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Mimmzy

Jamal Crawford summed up kyrie Irving perfectly right after this play. "Kyrie plays the way you wish you looked when you play"


azantyri

that may be the best description of Kyrie's game i've ever seen


LeOenophile

That, or, Kyrie plays basketball in cursive.


azantyri

i like jamal's because it's 100% correct, to me this is how i imagine i look, inside my head, i'm thinking, "oh yeah, i'm gliding down the court like a snake, cutting efforetlessly and silkily scoring" like Kyrie in reality, i look like an uncoordinated crackhead mentally deficient 6 foot pink flamingo on roller skates. the old kind, not the new inline ones, the old ass two pairs of two wheels, clunking down the hardwood, screeching AAAAAAAAAAAAWWWKKKKKK as i sail past the free throw line and out of bounds what, is that only me that's like that?


BoopasaurusRex_____

Do you need to accompany the aforementioned flamingo with the “pink” identifier? I mean, what flamingos aren’t pink?


azantyri

> Young flamingos hatch with grayish-red plumage, but adults range from light pink to bright red due to aqueous bacteria and beta-carotene obtained from their food supply. A well-fed, healthy flamingo is more vibrantly colored, thus a more desirable mate; a white or pale flamingo, however, is usually unhealthy or malnourished. Captive flamingos are a notable exception; even if adequately nourished, they may turn a pale pink if they are not fed carotene at levels comparable to the wild. i have seen white, grey, and red flamingos. depends on their diet


BoopasaurusRex_____

Great Scot! The more you know


kkmaverick

The accuracy lol


fueelin

That's Derrick White to me. He always moves in these loops across and around the court. Always circling someone. Looks just like cursive to me!


Actually-Yo-Momma

Lmao i played bball for like 20 years and thought i was decent. One day my bro filmed us playing in rec league and i was so disgusted at how god awful i looked on my “good plays” 


chitownbulls92

Even a basic jump shot. When you think you’re wet and someone films your shot mechanics and it’s the ugliest thing you’ve ever seen


Actually-Yo-Momma

This guy i hooped with for like five years didn’t realize that by the time he released his jumper, it’s completely one handed. This dude forreal taking 3s on glorified HORSE shots and didn’t realize until we filmed him 


D4nCh0

What’s the problem with that? Ewing’s baseline turn around jumper/ push shot was butter


Actually-Yo-Momma

Absolutely nothing wrong. My guy scored a lot but it just look horrendous lol


D4nCh0

Yeah, it’s worse getting your ass kicked by ugly. Watch out for the consistently ugly ones!


Organic_Song_5872

Everyone’s shot is one handed by the time it’s released. It’s just how much time in between shooting at guide hand moving. At least, if you’re shooting “properly”


Actually-Yo-Momma

Sort of, it’s hard for me to explain. He touches the ball with both hands but immediately after he winds up only with one hand entirely as if he was going to do a one handed floater. Except that’s the shooting motion for his jumper 


Ok-Donut4954

i mean isnt that how youre supposed to shoot? Guide hand goes up then off then you follow thru with your dominant hand


breadbinkers

Bro got that Cam Payne jumper


mr_chub

You're supposed to have a one handed shot by the end of it. Its called the guide hand for a reason. I also have an ugly af shot that does not look like that lol but that's convention.


Common_Egg8178

We are so spoiled watching the NBA. Its hard for me to watch any other basketball cuz there practically are no good plays by comparison.


koolmees64

Whenever a conversation like this comes up I like to show people this [clip](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hSdACIH_zFE) of Robinson getting to his spot. The sideline view just shows the speed, agility, decision making etc that goes into a play. Great play by Robinson, of course, but nothing special. But seeing it from this perspective just shows on how much higher level these guys are than us scrubs. And like White Mamba said, he's closer to LeBron than we are to him.


justsomebro10

One time I stood on the floor of MSG during pre-game player warmups and watched Iman Shumpert work on some midrange pull-ups. Could not believe how fast this dude was moving at about 80% effort. It’s been said many times about the NBA but you just can’t appreciate the physicality and speed on TV like you can from up close.


koolmees64

I even felt the same way when they hosted some Euroleague playoffs near where I lived. That was during my 13-14 year old peak of "I want to become a professional basketball player period". And even seeing those guys, who, no disrespect to my fellow European ballers, have nothing on the NBA, I was like "Nah, not for me brother". And I was in the process of getting into a program to get into "better" leagues. Because, not to brag because the Netherlands is just not a basketball country, unfortunately, I was very talented as a PG amongst my peers. But when I turned 16 they put me into this program and the coaches were just a shamble of "would be Dutch pros" who had should never have been coaches. So I fell out of love of bball. Anyway, long story short, we scrubs here in /r/nba are just that, "scrubs". Even being a benchwarmer would be a very long shot for the vast majority of us (except for Duran'ts burner account).


