Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving has been playing through pain this postseason, and it could finally be getting the best of him.
Tendinitis in his knee could potentially keep him out of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.
.@KyrieIrving misses shootaround to undergo further treatment on left knee and is questionable for Game 2 pic.twitter.com/sscKEivcKh
— NBA.com (@NBAcom) May 22, 2015
If Irving cannot play, then you can be sure LeBron James will be the team’s primary ball handler for most of the contest on Friday night. For most teams, losing the starting point guard and second-leading scorer would be a crippling blow, but James gives the Cavaliers a chance to win every night.
Irving’s play during the postseason has been strong at times, but it has also been erratic. In his last five games, he is well below season averages, scoring 12.8 points and dishing out just 2.6 assists per game.
You can bet the farm Irving will do everything he can to make it onto the court for opening tip-off Friday night when the Cavaliers take on the Hawks in Atlanta. That said, if he cannot play, James and the Cavs will still give their opponents all they can handle.
Cleveland boasts a 1-0 series lead after winning Game 1 in Atlanta. Even if it goes back home with a 1-1 split, the team would still be on solid ground. Maybe some extra rest for Irving would be good.
Photo: USA Today Sports