Kyrie Irving

[Zen]

It's so pathetic on Kyrie's part that he's complaining every day with NO structural damage when John Wall had 6 fractures on his hand and played their last two games with NO excuses.

Not comparable in any way. ..have you ever played a sport?

Wall was able to feel physically perfect aside from having a wrap on his off hsnd.

When you feel sharp pain in both legs on basically every play that completely changes the way you play it is completely debilitating and frustrating

 

[We'reAllKyrieWitnesses]

Uh, a question here for any doctors, or those who like to play them on the internet.

Anyone have an idea why Kyrie doesn't get a cortisone shot? I had tendinitis in my knee that caused what's known as a "baker's cyst" behind the knee, and the doc gave me a shot of cortisone to calm it down. It worked long enough for the cyst to go down, though after a couple of months, the shot wore off and I still had the tendonitis.

I know those shots can do more harm than good in the long run, but anyone aware of any other reason why they're not going that route with Kyrie? I can understand avoiding them as a panacea, but I just wonder about a one-time use when the NBA title may be at stake.

And just to be clear, I'm not saying he should get a shot. Honestly just wondering.

I'm a physician.

Where did you read that he hasn't gotten steroid injection?

 

[KI4MVP]

The guy may not even play, but he's still one of "the best players" in that kind of condition? Erm, okay.

If Kyrie doesn't play, we are down to a 7 man rotation and one of those 7 is James Jones.

Do you really think that a hobbled Kyrie who still gave us 10/6/3 is less effective than throwing Mike Miller or Joe Harris out there as a new 8th player in the rotation?

Delly was 0-6 in 25 minutes. Without Kyrie he probably has to step that up to around 40 minutes.

Even injured, Kyrie spaces the court. Here are Delly's shooting stats in games he played 35 or more minutes this year

12-26 vs Magic: 8 points on 2-7 shooting in 36 minutes
1-5 vs sixers: 3 points on 1-7 shooting in 39 minutes
1-7 vs Rockets: 9 points on 3-8 shooting in 35 minutes
2-27 vs Pacers: 14 points on 5-18 shooting in 38 minutes
3-1 vs Rockets: 3 points on 1-4 shooting in 42 minutes
4-10 vs Celtics: 9 points on 4-8 shooting in 41 minutes
5-6 vs Celtics (playoffs): 9 points in 3-8 shooting in 36 minutes

We were a combined 2-5 in those games.

It's a snowball effect. If Kyrie is out, Delly has to play more, gets fatigued and is less effective and someone else has to back him up, who is less effective than Delly. Also our floor spacing is gone, which makes it easier to defend LeBron, who already is carrying the front court load for Love being out.

 

[Zubaz Redux]

Whether he plays tonight or not as a basketball fan it is so frustrating to watch him hobble around on this big stage. I truly believe Kyrie was ready to wreck this league during these playoffs. I'm talking special, historical moments. The guy has the elite skill and assassins mentality with a knack for the big moment ... The big moment is here after 4 long years and his body can't do what we all know it can do. Just sucks as a fan of kyrie, the cavs, and the game itself. Holding out hope he can get well and we can compete this run the right way.

 

[Zen]

I'm a physician.

Where did you read that he hasn't gotten steroid injection?

Yeah highly likely hes been popped a few times with steroids by now.

There is a limit in the amount you can get over a certain period right? I seem to recall andre agassi breaking down when he reached his shot limit on his final us open run.

Drs couldnt give him any more and the herniated discs pretty much made it impossible to move.

 

[Rick Astley]

If Kyrie's not gonna show up, does that me we're going to see some steamy Harris plays?

 

[I'mWithDan]

Delly was 0-6 in 25 minutes. Without Kyrie he probably has to step that up to around 40 minutes.

My guess is we'll be playing LeBron at the point a lot tonight, with Jones playing the 4 on offense.

That means Miller and Marion will split 20 minutes or so if I had to take a guess.

I'd envision a minutes break down of:

LeBron: 40
TT: 40
Shump: 35
JR: 35
MOZ: 30
Delly: 25
Jones: 15
Marion: 10
Miller:10

With Kyrie completely out, I think we are forced to try to spread the minutes around and play more guys in spot duty.

