The Cleveland Cavaliers have LeBron James feeling healthy despite dealing with a back issue in the preseason and the Cavs have now won two straight to improve to 2-1 this season. Kyrie Irving is progressing and could return in the near future, while Mo Williams and Kevin Love have been contributing in the starting lineup.
James had a back injection last month in the middle of the preseason and the Cavaliers will be monitoring how James feels throughout the season to ensure he stays healthy. James had a slight issue in the opener for the Cavaliers, but he has been able to play all three games this season so far. According to Cleveland.com, head coach David Blatt said that the "most important" thing for the Cavaliers this season is keeping James healthy for the playoffs.
Blatt was responding to a report from the Akron Beacon Journal that quoted James saying that he wanted to play in "all 82 games" this season for the Cavs. James may have been exaggerating a bit or just talking about what he hopes to do this year, but either way it's unlikely that he will play in all 82 games. Blatt said that he will not get in the way of James playing in a full schedule if he is "able to do so," but that him being healthy for the postseason is most important for the Cavs this year.
The Cavaliers are dealing with multiple injuries to start the season and that could be one reason why James feels that he needs to be on the court every night. Iman Shumpert is out for a few months with a wrist injury, while Kyrie Irving remains out while coming back from knee surgery. Irving does not have a return date set yet, but ESPN reports that he is "gradually increasing his workload" heading into November.
Irving was injured in the finals last season and had surgery on his kneecap and he continues to make progress from the injury. According to Dave McMenamin, Irving was passing in practice and participated in shooting drills with the Cavaliers, but he does not have a set return date for the team. During the summer a report from Cleveland.com had December or January as a potential time for Irving to return, but the team is not ready to put any dates out there yet for Irving to come back.
Mo Williams has been getting extended playing time with Irving out and the Cavs feel comfortable using him and Matthew Dellavedova until Irving returns. Kevin Love has been playing well to start the season, while Tristan Thompson has struggled a bit offensively after coming back and signing a new contract. Thompson has scored in double digits only one time in three games this season, but he has been rebounding well, putting up 12 total rebounds against the Bulls in the season opener. Thompson had eight rebounds against the Grizzlies and nine against the Heat and the Cavs will be looking to get him going moving forward.