"We're the Big One … One Team. We are One Team. We are playing as a team and making the whole better than the parts."
That was Coach David Blatt’s now-famous quote following his squad’s Game 2 win in the Eastern Conference Finals in Atlanta without two-thirds of his “Big Three.” And that quote takes on even more weight before Game 2 of the NBA Finals tip off on Sunday night in Oakland.
The day after Cleveland dropped Game 1 in an overtime more costly than the contest itself, the Cavaliers officially confirmed what many feared when they saw All-Star guard Kyrie Irving leave Oracle Arena on crutches – that the left knee injury he suffered midway through Thursday’s extra-session was, in fact, worse than the tendinitis he’d fought through for weeks.
Instead, Friday’s MRI revealed that Irving had suffered a fractured left knee cap, will have surgery in the coming days and will be out for the next three to four months.
It comes as another devastating blow to a Cavaliers’ team that’s battled adversity all season – and even more in the postseason. Kevin Love was sidelined for the remainder of the playoffs after separating his shoulder in the Game 4 win against Boston. Now Irving is done for the postseason run.
The Big Three has been reduced to the Big One. But that One is not the man who scored 44 points on Thursday night. It’s the team that Blatt praised two weeks ago in the ATL. Their job got a whole lot tougher. But they still have the postseason’s toughest defense. They still have the postseason’s most impressive big man. And they still have the King.
On Friday afternoon, LeBron put the Cavaliers’ conundrum in perfect perspective.
"There are a few things that you would love to have going late in the season," said James. “Being healthy, having a great rhythm, and then you need a little luck, as well. We've had a great rhythm. We haven't had much luck, and we haven't been healthy. But I haven't gotten discouraged.”
James posted the 13th 40-point game of his illustrious playoff career on Thursday, but he and his squad managed just a single field goal in overtime and were outscored 10-2 in the extra-session to drop the 108-100 decision in Game 1. Irving had one of his best games of the postseason on both ends – finishing with 23 points, seven boards, six assists, four steals and a pair of blocks – including a then game-saving swat of Stephen Curry’s layup attempt late in regulation.
The Cavaliers got a strong offensive performance from Timofey Mozgov – who finished with 16 points – and Tristan Thompson did his thing on the glass – snagging a game-high 15 boards. But aside from J.R. Smith’s nine points, the Wine and Gold didn’t get much from their second unit, including nine scoreless minutes from Matthew Dellavedova off the bench.
Coach David Blatt has been through this before – and quite recently. Irving was limited to just 12 minutes in the decisive Game 6 against the Bulls and Dellavedova stepped in to score 19 points in relief. After starting Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Kyrie was forced to sit once again. And once again, Delly and the Cavaliers stepped up to take two straight against the East’s top team.
”Matty has been a rotation player for us the whole year,” said Blatt. “He stepped in and did a great job, and the team believes in him and we believe in him. If necessary, he has to play significant minutes again, he'll be ready, and we'll know how to play with him.”
There’s no “if” about it – as the bad news about Irving came down the wire as the squad was returning to San Francisco from media availability at Oracle Arena. But they’ve battled through bad news and tough times all year. Now it’s a matter of weathering one more storm – albeit against a team coming off a 67-win season.
The onus will fall on Dellavedova – the man his fellow countryman, Andrew Bogut, lovingly called a “gritty ass%#%” -- again in Game 2. Delly’s been undaunted by the playoff pressure, and he’s feeling even more comfortable – his family is in town, he’s playing in front of a road crowd that still loves him from his St. Mary’s College days and he’s already logged over 300 minutes of floor time this postseason.
"You know, we're going to have to play a good game, obviously, to beat them on the road,” said the normally-understate sophomore. “They've had a great season and a really good team. Yeah, we did a lot of good things as well, but I don't think we played our best game either.”
J.R. Smith, who struggled from the floor in Game 1 – going 3-of-10 from long-distance and 3-for-13 overall – maintained that his role won’t change without Irving in the lineup.
“For me it really doesn't change anything because I'm just trying to be as aggressive as I can on the offensive end and take advantage of whatever mishaps on the defense,” said Smith. “So for me, my mentality doesn't really change. My job is still the same – just try to make do if he can't go.”
Smith’s shooting guard partner, Iman Shumpert –whose last-second rebound and shot attempt nearly gave Cleveland the win -- will likely pick up some point guard duties on Sunday night. LeBron will also help pick up the playmaking slack for Cleveland.
The Cavaliers were already facing an extremely tall order, trying to top the favored Warriors in an arena where they’re 48-3 this season. And it just got much, much more difficult with the season-ending injury to the East’s top-scoring point guard. But if there’s a squad – and a leader – that can overcome all the adversity that’s been thrown their way, it’s the four-time MVP who’s already posted a playoff run for the ages.
”I understand the moment that I'm in, and I'm not too much worried about the game – I'm worried about the moment,” maintained James. “I'm happy with the moment. I'm excited to be in this moment once again, and I'm going to stay strong for my team, no matter who is or is not in the lineup.”
Game 2 tips off on Sunday night – 8 p.m. ET. And anyone who’s watched this team all season should know that Cleveland’s “Big One” will be ready when it does.