Cavs Take 2-0 Series Lead Despite Losing Irving

Despite Kyrie Irving being forced to miss Game 2 against Atlanta on Friday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers picked apart the Hawks to take a 2-0 series lead.

Irving, the Cavs’ starting point guard, had his left knee examined by a team doctor and the decision was made to hold him out. He sat out the final eight minutes of the Cavs’ win in Game 1 after initially tweaking his knee. Cavs coach David Blott said they will keep an eye on Irving to determine when and if he’ll be back in the series, but right now he is listed as questionable for Game 3. Irving had told reporters he was “pretty confident” he would play in Game 2, but Cavs doctors and coaches ultimately forced him to sit out.

Cavs star Lebron James, who scored 30 points, had 11 assists, and nine rebounds in the victory, said Irving’s backup Matthew Dellavedova just had to step up and get the job done.

“Next man up. No excuses. No one’s going to feel sorry for us no matter who’s out.”

Dellavedova came through for the Cavs, scoring 11 points, grabbing six rebounds, and turning the ball over only three times, allowing James to take over and lead the Cavs to a comfortable victory.

But it was James who put the Cavs on his back and shined with Irving unable to play. Coach Blatt couldn’t put into words exactly how beneficial it is to have one of the league’s best players as his team leader.

“How much does it help to have LeBron on your team? Do I really have to answer that?”

James is one of the NBA’s most elite and dangerous players. His skill and size make him a difficult match-up for most teams; he is able to play inside and outside, as well as pass the ball efficiently when he gets into trouble.

The win puts the series squarely in the Cavs’ control, as the teams now head back to Cleveland. The Cavs, who defeated the Chicago Bills in six games to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, were 31-10 during the regular season at home. According to USA Today, teams that fall behind 2-0 in a best-of-seven series are in trouble, as they have ended up losing the series 252 of 268 times.

The Hawks have struggled from behind the three-point line in this series, making just six of 26 three-pointers in Game 2 and only four of 23 in Game 1. Conversely, the Cavs have found some success beyond the arc, making 22 of 56 three-pointers combined in the series. And despite losing Irving, a key player in the Cavs offense averaging 18.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game in the 2015 postseason, Cleveland didn’t have any problem dismantling the Hawks.

Game 3 is in Cleveland at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Sunday night with the Cavs holding a 2-0 lead.

[Image via King James Gospel]