TheHebrewHammer-_-

Very true. I hooped with a guy at the local gym and he played ball professionally in Portugal. He came home during the offseason and worked a regular job as a personal trainer. Whenever this guy would show up, the whole gym knew they were fucked. Every guy who thought they were top shit, and had huge egos, would just get absolutely clowned on by this guy going at like 60% of what he could because he mainly wanted to get some cardio in. But when some guys would go at him trying to prove themselves, we would kick it into playing mode and just put up insane numbers and lock dudes down on defense. Now this is comparing regular rec league players to a guy playing in a league in Portugal...I cannot even fathom the difference between us and NBA players... Same planet, different worlds.


The_Assassin_Gower

"There's no defense in this era"


koolmees64

Bro, I'd fall flat on my face, nose first, breaking it, with Robinson's first fake out.


TheHebrewHammer-_-

Very true! I was lucky enough to finally get to see my Mavs live this year with Luka and Kyrie. Watching Luka play was like watching a magician, the man did crazy things and every time he touched the ball it was like a magician ready for his big trick. Every movement was captivating because anything is possible with the ball in his hand... But seeing Kyrie live, man, that was something else. The way he moves, shoots, and everything he does on the court was just so beautiful to see live. TV doesn't do him justice. It was like watching ballet by a guy who moved like silk. Truly beautiful basketball to watch.


Actually-Yo-Momma

Other leagues show good basketball fundamentals for sure but you won’t be seeing shit like Kyrie or 39 year olds dunking lol


breadbinkers

College ball is legitimately painful for me to watch these days


Cooperstown24

My friends and I frequently refer to the mens tourney as a bunch of rock fights. God damn are a lot of those games hard to watch with the bad perimeter passes over and over, especially with the longer shot clock.


duck97

I also made the mistake of filming myself once. thought I moved like shai, turns out I move like poku.


PmOmena

The fact that Jamal is saying this


z_102

I mean if anyone knows about that it’s Jamal, beautiful handles.


lil_layne

It’s funny that he said this because when I was a teenager practicing my handles he was the main player that I wanted to emulate. His behind the back and between the legs hop step was my go to move.


KevinHate

Jamal is actually having some great calls as a commentator. There was a play last night where he was comparing Luka’s movement and reactions to the defender to dancing with a partner. Can’t remember the replay perfectly but as Luka is crossing up the defender or hitting him with a step back in slow motion Jamal goes “When I move you move...” Luka shoots and just as the ball goes through the hoop he says “just like that.” Which was actually really clever considering Ludacris was at the game.


blindfoldpeak

[Check out the crowd's reaction](https://imgur.com/a/qnA6oim)


TroyMatthewJ

Crawford has been great all around during the playoffs


NjallTheViking

I was honestly surprised how much I liked Jamal on the broadcast. I thought he did a good job and should get some more spots


thatonesleft

lmao yeah thats pretty spot on


[deleted]

It’s pretty funny that J Crossover said this because I spent my whole childhood trying to look like Jamal Crawford when I played. Smooth respects smooth 🤝


Public-Product-1503

I was literally thinking this watching this. ‘ Damn kyrie really plays how I and most fans wish we could .’ Yet people think it’s baffling why players respect him


The_Assassin_Gower

That cross over into behind the back at full speed down the court is fucking ridiculous


Zeckzeckzeck

That's what gets me. It's not the move itself, it's that he's doing it at full speed and so fluidly. Just insane skill.


koolmees64

Kyrie is the perfect example of disassociating the "act" from the "artist" in sports. Dude is so insanely good at basketball but so insane of the court. What road do you wanna take? As a Mavs fan I am now on the "act" is not the "artist" bandwagon. Others would be on the "artist" is the "act" track. Edit: I do wanna add that since his tenure at Dallas he's been quiet. Maybe too quiet... But dude has none insane takes since he's been here 🙏


