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Kyrie Irving put it all on the line in Game 1 for the Cavs organization and his teammates. It was almost enough to get that Game 1 win over a heavily favored Warriors team. In overtime, we all know, he suffered a season ending injury to his kneecap. The surgery successful, it isn't something that projects to affect his career longterm.
But you don't get too many shots at playing in an NBA Finals. And for Irving, who was All-NBA, an NBA All-Star, a guy who made LeBron James' life a lot easier this season, it's heartbreaking he doesn't get to be out there on the court with his teammates. That doesn't mean he has checked out, though. After the Cavs came through with a huge Game 2 win on Sunday night, Irving sent a message to his teammates and fans through Instagram.
We've known this was a close team, and we've known that Kyrie Irving was All In. It's not fun seeing these hospital pictures from Irving or Kevin Love, but you can see what the team means to them.
We're all even, and the Cavs' biggest fan is their starting point guard.