The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
FANS UP ON CAVS
Kyrie Irving is another story
“Kyrie’s pride got the better of him and he left this team.” — George Taylor of Stow
Among the Cavaliers fans inside Quicken Loans Arena and on the adjacent Gateway Plaza, there was general consensus on Oct. 17 about the team’s outlook for the 2017-18 season and the return of former fan favorite Kyrie Irving in a Boston uniform.
Fans like Tom Giltner of Akron, the hometown of Cavs superstar LeBron James, believe the Cavs are headed to another banner season despite the loss of Irving, who asked off the Cavs after six seasons so he could escape the shadow of James and become a star in his own right.
Irving was traded to the Celtics in August for Jae Crowder, Isaiah Thomas, Ante Zizic and a first-round draft choice.
As it happened, Irving’s first game in a Boston uniform was against the Cavs on Oct. 17 in
the regular-season opener for both teams.
“The general outlook is excellent for the Cavs this season,” Giltner said. “They are Cleveland’s last hope this season with the Browns being awful again and the Indians letting us down in the playoffs against the Yankees. It should be a fine season for the Cavs.”
Giltner joined other fans in speculating the Cavs might actually benefit from losing Irving, a four-time All-Star. In addition to adding the players obtained from Boston, the Cavs added veteran free agents Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade and Jeff Green.
“In the long run, this team could be better than it was before with Kyrie,” Giltner said
As for Irving making his Boston debut against the team he helped lead to the 2016 NBA title and three straight trips to the NBA Finals, Giltner said it was “no big deal.”
Koleman Kunkler made the 3 ½-hour ride to Cleveland from his home in Perry County to cheer for the Cavs and root against Irving, who he dismissed as a glory-seeker and not a team-first player.
“A part of me wishes he wasn’t gone because he was a great scorer, but I think they got better with the trade and those (freeagent) signings,” Kunkler said.
Alex Kurtzman of Mansfield came to the game with girlfriend Chloe Hlad, also of Mansfield.
“As long as they stay healthy, the Cavs have a chance to win another title,” Kurtzman said.
He wasn’t sure what fan reaction would be to Irving inside the arena, especially during the pre-game introduction of the visiting team. Since the trade, Irving has irked some of his former fans by saying Boston in a better sports town than Cleveland.
“Some of the fans might want to boo him, but they should remember he helped us win that title (in 2016), Kurtzman said.
In fact, Irving got a mixed reaction from the capacity crowd when he was introduced. The boos could be heard, for sure, but the level of venom coming from the seats was microscopic compared to what was showered on James when he returned to the Q for the first time in November 2010 after leaving the Cavs as a free agent to sign with Miami.
Stow resident John Taylor came to the game wearing a replica of James’ No. 23 jersey from St. VincentSt. Mary High School in Akron.
He believes the Cavs will succeed in the long run this season. He also thinks there will be bumps in the road as all the new Cavs mesh with James and his fellow returnees.
“There will be some growing pains, but I expect the Cavs to come together and get back to the Finals,” Taylor said.
Taylor expressed strong opinions about Irving, who he thinks crossed a line by saying Cleveland fans aren’t as engaged as their counterparts in Boston.
“Kyrie is a great, one of the most gifted offensive players in the league, but those comments he made about Cleveland reflect badly on him.”
Taylor’s father, George, also of Stow, seconded his son’s bullish outlook on the Cavs for this season. He’s of a similar mind about Irving, too.
“Kyrie’s pride got the better of him and he left this team,” George Taylor said.
“He’s persona non grata in Cleveland now.”
Online: Find a photo gallery from the Cavaliers’ season opener against the Celtics at MEDIA.MORNINGJOURNAL.COM