Just as it seems that the Cleveland Cavalries will finally be a complete and healthy roster with the return of Kevin Love, the injury bug is still plaguing the defending champions. Kyrie Irving, the hero that sank the three-pointer in last year's game 7 of the finals sat out the fourth quarter on the Cavs' game against the Jazz.
According to Kyrie Irving, his knee had been sore for the past 48 hours and tightened up while he was on the bench before the final quarter as reported by CBS Sports. It was then Kyrie approached LeBron James and said: "You got this?" James replied with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists along with a 91-83 victory over the Jazz.
But the more pressing matter is the status of Kyrie Irving's knee. Kyrie said that he wasn't sure if he was going to play against the Clippers but sounds assured that his injury isn't anything serious. While he hopes that he wouldn't miss out on any games, resting his knee is more important as the Playoffs are coming.
Meanwhile, other players on the Cavs' roster besides Kyrie Irving are also nursing injuries of their own. Iman Shumpert was also benched for the whole of the fourth quarter after injuring his shoulder as he tried to dunk over Rudy Gobert. Moreover, Kevin Love, J.R Smith, and Kyle Korver have just returned to the lineup after recovering from their injuries. As of now, the Cavs have a complete but not fully recovered roster. And sometimes, that may no be enough for the Playoffs.
LeBron James may be able to carry the team for now. And some inspiration coming from his hurting teammates can help win a few games including the one against the Jazz. But Kyrie Irving's value to the team is undeniable. They need him at 100% to be the champions. It's best to let him rest and slowly increase his minutes when the Playoffs come even if it's a minor injury.
© 2023 Sportsworldnews.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
