Jimmy Butler, DeAndre Jordan and Kyrie Irving love the U.S. ...

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By D"Arcy Maine | Aug 10, 2016espnW.com

We all know the U.S. women"s basketball team is amazing, but it seems no one loves them more than the men"s squad. I mean, they are sharing a cruise boat in Rio, after all.

Jimmy Butler and DeAndre Jordan filmed a video professing their admiration for the team, and Jordan tried to determine exactly which player he most plays like. From Sue Bird to Breanna Stewart to Brittney Griner, the two weigh in on his game and how it stacks up.

Spoiler alert: Butler wants to be like Sue! JOIN THE CLUB, JIMMY.

While Butler and Jordan took a funny route, Cavs star Kyrie Irving weighed in on the women"s team as well, and took a more serious approach. Praising their "unique style," Irving is apparently trying to learn as much as he can from his female peers and pick their brains during their time together.

Real recognizes real. And that, world, is why USA Basketball is the best in the sport in both the men"s and women"s game.

See something entertaining on social media that you think deserves to be shared? Let me know on Twitter, @darcymaine_espn.

Source: http://www.espn.com/espnw/culture/the-buzz/article/17264725/jimmy-butler-deandre-jordan-kyrie-irving-love-us-women-team-much-do

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Rio Olympics 2016: NJ Native Kyrie Irving"s sick bank shot vs ...

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BASKETBALL-OLY-2016-RIO-CHN-USA

USA"s guard Kyrie Irving runs with the ball during a Men"s round Group A basketball match between China and USA at the Carioca Arena 1 in Rio de Janeiro on August 6, 2016 during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images (MARK RALSTON)

New Jersey native and NBA champion Kyrie Irving hopes to add an Olympic gold medal to his trophy case this summer as Team USA"s point guard after leading LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA championship in June.

Irving"s run is off to a nice start.

The West Orange native began the Rio games with a 12-point, 5-assist performance, coming off the bench with Kyle Lowry running the point in Team USA"s blowout 119-62 victory over China Saturday in the preliminary round.

Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski plans on alternating starts for Lowry and Irving at point guard throughout the tournament.

With the likes of Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, guard Jimmy Butler and newest Golden State Warrior Kevin Durant, Irving is teeming with confidence heading into this tournament.

Monday night, Irving showed off his ability to create his own shot amid tight defense on a sick crossover dribble and jump shot off the backboard against Venezuela.

You can check out video of Irving"s crossover and bank shot from Monday night"s game in Rio below:

Matt Lombardo may be reached atMDLombardo@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter@MattLombardo975.FindNJ.com Eagles on Facebook.

Source: http://www.nj.com/sports/index.ssf/2016/08/rio_olympics_2016_nj_native_kyrie_irvings_sick_ban_1.html

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Why Kevin Love"s comparison of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to former USC RBs LenDale White and Reggie Bush ...

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CLEVELAND, Ohio Following Game 1 of the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals, Cavaliers forward Kevin Love had an interesting comparison for his teammates LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.

He told reporters after the Cavs" 115-84 win that he felt the duo of James and Irving resembled the potent USC running back tandem of LenDale White and Reggie Bush.

When asked after the game, neither James nor Irving had a good answer to give. They might not have liked that comparison, but those that remember the explosive running attack of Thunder and Lightning from USC can make some comparisons between them even though they play different sports.

At USC, White was the power back and Bush was the game-breaker, making explosive plays on the perimeter.

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, James did the bulk of his work inside the restricted area and Irving befuddled Toronto"s defenders with an array of dribble moves and creative finishes around the basket.

That"s not to say James can"t do that. But his role most of this postseason has been in the post with Irving creating on the outside.

Sounds just like a Thunder and Lightning combo.

At USC in 2005, the year that Bush won, and eventually surrendered, the Heisman trophy, he averaged 8.7 yards per carry, rushing for 1,740 yards and 16 touchdowns.

White rushed for 1,302 yards and 24 touchdowns for the Trojans.

Although those records were vacated due to NCAA violations, there"s no doubt White and Bush were one of the better running back duos in recent memory.

Getting back to basketball, there may be some merit to Love"s comparison.

James, in Game 1, missed just one shot in the restricted area and only took one shot outside of the restricted area.

Irving was 6-for-8 in the restricted area, but was also 5-for-9 from everywhere else on the floor. He hit a couple of mid-range jumpers as well as a 3-pointer. But he also had some nice drives to the basket as well.

Love"s unique comparison may have caught James and Irving off guard. But based on how they played in Game 1, there is some merit to it.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2016/05/why_kevin_loves_comparison_of.html

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