Kevin Love re-aggravated shoulder injury during Eastern Conference Finals celebration
June 2, 2015NBA Finals: The Cavs Will Win If…
June 2, 2015Perhaps the most important variable for the Cleveland Cavaliers as they prepare for the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors is the health of point guard Kyrie Irving. Irving has missed chunks of practice this week, and it is unlikely that he will be 100 percent come Game 1 Thursday.
From NEOMG’s Chris Haynes:
The tendinitis in his left knee hasn’t healed in a timely fashion, limiting his participation in practice. Cavs coach David Blatt says he has been forced to hold him out of portions of practice in an effort not to overwork his knee.
“I wouldn’t say he’s had a setback, but progress has been slow,” Blatt revealed.
Irving has been dealing with tendinitis in his left knee and a strain in his right foot, and he missed Games 2 and 3 against the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals. He played 49 minutes total in Games 1 and 4, averaging 13.0 points and 5.5 assists while shooting 47.6 percent from the field.
Irving seems resigned to the fact that he won’t be at his best, but he also sounds determined to make the most of his first trip to the Finals.
“Unless something miraculous happens,” Irving answered when asked if he can be 100 percent by Thursday. “Just like I said before, and I’m going to keep saying it, it’s a day‑by‑day thing. Continue to get treatment and do what it takes.”
“I feel like I’m in a good place,” he said. “I’m just going to continue to do the things necessary in order to prepare my body for The Finals.”
“These days are very, very important for me, especially going into The Finals,” Irving said. “I want to feel as close to my old self as I could. They’re very important, but from the flip side as well, preparing for a great team like that, you need as many days as you can.”
The Cavs will need Kyrie to be at least a facsimile of his All-Star self to have a shot against the league-best Warriors, particularly if and when he is called upon to defend Stephen Curry. The Warriors backcourt has caused opponents heaps of problems all year. A healthy Irving will go a long way toward the Cavaliers finding a solution.
[Related: Know Your Foe – Stephen Curry]
5 Comments
I don’t know why the Cavaliers are saying anything let people especially the Warriors wonder.
This is what makes me wonder if the Cavs are trying to play the Warriors. I would think the Warriors would prepare for a healthy Irving regardless, but maybe not?
I’m sure GS will have all their bases covered and I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. I really think it’ll just be based on how KI feels game to game on what he can contribute.
Yes, but that is easier said than done.
GS has matchup problems facing them in this series and will be looking for help on the defense end for Draymond when LeBron pulls him out away from the basket.
Kyrie is one of the best iso players out there when full go (I know he’s not now, but if he’s close can still be a killer). GS is thinking he’s not near healthy and planning on sagging help off him on LeBron so Draymond can stay low to work rebounds off TT.
If Cavs can exploit that with a more healthy Kyrie able to go iso or kick just like LeBron it’s to our advantage to play the “he’s hurt” card.
The nice thing about this is that even if he’s still as bad off as he was for ATL then we still have a plus in the matchups with Draymond getting pulled away from the basket and TT going monster again on second change offensive boards.
Yes, one positive in my mind is that if Kyrie isn’t quite back to 100% and is basically just a spot-up shooter in the series, he’s still such an excellent shooter that he’s a positive to have on the floor. You can’t sag off of Irving to help on LeBron, ever.