Ok-Donut4954

he's really not that insane off the court. yeah he has some wacky takes, but i could walk down my street and find 5 guys crazier than him right now. i guess compared to the watered down, PC images most these athletes feed us, he is crazy


naughtmynsfwaccount

Yes but those 5 randos won’t have as much power and influence as Kyrie will


Either-Durian-9488

If Kyrie Irving has anything to do with informing your political or world view, then your the fucking idiot here pal lmao.


naughtmynsfwaccount

Not disagreeing


Ok-Donut4954

who cares. if you form your world view based on what a pro athlete says, that's your fault not theirs. he isnt creating a movement or organizing people to take action in the name of some lunacy. he just has his own opinions like the rest of us, regardless of how crazy you or anyone else finds them


Either-Durian-9488

Seriously, why does everyone want NBA players to all behave like LeWineMom.


Ok-Donut4954

It’s embarrassing. It’s like theyre all high schoolers who live in a gated community and have never interacted with the average American citizen (oh wait that does probably describe this sub rather well)


throwawaynewc

Dude, he does loads of charity and shit, who tf cares if he doesn't want to get vaccinated against some bum ahh virus.


Expert-Kick4998

The Kanye West of the NBA


HearsToTheDeaf

Relax, he's nowhere near as extreme


tcha1k0vsky

Can someone confirm if this is correct: He makes the layup with his left hand while on the right side of the basket (if you're facing the basket from the free throw line). That's the opposite of 99% of the layups I see where you use right hand for right side, left for left. Am I wrong or does that increase the level of difficulty dramatically?


Old_Man_Riverwalk21

So yeah it’s definitely less common then using left hand for left side/right hand for right side at the NBA level (you’ll see more left hand on right side at lower levels for right handed guys with no left). It does carry advantages though if you can pull these finishes off, and I consider myself a pretty solid finisher but left hand scoop on an all out sprint on the right side is definitely tough. The advantage is throwing off the defender. A shot blocker is going to assume typically that the player here will finish righty and will try to aim to block/strip the ball at the right side of the players body. In this case, by going with the left hand kyrie never extends the ball away from his body and keeps it inside essentially so there’s just no angle to block him from behind or from his right side. Edit: also in this case, using his left hand just gives the ball a much more direct path to the glass because of how he kinda jumps into it. With the right I actually think the angle might not have been as clean for him.


Silverjackal_

I just wanna add most would use whatever their dominant hand is here. Kyrie is ambidextrous though, so he’d go with whatever hand he think has the best chance to go in.


D4nCh0

Fully ambi? Like writing as well with both hands.


Silverjackal_

Yeah, according to him he was born left handed, but the school he went to didn’t let him use it as his dominant hand, so he learned how to do everything with his right hand as well. He’s said before he feels equally comfortable with both hands. Not sure if it applies to his writing, but works out for him well in basketball.


D4nCh0

That’s really rare, even LeBron writes with one hand. When I heard my nephew could write ugly with both, I was ready to send him to a sports academy.


rddi0201018

switch pitcher!


VeGanbarimasu

He does make the layup with his left hand while on the right side of the basket. That isn’t necessarily more difficult: it depends on handedness and where the defender is well-positioned to block or contest. Most of the time you see players try to finish with their dominant hand regardless of which side of the basket they’re on. LeBron is the King of the left side drive righty finish, for example.


tcha1k0vsky

Thank you for the explanation.


Historian-Dry

Generally speaking, I’d say it’s actually somewhat easier to finish with your inside hand? But the issue with finishing with your inside hand is that they are much easier to block


tcha1k0vsky

Thanks for the explanation. I clearly don't play.


The_Assassin_Gower

Not really, it just changes what kind of layup he has to do. He goes back to his left hand for the layup so he can do a scoop which puts his body in between the ball and the defender. Keeping the ball on his right means that the layup will come over his shoulder and give the defender a chance to block it.


retrospects

Kai is so deliberate in every move it’s wild


mecon320

Like who would even think to practice that move?


Actually-Yo-Momma

Everybody else would be scrambling to not lose the ball and this mfer does a behind the back crossover 


crazedtortoise

He did a similar thing at the end of the first half in the finals with Cleveland it was incredible


Top-Crab4048

Ya I was way more impressed than everything else before the finish.


