No Splash Zone: Cavs vs. Warriors Behind the Box Score
February 27, 2015Should the Browns draft a receiver in round one? While We’re Waiting
February 27, 2015Some unsettling news came out shortly following perhaps the Cavaliers’ best win all season, topping the Golden State Warriors by a 110-99 margin in the Q. Kyrie Irving, who suffered a left shoulder injury in the third quarter of Thursday’s contest, will undergo a MRI on Friday morning in Cleveland. He is currently listed as doubtful for Friday’s game against the Pacers as he did not travel with the team.
Irving left the game for several minutes after injuring the shoulder and headed to the locker room. He did, however, return to the game and play a large chunk of the fourth quarter, knocking down multiple free throws and helping the Cavs finish off Golden State. On the evening, Irving posted 24 points and was a perfect 10-of-10 at the foul line.
Kyrie has played in 56 of the team’s 59 contests to this point in the current campaign after missing 49 games throughout his first three years in the association. The three-time All-Star is averaging 21.6 points on .466/.408/.851 shooting to go with 5.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals.
In his absence, the Cavaliers could go several different directions with their starting lineup. Matthew Dellavedova would undoubtedly shoulder more minutes until Irving returns, but the team could play LeBron James at the point guard position more and instead opt to give more minutes to a wing player such as Mike Miller or James Jones along with upping the minutes of J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert.
Related: No Splash Zone: Cavs vs. Warriors Behind The Box Score
3 Comments
Will have to watch this moving forward, but I think it is a good sign that he was able to play through it. Hopefully not too bad and does not linger the rest of the season or put him out for a long time.
Hoping it’s just a mild strain that could get better with just a couple of missed games. I can’t imagine they won’t be somewhat cautious with it, but it will suck to not have him against pretty much everybody coming up on the schedule besides Boston next Tuesday. Of course it has to be at the beginning of a 5 games in 7 nights stretch. At least it’s his left shoulder so it doesn’t affect his shot too much.
/lights votives and insence