The Cleveland Cavaliers are off to a great start to the season as they are 7-1 and they look every bit like the team that people consider the favorite not only in the Eastern Conference but possibly the whole NBA. The scary thing about this Cavaliers team is that they are not whole yet as they have been without star point guard Kyrie Irving all season but that may change sooner than you think. It is being reported that Irving may return within the next couple of weeks, according to ESPN Cleveland.
The report comes from Brian Windhorst who says that Irving has been doing some contact work while also scrimmaging 3-on-3 so he expects him to make his season debut fairly soon. Before he comes back Irving would have to be able to get to 5-on-5 scrimmages pretty soon but Windhorst feels that is reasonable.
There was a conflicting report earlier in the day from Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com as he reported that Irving was not all that close to a return. Head coach David Blatt was his source on this one saying that they are taking things slow with their point guard.
"We're not rushing things and not letting up from the day-to-day work, but still a ways to go. And how much, I can't honestly tell you, but he's working at it every day," said Blatt.
A ways to go could mean that it is still possible that he will be back in the next couple of weeks but Blatt doesn't sound nearly as optimistic as Windhorst does on this one. Irving fractured his kneecap in the NBA Finals back in June and was given a timetable of about 3-4 months. Irving has now been out for a little more than five months but the Cavs can afford to be extremely cautious with him because of how well they have been playing.
In Irving's absence Mo Williams has been starting at point guard and he has filled in admirably as he is averaging 16.5 points and 5.5 assists per game. Williams is a nice holdover for the short-term but the Cavaliers know if they want to win a championship they need Irving fully healthy so they are taking their time with him and ensuring that when he does come back, whether that is in two weeks or even longer, he is at full strength.
While Kyrie is out he has stayed busy though, check out the newest installment of Irving as Uncle Drew in the Pepsi ad campaign below.
