Duke Post Season Player Evaluations 2010-2011 - Guards

Now that the season is wrapped up and Kyrie Irving has made his decision, what is left to do?  Well let’s take a look back at the players who played this year and review their performance.  Also let’s take a look at the players and what I think they need to improve for next year.  First up this week: The Guards. 

#1 Kyrie Irving -

Season Review – 17.5 PPG, 4.3 APG, .462 3PT%, 3.4 RPG, 0.5 BPL, 1.5 SPG

In just 11 games Kyrie Irving did enough this year at Duke to possibly be the #1 overall pick in the NBA Draft this summer.  No one knows how good this Duke team could’ve been if Irving hadn’t hurt his toe against Butler in December.  In the 3 games in the tournament it was obvious that Duke was still trying to figure out how to work Irving back into the flow.  Irving was the best player on the team in the first 8 games this year and his playmaking ability was missed while he was out.  He had a great year, even if it was way too short.

Expected Role Next Year – NBA Starter

Needs Improvement – Strength and defense

#2 Nolan Smith –

Season Review – 20.6 PPG, 5.1 APG, .350 3P%, 4.5 RPG, 0.1 BPG, 1.2 SPG

ACC Player of the Year.  In his 4 years, Nolan Smith improved and improved and improved.  By his senior year he was arguably the best player on the team (Irving?).  Nolan Smith improved his 3 pt shot from last year and overall outside shooting.  He took over after Irving went down with his injury and led Duke to a 1 seed.  Austin Rivers will have big shoes to fill in trying to replace Nolan Smith next year as “the guy”.

Expected Role Next Year – NBA Reserve

Needs Improvement – Playing PG and outside shooting

#3 Tyler Thornton –

Season Review – 1.6 PPG, 1 APG, .267 3P%, 0.6 RPG, 0 BPG, 0.5 SPG

Tyler Thornton came into this year behind Kyrie Irving and as a freshman wasn’t expected to play much at all.  Instead he played much more than expected after Irving went down.  Thornton developed into a defensive minded energy guy for Duke and even earned starts in the middle of the year.  Moving forward Thornton gained some great experience this year, which could be the silver lining in the Irving injury. 

Expected Role Next Year – Battling Quinn Cook for starting PG position

Needs Improvement – Strength and offensive skill set

#20 Andre Dawkins –

Season Review – 8.1 PPG, 0.6 APG, .427 3P%, 1.9 RPG, 0.1 BPG, 0.6 SPG

Andre Dawkins was tough to figure out this year.  He would be great, then disappear for a week or two…then come back and be huge for Duke.  Coach K was down on Dawkins at times this year due to a lack of interest on the defensive end.  Dawkins found himself on the bench even more after Seth Curry’s coming out party against UNC in the rivalry’s first matchup this year.  Dawkins will again be battling a lot of other great players for playing time again next year with 2 (possibly 3 with DeAndre Daniels) wing players in Gbinije and Rivers coming in.

Expected Role Next Year – Possible starter or sniper off the bench

Needs Improvement – Defensive focus, strength and variety of offensive skills

#30 Seth Curry –

Season Review – 9 PPG, 2 APG, .435 3P%, 1.8 RPG, 0.1 BPG, 1.4 SPG

It took a little while, but once the UNC game came around, we finally saw it.  Curry showed us his game changing offensive ability and took the game over with Nolan Smith to get Duke the victory at home.  Curry now needs to add to his shooting and improve his offensive variety much like Dawkins.  In the end though the future is very bright for Seth Curry at Duke, and I for one can’t wait to see his improvement next year.

Expected Role Next Year – Possible starter or sniper off the bench

Needs Improvement –Strength and variety of offensive skills

Next week I’ll take a look at the big men and forwards.