I stated it in the game thread, but Kyrie is really Nash 2.0.
Fantastic scorers
Fantastic playmakers
fast
crafty
professional
not great defenders.
Now Nash was arguably a slighty better shooter and a more willing passer, but Kyrie is more athletic and has a tighter handle.
But when Kyrie looks to playmake a bit more like last night he is un-guardable. when he gets inside or around his man, which is easy for him, it really opens the floor for himself and more importantly the team.
Last night was nice because team made shots, which will encourage Kyrie.
He needs to FORCE people to be involved through playmaking. If he continues that look out. Last nights Kyrie was an MVP.
I disagree, but I get that you are emphasizing that Irving could be a much better playmaker. Irving is a much better defender than Nash. He is also a much better scorer.
I wonder if you put Irving in Houston's system, what kind of stats he would put up, but I don't think he makes the advanced reads as naturally as Nash did. A lot of Irving's assists last night were simple dump offs where Ibaka was caught in no-man's land between Irving and his man, and the corner help defender didn't get down quick enough. Irving still made great reads, but he is developing his ability to make the second and third read in response to the team defense.
He is getting there, its the guy he should emulate.
Nash never became Nash until his 9th year, prior to that he wasn't reading the advance plays like 9th year nash. IMO being a Canadian and closely watching Nash's entire career, at the same point in their careers, Kyrie has better instincts.
Looking at their 8th season together, Nash had only a 3% higher Assist rate, but Kyrie was better in everthing other than offensive win shares.
comparing at the same age, Kyrie has the better Assist% and the better Turnover%.
Kyries instincts have improve, and are on an upward trend.