Cavaliers news, features and notes
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Irving could be shut down again if knee problems persist
INDEPENDENCE: Kyrie Irving could be shut down again if his bothersome right knee is still giving him problems, coach Byron Scott said on Thursday.
Irving said following Wednesday's win over the Jazz his knee was still hurting despite the team shutting him down for a week to allow it to heal.
"The only way I would get better is if I sit out for the rest of the season, and I’m not doing that," Irving said.
That surprised Scott, sinc e it was the first time he heard of it.
"It definitely caught my attention," Scott said.
After the Cavs shut Irving down the first time, Scott said he didn't want his star to return until the knee was 100 percent. Scott said Thursday he planned to speak with trainer Max Benton about Irving's knee later in the afternoon and didn't rule out the possibility of shutting him down "if he says it’s bothering him again to the point where I know it’s bothering him enough that he can’t perform the way I know he is capable of."
Irving said Wednesday night he didn't believe the knee could be injured worse unless someone hit him on the knee, "and I pray to God that doesn’t happen,” he said.
Scott said he would take that into consideration when he talked to Benton.
"If there is any way of doing more damage by continuing to play, then I’ll find that out and we’ll go from there," Scott said. "I want him to be able to go out there and play and be effective for us. I don’t want him to be out there playing at 50 percent."
Irving was not available because he typically does not speak to reporters on days following games. The Cavs held a light workout on Thursday instead of a full practice.
Dion Waiters returned following a stomach flu and Omri Casspi returned in a limited role for the first time since his appendectomy. Casspi was a limited participant in practice and is still ruled out. Waiters' status will be re-evaluated tomorrow prior to the game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
