A year ago, Kyrie Irving’s taste of the NBA Finals ended after just one game.
The Cavaliers point guard fractured his kneecap in Game 1, forcing him to watch his team lose in six games.
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“Coming into this Finals I knew I had to be a lot better and I had to be a leader for this team,” Irving told NBA TV on Monday night following his 41-point effort that helped the Cavs easily take Game 5 from the Warriors, 112-97.
Outside of a 10-point performance in Game 2, Irving has been all that Cleveland could have hoped in this year's Finals, which the Cavs trail three games to two. He was at his best Monday night, topping 30 points for the third consecutive game, shooting 17 for 24 to help his team stave off elimination.
Irving has been sensational all postseason, but particularly in the Finals.
The first pick in the 2011 Draft is averaging 28.2 points per game and shooting 48.7 percent from the field through five games.
Game 5, though, was a watershed moment for Irving, who was the player most affected when LeBron James decided to return to the Cavs after four seasons with the Heat nearly two years ago. It hasn’t always been a smooth transition, but Irving and James, who also went for 41 points Monday, appear to be meshing as a unit.
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Irving said Monday their chemistry has gotten to the point where they communicate on a non-verbal basis when they need to.
“We understand what we have to do in order to even get a game, and what we have to do to prepare for the next game,” Irving said. “Nothing really needs to be said. We just make eye contact and understand the moment. He’s been in Finals before so I just lean on him for that emotional support and it continues to gradually go to everyone else.“
That connection resulted in 82 total points in Game 5 and at least one more opportunity to keep hope alive for an NBA title.