s Clutch Christmas 40
On a day that most guys would rather be off, Kyrie Irving worked his butt off. He dropped 40 points and 10 boards in an overtime win over the 76ers on Christmas Day, taking advantage of some sluggish play by his opponents.
Untucked Kyrie was red hot late leading his #Celtics team to a OT victory vs the #76ers yesterday. pic.twitter.com/FAUgby1Ss7 #DFS #FantasyBasketball #NBA
— Lineups (@lineups) December 26, 2018
In a way Irving did spend the afternoon with his family members, who were watching from the stands. He told his teammates he was going to act up, and he delivered.
“I told my teammates, I came in the locker room and said, my family’s here to watch me play … I’m acting up. You guys have no idea.”
Kyrie on his big performance in front of 20+ family members: pic.twitter.com/hrpzjXJmaV
— Chris Grenham (@chrisgrenham) December 26, 2018
Irving started the game with a few plays that you don’t often see from a point guard on the smaller side. He posted up another guard, then snuck in for an offensive board and putback. It was a harbinger of the gritty game to come from Uncle Drew, and the lack of effort throughout the game from Joel Embiid.
The guard-on-guard post up is a lost art. pic.twitter.com/CzRbSCXnCP
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 26, 2018
Lots of dudes show up not ready to play on Christmas. Kyrie is not one of those dudes. pic.twitter.com/skOguEhDKy
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 26, 2018
Kyrie is one of the best players in the league because his game is incredibly nuanced. His handle is jaw dropping, he’s lightning quick, and he’s an expert at getting a defender anticipating one thing and then hitting him where he’s most exposed.
Watch Kyrie’s shoulders on this one. He loves being perpendicular to the defender, using the spin move to set up the blow by. pic.twitter.com/U9LwwbabWq
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 26, 2018
So subtle, but he confuses his defender by motioning toward Tatum. He’s not ready for Irving to flare to the top of the arc on a pin down. pic.twitter.com/enfeplsy5t
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 26, 2018
Here Kyrie keeps his shoulders back and then throws them forward into the crossover. pic.twitter.com/ZoKpOopdDX
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 26, 2018
Now, about that defensive effort from Joel Embiid. Irving repeatedly took advantage when the Sixers’ All Star big man could not be bothered to play defense. Maybe he was distracted. Maybe he ate too much the night before and his tummy hurt.
Can someone explain to me what Joel Embiid is doing here? pic.twitter.com/5WzdQF0orT
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 26, 2018
Obviously a great move by Kyrie, but he doesn’t create that much space. Embiid just doesn’t contest. pic.twitter.com/YuGWP3G1Kt
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 26, 2018
This is Chris Paul-esque pic.twitter.com/YnCywwrcXO
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 26, 2018
Embiid often seemed more concerned with closing out to Al Horford than preventing Irving from getting to the rim. Maybe he thought he’d get more help from Ben Simmons, but if that was the case nobody told Simmons.
Bro what are Embiid and Simmons DOING pic.twitter.com/pqz5X6rLuJ
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 26, 2018
“I’m sorry I got in your way, Mr. Irving.”
Simmons lookin over at JoJo like WYD pic.twitter.com/b7813PJhkH— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 26, 2018
The defensive malaise was especially bad in transition, and Irving got a few easy assists out of it.
Embiid with a nice leisurely backpedal here pic.twitter.com/p5DC9Wtena
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 26, 2018
Way to get back, JoJo pic.twitter.com/JPQ4eBsjLQ
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 26, 2018
Irving didn’t just feast on Embiid though, he force fed buckets to one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA in Jimmy Butler. Often Butler played about as well as possible to stop him, but it didn’t matter.
Theis didn’t get an assist on this, that’s some BS pic.twitter.com/FiGULEPwap
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 26, 2018
Splits the defenders on the pick and roll, yack sauce. Just too good. pic.twitter.com/lXDZuyhq43
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 26, 2018
Embiid does a great job this time hanging in front of Kyrie until Butler recovers. This is GREAT 1-on-1 defense from Butler but sometimes guys just hit tough shots and Kyrie does it better than most. pic.twitter.com/g2o3xZArxT
— Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA) December 26, 2018
If you know anything about Kyrie Irving, you know that for some reason he’s completely unguardable when his jersey becomes untucked. Maybe he gets a nice breeze that keeps him from overheating. Maybe there’s some extended range of motion. Whatever it is, Untucked Kyrie claimed another victim as he buried Jimmy Buckets and the Sixers late in this one.
I can’t believe I missed untucked Kyrie to spend time with my family like an idiotpic.twitter.com/63g7Lj6mwX
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 26, 2018
Has Kyrie ever hit a dagger three from this spot? I can’t remember.
Look out here… Irving for three… WOW!!! pic.twitter.com/8qeVlreHz8
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 26, 2018
Once Kyrie’s jersey starts flapping in the wind, you might as well make like Joel Embiid and not even attempt to guard him.
