In this week’s edition of our NBA Power Rankings, we discuss the now fully healthy, excuse free, Cleveland Cavaliers
No more hiding; no more deflecting. Most of all, there are no more excuses for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After playing more than a quarter of the season without its second-best player on the roster, the Cavs welcomed Kyrie Irving back to the team’s lineup Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers. Irving finished with 12 points and four assists during his 17 minutes of action against the Sixers, but most of all his return signified the real start to the Cavs’ 2015-16 season.
As of note, let me remind you that the Cavs are 34-3 since last January when all three – Kevin Love, Irving and LeBron James – are in the lineup together. That’s solid.
With the Cavs now all back and playing, this team will now be under the microscope like they had not been under this season. For much of the year they had the luxury of being ignored in favor of the Golden State Warriors. Now that Irving is back, that won’t be the case as much.
I believe many were waiting for Irving’s return to fully judge this year’s Cavs team. Well, he’s back. It’s time to see what this Cleveland team is really about.
As we dig into that topic, and more, here are this week’s NBA Power Rankings.
Next: Philadelphia 76ers