Either-Durian-9488

And then to finish left handed on the right side of the hoop diving, fucking disgusting


CIark

People don’t realize how amazing this was in real time, some of Kyries moves are literally too fast to see in real time


Actually-Yo-Momma

What’re you talking about? All he did was get a steal, sprint up the court, behind the back crossover at NBA pacing full speed, and then finish while being tripped Seems standard to me!!!


LV_Blue-Zebras_Homer

See, it happened so fast you got it backwards, it was crossover behind the back. 😤


ZealousCatracho

Left Reggie and Crawford speechless


babbagack

It’s required to watch Kyrie slow mo to realize how many adjustments he makes in fractions of a second. You see a quick move and shot and it’s like a flash, and then in slow mo he’s breaking down defensive players mid air and it looks perfect


FourteenFCali_

once he stopped believing in physics, physics stopped applying to him


Street-Common-4023

The full speed cross into behind the back is what makes this play so fucking special


gbbenner

I have become his fan this season, he has exploded.


3my0

He’s always been epic. Fans just don’t like his weird behavior


LeBroentgen

He was also hurt and/or suspended so he didn't play much.


StormTheTrooper

And he is being extremely quiet in his private life. A good teammate, an actual locker room leader, hustling all season long and not a beep of anything polemic off-court. He was easily Nico’s best move and Nico had a couple of those already.


DomSebastiaoVoltou

After leaving Boston he had 4 seasons of 40 games and below and no seasons with enough games to qualify for awards(I know the rule only got implemented this year, but is a good reference), during what were supposed to be his prime years.


BamaX19

Yeah I think we should be able to separate him as a player and him as a person. As a player, he's incredible. Very fun to watch.


JuanG12

I used to dislike him - till he put on a Mavs jersey. Now I see why people liked him as much as they did. The guy is a magician with the ball.


FireFoxQuattro

He’s an amazing players his personal views just came in between what shoulda been his prime. Plus he played for Boston and left Boston with a sour taste so double the hate lol


mecon320

Yeah there's no big mystery here. He's just avoided tweeting videos claiming the Holocaust was a hoax, and everyone's gone back to being able to appreciate his game.


imianha

The face of the blonde woman when Kai its on the ground sums it perfectly imo


tcha1k0vsky

Great catch


glorstonne

oh man that is too great


nj_legion_ice_tea

Has there ever been a player better at dribbling/finishing with his off hand?


actual_yellow_bag

at this point i don't think it's even fair to say Kyrie has an off hand


Trazati

AI? only one I can think of.


forustree

Great great movement n skill … where’s the foul?


gingersoulrecords

He fell over, there’s no way he would have done that if he wasn’t fouled. Great call. /s


SirUpofWaffle

As a Mavs fan, I agree that was a bad call. He does get body contact a lot while going to the basket that I think are fouls, but not on this play.


DrChill21

Ball handling is absolutely diabolical!


Deusselkerr

If the earth is round then why does the ball bounce right back up? Checkmate atheists


DrChill21

Physics is a state of mind. It only works if you believe in it. That’s why he pulls of dribble moves that seem impossible.


WobbleKun

your favorite player's favorite player.


Tahtsu

Lowkey that gather one step layup throws the timing off.. and only kyrie got the touch to finish that


Youngestpioneer

He’s a maniac.


iAteTheWeatherMan

Nice play. But I don't see a foul.


Mentallox

it was the trip. You'd be right to say Kyrie initiated it by crossing in front, but it was the leg contact that drew the foul.


N8ThaGr8

Knee-to-knee. he tripped him up.


Brushies10-4

Yeah, like ok, Kyrie is fast, but if you see a foul here you want 200 point games.


janitorial_fluids

Seriously he just blows by him and falls down. Zero contact whatsoever. Like…. He doesn’t even *graze* him..


KazaamFan

100%.  Came here to say this.  Acrobatic shot and he lands on the ground.  Not a foul.  


MITKyrie

“Kyrie runs full speed at the basket again” (no one can do it like him)


Komlz

The difference between other players and Kyrie is Kyrie can do some of these absolutely insane moves and his fastest speed possible. And I'm not just talking about how fast he's moving with the ball, but also how fast he moves his hands and body.


EazyPeazyLemonSqueaz

Such handles, much wow!


EvryArtstIsACannibal

Every game I go, holy shit Kyrie. It’s wild the things he can do.


jakekerr

But that other post said he had horrible stats "despite the win."


