“Glory Days in Tribe Town” – A Discussion With Author Terry Pluto
February 27, 2015Cleveland Browns agree to three-year deal with Josh McCown
February 27, 2015The Cleveland Cavaliers won a huge, nationally televised game over the Golden State Warrior on Thursday night, but it came at a cost. Kyrie Irving suffered a shoulder injury in the third quarter, sending him to the locker room for the latter part of the quarter. Although he eventually returned, it was clear the shoulder continued to bother him. On Friday afternoon, the Cavaliers announced that Irving would be out for Friday night’s game in Indiana against the Pacers.
[Irving] did not travel with the team to Indianapolis and received additional examination, including an MRI, this morning at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health, the results of which confirmed a left shoulder strain. Irving is now listed as Out for the game against the Pacers tonight. His status will be updated again prior to the Cavaliers game in Houston against the Rockets Sunday afternoon.
Irving had been playing well of late, solidifying his status as one of the premier point guards in the league. Obviously, Irving’s long-term health is much more important as the Cavaliers remain substantial favorites to win the NBA Finals after Thursday’s victory, according to Vegas. Cavs fans are certainly relieved that it doesn’t appear to be a serious injury.
Soon after the announcement that Irving would miss Friday’s game, reports also surfaced that LeBron James would be sidelined for Friday’s game. Based on the fact that the Cleveland Cavaliers Twitter account retweeted him, I suppose credit should be given to Joe Gabriele. James is out due to a “decision to rest him by Coach Blatt.” Brian Windhorst suggested that the decision was probably in the Cavaliers best interest, given the team’s upcoming schedule of seven games in 10 days. James was coming off a dominant 42 point, 11 rebound, and five assist performance Thursday night.
Along with @KyrieIrving (L shoulder strain), @KingJames is OUT tonight vs. Indy. Nothing serious, just decision to rest him by Coach Blatt.
— Joe Gabriele (@CavsJoeG) February 27, 2015
Matthew Dellavedova will almost certainly start in place of Kyrie Irving. J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert will also be asked to assume more prominent roles in ball-handing duties. It will be interesting to see who David Blatt starts in place of James, as small forward Shawn Marion has missed the last few games with a hip injury. Mike Miller may be the most logical option, as starting Iman Shumpert or Tristan Thompson would make rotations in the backcourt or frontcourt that much more challenging with James’ and Irving’s combined 73.6 minutes per game out of the lineup. The Pacers aborted the Cavaliers’ 12-game win streak in Indiana on February 6th, the last time the two teams faced one another.