May 18, 2013

Kyrie Irving out against Chicago due to knee injury

February 26, 2013 by 17 Comments

While it was believed that the team would not keep him out of game action, the Cleveland Cavaliers will sit Kyrie Irving on Tuesday night as the All-Star point guard deals with a right knee injury.

Dion Waiters will likely be tasked to do a lot more handling of the ball without Irving, while Shaun Livingston and C.J. Miles should each see more minutes than they otherwise would with the 6-foot-7-inch Livingston drawing the start at point guard.

On the season, Irving is averaging 23.3 points and 5.6 assists. During the month of February, however, the reigning Rookie of the Year is averaging just over 21 points per night on 45 percent shooting, and is coming off of a 6-for-16 night in a recent loss to the Miami Heat.

Irving, who missed a stretch of games due to a fractured finger earlier this season, is also questionable to play on Wednesday when the team returns to Cleveland to face the Toronto Raptors.

[Related: Talent gives way to tiredness as Cavs collapse in Biscayne Bay]

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  • typo

    I was waiting for this to happen. The cavs are winning too much and jeopardizing draft position. Ownership is not stupid. This “sore knee” will keep him out for a while, not just one game.

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    At least it wasn’t a case of the sniffles! ;-)

  • woofersus

    In fairness, the Bulls were probably a sure loss anyway.

  • http://www.facebook.com/brunomiller130 Brian Miller

    You sir, are absolutely correct. Supposedly Irving “injured” the knee before the Florida games. I’m no medical professional, but that sounds like some hogwash.

    It’s the correct move, of course. Our season is shot, might as well get a good draft pick.

  • mgbode

    Popovich wrote down “old” as a reason why Tim Duncan missed a game last March.

    Perhaps Scott can write down “tanking” tonight?

  • Vindictive_Pat

    Jeez, it’s not even March yet and the Cavs are starting Tankapalooza ’13? I guess it’s for the best, but my NBA League Pass package just got less fun.

  • mgbode

    i believe Denver and Houston should still be on your package. if you can stomach it, then you can always root, root, root for the Lakers to snag the 8th seed. :)

  • Vindictive_Pat

    Haha, don’t worry I was being melodramatic. I will still be watching plenty of basketball, including rooting for the Lakers (which feels strange). Nash needs to find his shooting stroke again! He’s looked extremely mortal the past several games.

  • mgbode

    yeah, it stinks to not have a true cheering for the Cavs side going though. if they shut down Tristan, then i’m not sure what to do with them.

    i’m feeling out who my favorites to cheer for in the postseason right now though. i just don’t like LAC or Utah, GS is too flawed, and Lakers cheering stops at game82. add-in that I’m still mourning the loss of the Grizzlies (at least as a true contender). that leaves Denver and Houston in the West (I guess SA or OKC, but they are the favorites and I don’t want too until the Finals).

    in the East, I think the Pacers are the only team I can truly hope wins. i guess Atlanta (Ferry!), but they are way too flawed to win more than 1 round.

  • Vindictive_Pat

    Yeah I agree, I was disappointed to see the non-Miami portion of the East playoff contenders all come back down to earth. I was hoping the Knicks would keep riding that unicorn all the way through the playoffs, but it’s not going to happen. The Bulls will have trouble closing games without a fully healthy Rose, and the Brooklyn Nets are pretenders until Deron Williams comes out of his funk. Atlanta is what they always have been, with or without Joe Johnson. Indiana absolutely is the biggest threat to the Heat in the East and I really hope they survive long enough to face them… would hate to see them blow a series with Boston or Milwaukee. Actually, I’d love to see the Bucks get hot and pass Boston so that the Heat have to face the Celtics in round 1. Even without Rondo, the Celtics know how to play in the playoffs and they won’t give Miami an easy path.

    From the west, I think I will be rooting for the Spurs. OKC had their crack at Miami last year, I think the Spurs should get a shot. Not a very complex or compelling argument I know.

  • mgbode

    i never believed in any of the non-Miami East teams. Hibbert has been picking it up lately though. He’s the one guy that can really give Miami fits (longer term, if Detroit can figure things out, Monroe+Drummond could really challenge the smallball philosophy)

  • mgbode

    as for Miami’s route to the Finals, I sincerely hope that they somehow end up with a Boston -> Chicago -> Indiana path. It’s the toughest one that would have them a bit beatup by the time they get to the Finals. I don’t think it would stop them though.

  • Vindictive_Pat

    I didn’t either, but there was always hope. I hope “Rio” Chalmers comes down with a scorching case of herpes and can’t concentrate during the playoffs.

  • Harv 21

    funny, all youse guys assume this is a tank. I assume it will in fact turn out to be the worst meniscus tear in recorded medical history, the kind that would keep Adrian Peterson out for 3 years.

    Hopefully, this is just nappy time for our little all-star. More play time after you’ve closed your eyes for a while, Kyrie. Your friends will still be here.

  • http://www.facebook.com/brunomiller130 Brian Miller

    How about that! This Cavaliers team continues to shock and awe.

    I didn’t know our defense was this good.

  • Lunch

    Nope! It turns out Scott wrote down “WINNING”

    #Winstrong!!

  • mgbode

    who knew Irving was the problem!