Kyrie Irving vs. Damian Lillard

[Inertia Creeps]

In a vacuum I think Kyrie is a more skilled player with more overall potential at only 25 years old than Dame, but only by a negligible amount in the grand scheme of things. Dame has him beat handily in terms of health/longevity: the most games Kyrie's ever managed in a season is 75; Dame's never played LESS than 75 games in a season in his career. For that alone I'd take Dame if I'm trying to build a team with either as the #1 option. Both are not good on defense but I think Kyrie is even more of a sieve than Dame is, which doesn't help is case.

 

[ISO]

To me Dame is the better creator for others, he is a P&R maestro and he has a really good lefty shovel pass, he seems to drag defense out further because he has better range than Kyrie as well. The assists per game seem to agree that Dame is a better passer with a career 6.8 assists per game to Kyrie's 6.1, and a career average 6.2 assists to Kyrie's 5.5 assists.

Another area where they are closer in, is defense. Both are poor defenders, but statistically Dame is the lesser of two evils. Dame has worked with Gary Payton in Oakland on his defense, Kyrie just reads the passing lanes better than Dame.

And, according to both ESPN’s Defensive Real Plus-Minus (DRPM) and Basketball-Reference’s Defensive Box Plus-Minus (DBPM), his impact on team defense was more positive than Irving’s.

Lillard was 30th among point guards with a DRPM of minus-0.37. Irving was 39th at minus-0.89. As shown above, DBPM actually classified Lillard as a net neutral last season, while Irving was a minus-1.4.

While neither is great on this end, Lillard’s slightly less damaging defense draws this debate to a 1-1 tie.

Durability also got to be taken into account. Dame has never played less than 75 games.

 

[ALonelyDad]

You could go either way I'm gonna give dame the slight edge since he took his team to the offs in a tough west as a #1.

Agree with this, pretty much a toss up although I think Kyrie's scoring is much better than Dame but Dame can run a team better. Won't judge Kyrie till I see him in that role and seeing how he does.

 

[The Fire]

I like dame if I'm starting a team

 

[KingB137]

They're kinda the same player, but if I had to choose I'm going with Dame.

 

[Everythingg]

What does Kyrie do better than Dame?

Dribble, finish and maybe defend

 

[ISO]

Dribble, finish and maybe defend

They are pretty much identical as finishers % wise, and Dame is the better defender. So the answer is flashy dribbles?

 

[Rigby.]

Dame is better than Kyrie but CJ is better than both

Glad that CJ is starting to get more respect than Dame too...dude plays like a bootleg Curry decision making wise FAR too often

 

[IllmaticDelta]

damian is slightly better...more athletic too

 

[IllmaticDelta]

Dribble,

yes

finish

toss up but dame be banging on cats while kyrie has the layup package

and maybe defend

damion>>>kyrie on defense

 

[IllmaticDelta]

damian is slightly better...more athletic too

 

[ISO]

more athletic too

 

[BigTyme Records]

prolly dame but they pretty much the same level

 

[The God Poster]

As others have said I'm taking Dame also...Kyrie doesn't run the offense as well. Also Dame has done a better job as the #1 option.

Both garbage defensively tho.

 

[ajnapoleon]

Dame never had to be benched during a 4th quarter along with the other part of the super team Kevin love in a playoff game




While the old man and some spot up shooters closed the game out



That never gets talked about I wonder why




That was this year BTW