We just don't have one single player who can absorb those minutes.

 

[We'reAllKyrieWitnesses]

Yeah highly likely hes been popped a few times with steroids by now.

There is a limit in the amount you can get over a certain period right? I seem to recall andre agassi breaking down when he reached his shot limit on his final us open run.

Drs couldnt give him any more and the herniated discs pretty much made it impossible to move.

The main issue is diminishing returns on steroid injections.

There's a reason we can't magically fix our rheumatologic patients with steroid injections. Eventually, you can only blunt the body's inflammation to a point.

The answer to this problem is quite simple -- REST.

Unfortunately, Kyrie can't allow for that right now.

This isn't some complicated process or treatment regimen. He simply won't be able to have enough time off to recover until the season is over. No idea why folks are putting themselves through such anguish at this point. The Kyrie we all know and love will not be Kyrie during these playoffs.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I'd just point out that "back spasms" are a non-structural injury, and plenty of great players have been sidelined or greatly limited by them. And anyone who has ever had back spasms themselves can only chuckle at claims that they should be able to ignore the pain because it is "nothing structural".

 

[DougHeil]

This isn't some complicated process or treatment regimen. He simply won't be able to have enough time off to recover until the season is over. No idea why folks are putting themselves through such anguish at this point. The Kyrie we all know and love will not be Kyrie during these playoffs.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I'm a physician.

Where did you read that he hasn't gotten steroid injection?

I haven't. Nor have I read that he has, which is something that is sometimes reported in the media

But that's why I asked. If the answer to the question of why he hasn't gotten one recently is that he has gotten on recently, then that's the answer. Or if the answer is that he's already had quite a few and they don't want to give him another, that's a fair answer as well.

Like I said, I was honestly just asking, not trying to make a rhetorical point or suggestion. Maybe I'm just holding out a secret hope that is a magic arrow they wanted to keep in their quiver until seeing that rest wasn't working.

 

[Chris]

If Kyrie doesn't play, we are down to a 7 man rotation and one of those 7 is James Jones.

Do you really think that a hobbled Kyrie who still gave us 10/6/3 is less effective than throwing Mike Miller or Joe Harris out there as a new 8th player in the rotation?

Delly was 0-6 in 25 minutes. Without Kyrie he probably has to step that up to around 40 minutes.

Even injured, Kyrie spaces the court. Here are Delly's shooting stats in games he played 35 or more minutes this year

12-26 vs Magic: 8 points on 2-7 shooting in 36 minutes
1-5 vs sixers: 3 points on 1-7 shooting in 39 minutes
1-7 vs Rockets: 9 points on 3-8 shooting in 35 minutes
2-27 vs Pacers: 14 points on 5-18 shooting in 38 minutes
3-1 vs Rockets: 3 points on 1-4 shooting in 42 minutes
4-10 vs Celtics: 9 points on 4-8 shooting in 41 minutes
5-6 vs Celtics (playoffs): 9 points in 3-8 shooting in 36 minutes

We were a combined 2-5 in those games.

It's a snowball effect. If Kyrie is out, Delly has to play more, gets fatigued and is less effective and someone else has to back him up, who is less effective than Delly. Also our floor spacing is gone, which makes it easier to defend LeBron, who already is carrying the front court load for Love being out.

Strawman. I replied to a comment about Kyrie still being one of the best even in this condition. He isn't. He's a liability.

 

[Ohio]

Get him some edibles. He'll be too high to remember he's in pain.

Not even a bad idea. He's played while baked before..

 

[KI4MVP]

No idea why folks are putting themselves through such anguish at this point. The Kyrie we all know and love will not be Kyrie during these playoffs.

you answered your own question. People are looking for a magic answer because it is distressing to see Kyrie not able to play at his normal level. I think everyone agrees we need that if we're going to beat the warriors. It's kind of hard to believe we are 9-2 so far despit Kyrie hobbling and Love out for much of that.

 

[KLove14]

I'm convinced Miller has one more great playoff game inside him. Let it be today. Let it fly Mike