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Kyrie Irving: Without Him, Cavs Are Done

By Joshua Howe

May 6, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) in game two of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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“The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.”

–Ecclesiastes, from Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth

The Cleveland Cavaliers need Kyrie Irving at at least 60 percent or it doesn’t matter if they beat the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Their ultimate goal, like everyone else’s, is to win a title, but without even a semi-healthy Kyrie, there is zero chance of that becoming reality.

Zero.

When Kevin Love went down, I thought the Cavs would still be a formidable force with the dynamic duo of LeBron James and Kyrie set to run things; the best player in the world with an all-around game and a sidekick who can score the ball like few other players in the league.

Then the injuries came. And not only did Irving get hammered by the aura of fell luck that hangs like a thick fog over the Cavs, but the rest of his teammates did as well. One by one Cavaliers began to collapse to the hardwood, gripping at some throbbing limb or tendon.

Fortunately, most of them rose again. Hindered, hobbled, but not beaten, and still willing to put every ounce of effort into a potential Finals run that may mean nothing.

That includes Kyrie, who has already stated that he’s going to play in Game 1 on Wednesday night. The resiliency he’s shown is incredible. Despite moving as though he has ice in his veins, he’s suited up and continued to labor on.

He’s kept his mouth shut in perhaps the most underrated, admirable playoffs narrative thus far. Never before has Kyrie been tested like he has this season. On all levels, he’s been exceedingly impressive. He’s performed, bought in, improved and visibly grown.

And now he’s doing just that with the weight of Cleveland upon his back. For again, if he cannot play at a level equaling or exceeding 60 percent of his usual ability, the Cavs cannot reach their goal.

Oh, LeBron will try. He’s already begun. In two of the six games against Chicago James basically won them himself. It reminded me very much of last postseason, when LeBron spoke after Game 4 against Brooklyn (in which he scored 49 points), saying that he felt as though he were back in Cleveland and had to carry the team for the game.

But as has been reiterated countless times, no lone superstar (even one of the 10 greatest players of all-time) can win a championship on his own.

I do think, however, that the Cavaliers can get by the Hawks without Kyrie playing well. Atlanta has been shaky during their postseason run, and has at times looked just as if not more vulnerable than Cleveland. If he has four great games, LeBron can beat Atlanta with just a group of role players.

Beyond that the Cavs will face the Titan of the West, be it Golden State or Houston. The Warriors are the younger, better version of the San Antonio Spurs. The Rockets have two superstars.

As he looks towards this upcoming series with Atlanta, Irving can see those Western teams from his peripherals. For him, the grind must continue. Not only the grind of trying to win increasingly tougher matchups, but that of recovery as well.

“Nothing will come of nothing” are the immortal words of King Lear. Perhaps more than anyone else left in the playoffs, Kyrie understands this best.

There is no turning back now. He has travelled to the pits of Tartarus and must remain there until his mission is completed, albeit suffering all the while. Remaining stagnant surely means an end for the Kyrie, the Cavaliers and their season.

So for better or worse, Kyrie must continue to step onto the hardwood battleground each night.

This is hero ball. Not in the same way we’ve become accustomed to, but in a far more literal sense. Heroes always fight to the bitter end, even if it results in a conclusive void; a black nothing.

But nothing will come of nothing, and Kyrie Irving is set to fight the void, no matter how inevitable it may be.

Take heed then, Cleveland fans, for even if your team does fall, know this: your 23-year-old superstar is made of the right stuff, and that’s almost as rare as winning the championship itself.

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