Almost a year has passed since Kyrie Irving’s and Kevin Love’s 2015 playoff campaigns were cut short by injuries. They’ve clearly got to be over their run of misfortune by now.
Or maybe not, per Rick Noland the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram:
"Kyrie
and myself, we've had many conversations about our playoff run being cut short
(last year)," Love said.— Rick Noland MG/CT (@RickNoland) April 18, 2016
Totally understandable, especially for Love.
His postseason stay didn’t even last an entire game. He dislocated his left shoulder during the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Game 1 victory over the Boston Celtics to kick off the first round and didn’t return for the remainder of the playoffs.
Kyrie Irving lasted substantially longer, just not long enough. He fractured his knee cap during the Cavaliers’ victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. He would not play again that series.
Questions of “What if they were both healthy?” have naturally permeated the NBA landscape. Could the Cavaliers have beaten the Warriors? Would they be the reigning champs?
These are fair questions. LeBron James carried the Cavaliers to two victories playing beside a cast of average joes. Having two, or even one, other superstar to partner with would have been absolutely huge. Remember: Last year’s Warriors aren’t the Warriors of today; they looked beatable at points. The Cavaliers could have won if they had Irving and Love.
Now, unfortunately for Cleveland, they’re healthy one year too late. Yes, the Cavaliers remain favorites in the East. But there is no feasible scenario in which they, fully healthy or not, beat the Warriors four times in seven tries.
