Kyrie Irving takes blame for Cavs’ recent skid: ‘I need to demand more out of myself’
Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving think it’s his fault that the team has been playing rather flat lately.
Addressing the media after practice on Wednesday, Irving took responsibility for the recent stretch that has seen the Cavs drop four of their last six games.
“I had to face it, had to face the music,” said the former No. 1 overall pick, per Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. “I think we all had to do it. But me more importantly, I had to look in the mirror and just wasn’t doing enough. I need to demand more out of myself and do it at a high level.
“I have to do my best as a point guard to integrate J.R. [Smith] and [Kevin] Love and get our starting five back to having the continuity. It hasn’t been perfect, to say the least,” Irving continued. “There’s definitely been some ups and downs and disagreements. But as adults and professionals we just have to figure it out. I think it just starts with our practice habits and what we demand out of each other. Just holding each other accountable.”
Irving was singing a different tune just this past weekend, but consecutive losses to the Washington Wizards and the San Antonio Spurs by a combined 41 points (with the latter seeing Irving go 4-of-13 for eight points, tying a season-low) likely changed his perspective. Some of his teammates have been expressing similar frustration lately, so urgency beckons, especially now that the Cavs have fallen to second in the East behind the Boston Celtics.