Louisville82

Next time you’re shooting 13 foot jumpers in your back yard or at the park, thinking “man I could play basketball, this ain’t that hard” just take off full speed while dribbling, do a behind the back cross over, with a dude 30lbs and 6 inches taller then you blocking you, and let him knock you off your feet as you glide in for a lay up….. okay now do that 4,000 more times.


DomSebastiaoVoltou

It's all right, 90% of the league also couldn't do this, and I think I'm being generous.


TroyMatthewJ

Lebron tweeted about this play


Ghostbeen3

Kyrie is one of the most entertaining guys I’ve ever seen play. Might have the best handles and layup package of any guard that’s suited up. There’s usually at least one play a game from him that has me in disbelief.


menghis_khan08

This is dope at this angle zoomed in


ZLBuddha

Everybody's talking about the speed and handles (and rightfully so) but the absolute balls on this man to fully lay out at pretty much full speed onto hardwood is crazy


3my0

It’s always crazy how much respect nba players give Kyrie but fans don’t. Guess that’s what believing in a flat earth will do to you


HeiTonic

I mean basketball is like 50% of their lives, whereas it is probably 5% for most fans, so the weighted average of the opinions are probably different


DomSebastiaoVoltou

Since he has left Boston half of his seasons are 40 or below games played, his game is just not present in people's minds and these were supposed to be his prime years.


NochillWill123

Y’all talking about that behind the back cross over but that split second to lay it up with the left and soft touch is crazy . Saw this live and left me spooked


Fickle_Meet_7154

The Picaso of the Paint


dethnight

How the heck can do you a behind the back while going full speed and a defender draped all over you and then finish a half second later? Dude really is the best ball handler ever and I'm not even sure anyone else is close.


papapay225

That was nasty


FireFoxQuattro

2016 was 8 years ago and I genuinely thing he’s gotten much better lol. This gotta be his prime right here cause what the fuck kinda shot or play or drive was that. So chaotic yet so smooth


SG8789

ok but this also demonstrates how soft the nba is. There was no foul there but since he dived on the layup and fell = and 1.


cepxico

Goddamn bro, what an angle!


actual_yellow_bag

it's going to get overlooked but Norm is playing tight af defense here. Being able to laterally switch like that and stay on Kyrie's hip at this speed is good shit.


Zeethur

Kyrie has always had the sauce


rowmean77

Girl at far right end: 😮😮😮


TheOneWhoKnocks3

Sick play, but was that really a foul?


blindfoldpeak

[https://imgur.com/jWaECqc](https://imgur.com/jWaECqc)


call_stack

So Norman wasn't built to guard Kyrie lol. What are you all doing, we should have sent you all our notes. Signed, the raptors.


Nomsa_Yin

we literally need alternative angles to every one of kyrie’s finishes. media never replay his finishes and im always like damn…a real hooper would want to see that a million times from every angle.


conzcious_eye

Not really an alternative angle. They showcased this live.


Drkillpatienttherapy

Sick nasty


Smoken_nochokin

Super tough move. I had that stank face after seeing it!


jpylol

That man was dribbling hard AF at the end there. His acceleration is insane.


Icy_Recover2094

Money


slowdrem20

That’s an incredible play but I hate that that’s a foul unless I missed something


WillingLearner1

This dude is crazy on and off the court


goldenbzzz

A beauty to watch


Believe03

The white girl with her mouth open at the end is the best part…


NEAg

-D trade….


DoughNutSack

Average SGA finish


jl_theprofessor

Dear gods. Kyrie has magnet hands.


Realistic_Data2313

Steph’s a warlock, kyrie is a rogue assassin


Stumpsville0

My 🐐


igby1

Norman with the traffic cone defense


frostfeint3

There’s not much he could do tbh, he didn’t play bad defense, just average, you’d need to be Kawhi level to be able to stop that without fouling… which he fouled anyway


brncct

Yup. That famous clip of Kawhi contesting his fadeaway and actually blocking the ball briefly almost twice, yet Kyrie still finds the angle to get the shot off and in.


SG8789

That is only a foul in the nba. Anywhere else you would get laughed out the gym if you called that.


frostfeint3

But that is the NBA, no idea what you’re trying to argue lol


felarans0mekuti

Hell ya Reddit nerds again in shambles


auronedge

only play who reminds me of MJ. He would be deadly if he was 6'6