Offensive adjustments key for Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers in Game 2

3:06 PM ET

OAKLAND, Calif. — This year’s NBA Finals have been billed as not only a rematch between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, but as an epic battle for control of the perch as the league’s top dog between LeBron James and Stephen Curry.

The marketing ploy has already paid off, with the Warriors’ Game 1 win drawing the best ratings for a Game 1 in the history of ABC airing the Finals. However, the marquee matchup between James and Curry is just a manipulation. It is Kyrie Irving, not James, who will be tasked this series with tangling horns with the two-time MVP possession after possession.

While Golden State won the opener, Irving more than held his own against Curry, putting up 26 points, three rebounds, four assists, three steals and three turnovers to Curry’s 11 points, five boards, six assists and five turnovers.

Yet, when the Cavs reviewed the tape to assess what went wrong in the 104-89 loss, it was Irving’s play — particularly down the stretch when he seemed to get caught up in 1-on-1 opportunities against Curry — that was identified as an area Cleveland can improve in Game 2.

Kyrie Irving helped the Cavaliers limit Stephen Curry to just 11 points in Game 1. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

“We want Kyrie to be aggressive, but it has to be sharp, quick attacks,” said Cavs coach Tyronn Lue. “You can’t dribble for eight or nine seconds. We had that discussion, and he understands that.

“But we need him to score the basketball. We need him to be aggressive. If there’s one guy that can go 1-on-1 on the perimeter, it is Kyrie, because he’s very special. Outside, taking advantage of mismatches in the post with Kevin [Love] and LeBron, Kyrie is the one guy that we have that can break guys down off the dribble.

“So it’s going to be a fine line, but he has to be quicker on the attack rather than letting them load up [on defense].”

Irving has had his personal challenges at point guard this postseason, from the capable Reggie Jackson in Detroit, to the two-man tandem of Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroder in Atlanta, to the gritty Kyle Lowry in Toronto. Curry, …

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