Is Kyrie Irving the Warriors Nemesis
Six months after beating the Warriors in game seven NBA finals, Kyrie Irving is at it again. A great come from behind victory by the Cavs winning 109 to 108 at home against the Warriors on Christmas day.
The Cavs one point win over Golden State on Sunday was not a significant win but Irving’s continued dagger in the Warriors heart shows how the Cavaliers can beat them even with the Warriors new superstar Kevin Durant. Dealing with Lebron James is a difficult task but now the Warriors know a second force on the floor is their main nemesis.
Irving was the main reason the Warriors could not hold their 14 point lead. But it wasn’t just one play that Irving beat the Warriors with, it was his successful plays in the final two minutes. With 2:17 left, Irving converted a layup that tied the game at 103. Irving decided to take over the last two minutes with Lebron and the team behind him — sending a message that he made in game seven finals — no lead is safe.
LeBron James is deferring more to his teammates this season, and the reasons are evident. Irving is 24 years old and young enough to get better without requiring the Cavaliers to find more quality players to keep their reign of NBA titles a strong possibility. It also takes the pressure off James so he can do his thing to lead the Cavs to more NBA finals or close to it.
Golden State signed Kevin Durant this season which made the Warriors a monster team. A 73-win team added league MVP still firmly in his prime as a top scorer and top three player in the NBA. They’re better equipped now to handle the Cavaliers who did not sign any new players. Irving has the talent to keep getting better for this year which is important as LeBron James is still in his prime at 32 as the competition gets stronger each year.
