Irving declares he will be ready to play Hawks

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Kyrie Irving finished an animated shooting game of Around The World with LeBron James and then quickly removed any doubt about his playing status for Game 1. “I’m going to go,” he said. Cleveland’s All-Star guard may not be 100 per cent — or anywhere close — but he’s much better and that’s welcome news to the Cavs, who will open the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday in Atlanta.

Irving has been bothered by a sore right foot since Game 2 of the opening round against Boston, and he sat out the final half of the Cavs’ seriesclinching win over Chicago last week with tendinitis in his left knee. But a weekend of rest and rehab allowed Irving to make it through a full practice on Monday, lifting his spirits and improving the Cavs’ chances against the East’s top seed.

Irving said he has come a long way from the way he felt Thursday night while sitting on the bench.

“Just being able to actually feel both my feet underneath me, especially when I’m shooting, it feels amazing,” said Irving, who was limited to 12 minutes in Game 6. “I don’t want to be on the sideline at all, especially preparing for a big stage like this.”

Irving’s improved health seemed to have an immediate impact with James, who ran around like a little kid after all of his teammates left the practice floor.

“I can’t leave. You just gotta let me go,” James yelled to good friend, Damon Jones, his former teammate who works with him on his shooting. “I’m locked in.”

James knocked down eight of 10 shots from 40 feet and threw down jaw-dropping dunks before meeting with reporters in good spirits.

“He feels better,” James said. “Obviously the days have helped him. You know, we really don’t know until we get out there on Wednesday. The good thing is he’s positive, he’s feeling better, and that’s positive for our team.”