David Blatt: Kyrie Irving still has “ways to go” in return

The Cleveland Cavaliers are doing just fine, thank you very much. They are 7-1 and atop the Eastern Conference standings.

And they are not close to full strength, Kyrie Irving is still out recovering from the fractured kneecap he suffered during the NBA Finals last June. When might we see Irving back on the court? Patience, grasshopper, we’re going to have to wait a while. Here is what Cavaliers’ coach David Blatt said on the issue Thursday, as reported by Chris Haynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

"[We’re] not rushing things and not letting up from the day-to-day work, but still a ways to go,” he said. “And how much, I can’t honestly tell you, but he’s working at it every day.”

Irving has not returned to any practice yet, let along a full contact affair, so we are still weeks away at the very least. Reports have suggested it could be after the first of the year before Irving is back on the court (except as Uncle Drew), although somewhere between Thanksgiving and Christmas seems a more likely timeframe.

If the team were struggling, there might be pressure to speed up the timeline, but as they are not the Cavaliers should remain patient.