The Cleveland Cavaliers would love nothing more than to shut down the Chicago Bulls for good in Game 6 at the United Center. With a 3-2 series lead, only a single game stands between the Cavaliers and their first Eastern Conference finals appearance since 2008-09.
Kyrie Irving, who's played at less than 100 percent for the majority of the series, doesn't want to give the Bulls a chance to breathe in a do-or-die Game 7.
As he told reporters during morning shootaround Thursday, Irving is treating Game 6 as one of the most important outings of his career.
Kyrie: "This is the most I've done to prepare for one game in my entire life"
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 14, 2015
The Cavaliers' All-Star point guard has contributed 19.8 points and 3.2 assists through the first five games, though his numbers on the road pale in comparison to what he's putting up at Quicken Loans Arena. He's averaging just 11.5 points on 21.7 percent shooting away from home.
A strained right foot and tendinitis in his left knee have hindered his ability to move up and down the floor, yet Irving continues to persevere, blocking out his pain through mental toughness and sheer willpower.
This is the first postseason appearance of his young career, so with no guarantee of what tomorrow will bring, it's in his best interest to make the most of this opportunity as the Cavaliers chase the first NBA championship in franchise history.
