Kyrie Irving: Returning to Practice after Knee Injury

Kyrie Irving is returning to action for the first place Cleveland Cavaliers.

Former Duke guard Kyrie Irving is cleared for practice for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was lost to the Cavs way back in the NBA Playoffs when he broke his kneecap. Now he is finally going to rejoin his teammates though he has been ready mentally to do so for quite so time.

The Cavaliers have not exactly been suffering in Irving’s absence. The team has gone 13-5 over the course of the early season. It currently sits first place in the Eastern Conference. LeBron James and Kevin Love have had strong seasons so far.

Some of the blow of not having Irving has been solved by former Charlotte Hornet Mo Williams. The free agent acquisition has manned the point guard position capably. In fact Williams’ role in the offense may be one that Irving should follow and make his own. Williams is a complimentary shooter around James, and does not dominate the ball so that James can.

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The biggest advantage that the Cavs may gain with the return of Irving may be the ability to bring Williams off the bench to supplement the second unit. That would add another dose of scary to a Cavs team that already looks pretty solid as is.

However Irving is more dangerous than Williams. His return means that the Cavs will once again have to sort out where the basketballs go. For now James and Love have operated as a big two. The return of Irving means sorting out life as a big three. That took some work last season, but Love was looking for leverage going into contract talks. He does not have that distraction this time.

More important will be how quick Irving can be on that knee. His offense is not needed right now, but the Cavs need him to impact the game on defense right away.

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