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Kyrie Irving injury: How tendinitis diagnosis impacts Cavs

By Josh Criswell

Dec 30, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) dribbles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) dribbles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have been hit with the injury bug yet again, and this time it is their star point guard Kyrie Irving that is hurting. What exactly does his injury mean to the Cavs outlook?

The Cleveland Cavaliers have already lost one key player to injury this NBA Playoffs in power forward Kevin Love, and point guard Kyrie Irving is now ailing with tendinitis in his left knee, as well as a sprained right foot.

So how exactly do these two injuries impact the Cavaliers star point guard, who also happens to be LeBron James‘ go-to guy on the floor?

First, let us take a look at what exactly knee tendinitis is, and how it could impact a player’s ability on the court.

According to Steven Stuchin, the director of orthopaedic surgery at NYU’s Hospital for Joint Diseases, it is an injury brought upon by overuse of tendons in the knee. “Jumper’s Knee” is a version of tendinitis that is particularly common among basketball players.

"“Someone who tries to get in all their exercise over the weekend is a prime candidate for tendinitis,” Stuchin told Everyday Health. “The more you work the tendon by running or jumping, the worse the injury will become and the longer recovery will take.”"

Given the heavy workload of extending his season into a deep postseason run, it is easy to understand how Irving suffered the injury. Unfortunately, the only way to heal the ailment is with rest and easing himself back into physical activity, something that the Cavs simply do not have time for.

Complete healing would take roughly one month, and by then the NBA Finals would already be underway. If Irving continues to play, the injury will only get worse. Although tendinitis is not a major injury, it could become a much larger issue if the injured knee is aggravated by more stress, something that will surely occur if he plays through the pain.

As for the sprained foot, the circumstances are very similar regarding the healing process.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, even the most minor of foot strains require a recovery time of two to four weeks. The more serious instances can take up to eight months to come back from.

The best treatment option is to “stop any physical activity that causes pain, and keep your foot still when possible”, something that Irving and the Cavs need to seriously consider, but given their heated playoff series with the Chicago Bulls, is not going to happen.

The bottom line: there are much more severe injuries that he could have suffered. The catch, however, is that if not treated properly, this will undoubtedly become a much more serious problem.

The Cavs and Irving do not have the luxury of time to allow his injuries to heal. Fortunately, they are injuries he can play through, something that head coach David Blatt says his point guard will do.

Playing through the pain for another month has potential to have drastic consequences, and I would hate to see Kyrie Irving become the next Brandon Roy, a promising young player whose career was cut short by lower body injuries.

Let us hope that the Cavaliers and Irving possibly mortgaging the future for the present does not have any serious longterm implications on his promising career. Sadly, that is a very real possibility if he plays through these injuries for the next month.

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