Boston Celtics: This is the Kyrie Irving we expected

After joining the Boston Celtics this offseason, Kyrie Irving was not the same player we have seen in the past. However, these past few weeks has shown us that nothing can slow him down.

In the first month of October, Kyrie Irving was not the same player many had anticipated. Coming off a career season in Cleveland scoring 25.2 points and 5.8 assists per game while shooting 40.1 percent from 3-point range, Irving, was only able to score close to 20 points per game and shoot it 34 percent from deep.

So far this season, he is averaging 24.0 points and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 38.8 percent from 3. Things have been a lot different this season, however. In each month, Irving has become even better then what we have seen:

• October:  21.7 PPG, 5.7 APG, 3.7 RPG, 2.4 SPG, 44.2 FG%, 34.1 3P%, +6.4 plus/minus
• November:  24.1 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3.1 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 50.0 FG%, 38.8 3P%, +5.5 plus/minus
• December:  27.5 PPG, 3.0 APG, 1.8 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 57.1 FG%, 47.8 3P%, +6.8 plus/minus

There are two things that have been decreasing each month — those being rebounds and assists. Rebounds isn’t necessarily a big deal because he is a point guard, and there are four other guys who are bigger than Irving that are more capable of snatching the board.

It’s the assists that are a little concerning, as each month he has seen his numbers drop, though his point total and shooting percentages have increased. So for now it is nothing to be concerned about, but moving forward it may be something to watch. Until he is unable to find his shot and score the ball, Irving, can take as many shots as he’d like.

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It’s impressive how well he has been able to score the ball. He is still attempting around the same amount of shots (18-20) a game, but the percentage has improved drastically. Both his field goal and 3-point percentages have improved by nearly 13 percent since the month of October.

What is even more impressive about his month of December, is that he is shooting it close to 60 percent from the field and almost 50 percent from 3. What’s even crazier than that is that he is attempting 19.3 shots from the field per game, and 6.8 from 3. Sure it’s early in the month, but his numbers were impressive in November as well.

After a “slow start,” Irving has absolutely been killing it these past two months. In terms of his production and relating it to his previous seasons, it seemed as if it was not the Irving we’d come to expect. Now taking the leadership role and figuring out how this team works, he has come alive and taken over this team and games. Literally taken over.

https://twitter.com/ChaseThread/status/937218379592749057

Irving has been so clutch for the Boston Celtics, helping them win numerous close games. This is the same player that won the Cleveland Cavaliers a ring in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, defeating the their biggest enemy in the Golden State Warriors. Throughout the season, Irving has delivered for the Celtics, helping them win games.

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He’s just getting started, figuring out the roles, understanding the team’s function and how to be a leader of a team without LeBron James. If it’s any thing to consider, the Celtics are getting better and better, and it’s because of Irving taking over.