Live Thread: Cavs vs. Sixers (#I’mBack)

I'm back.

— Hélà🤞🏾A11Even Tribe (@KyrieIrving) December 19, 2015

This two word Tweet is about all you need to know concerning today’s matinee game for the Cavaliers. After all, it’s about the only thing that could break through the clutter, given the circumstances… An afternoon game… on a Sunday… in December… against the worst team in the league (1-26)… directly opposite a Browns game… that features Johnny Football taking on the Seahawks… during the last week of the Christmas shopping rush… on the weekend that Star Wars comes out and does more business than any other movie in history. Yep, that’s a lot of possible distractions to pull focus from arguably the most important thing to happen to the Cavs this year (other than winning a championship). Still, there is reason to get pumped up about it… just listen to the man himself…

“I’m pretty F’ing excited,” Irving said Saturday. “There were a few things I had to clear, but there was no rush on it. … I’ve been ready to play, but biomechanically we just wanted to make sure everything was good so I wouldn’t put myself at risk.”

According to reports, David Blatt says the team will monitor Kyrie’s minutes, but that he is expected to start against Philadelphia. The Cavs could certainly use another healthy body in the back court as Mo Williams is still out with a sprained wrist, and Iman Shumpert is questionable with a groin strain. Although, given how the wine & gold handled the Oklahoma City Thunder with a limited guard rotation, the lowly Sixers shouldn’t present to difficult a challenge, and Kyrie’s presence should be protection against this contest being a trap game. As a result, Cavs should wrap this up in time to allow LeBron and the starters to catch either the end of the Browns game… or an early evening showing of The Force Awakens. Prediction: Cavs 110-85.