Cleveland Cavaliers: 2017 NBA Finals Game 2 Review

5 of 6

Jun 4, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) is defended by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first half in game two of the 2017 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Where did Kyrie Irving go?

Although Kyrie Irving is often seen as Robin to LeBron James’ Batman, he struggled to make an impact throughout the game. If anyone was Robin for the Cavaliers in Game 2, it was Kevin Love. The Cavaliers need all members of their big three to show up for them to have a chance of knocking off the Warriors, and Kyrie Irving was a no-show.

Irving ended up with 19 points, but did so by making 8 of his 23 shots. For a star player of Irving’s caliber, it’s inexcusable to score 19 points in 40 minutes of play.

Irving’s primary skill is his ability to score, and he struggled putting the ball in the hoop. He isn’t a great passer or defender, so he needs to dominate at his role to be effective.

If Irving has another poor performance, the Cavaliers will lose. He’s a smart enough player to understand that he cannot get shut down again, so it’ll be interesting to see how he responds in Game 3. He’ll be in front of his home crowd, which should give him and his teammates a boost.