Irving on playing through injury: 'The biggest mental challenge of my career'

Dealing with a right foot strain and left knee tendinitis, coming off the two least productive games of his young playoff career, and professing to be operating at something like "30 or 40 percent," there was no guarantee Kyrie Irving would even suit up for Game 5 against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday.

All he did was play 39 minutes, pour in 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting, and help power the Cleveland Cavaliers to a massive win and a 3-2 series lead. After the game, Irving - who's been part of miserable Cavs rosters and suffered through his share of injuries since entering the league in 2011 - put the past few games in perspective.

"This has been the biggest mental challenge of my career this far and just because I want to do more," Irving said, according to Chris Haynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "I want to be that guy for my teammates as well as for (Le)Bron (James)... So when you can't do that, when you're limited to certain things, you have to come to grips with it."

For Irving, overcoming the physical limitations was largely a question of keeping his head in the right place.

"I think for tonight, it was just having a mental confidence and being there mentally and just being OK," he said. "I'm not 100 percent, but I'm going to go out there and play. Just being in my spot, being able to knock shots down when I'm open. ...

"Obviously, I'm still really confident in myself, but I just want to go out there and play for my brothers. That's all that matters at this point."

Haynes also made a point of contrasting Irving's resilience with that of a certain Bulls player, who opted not to play through a hamstring strain in Games 4 and 5.

The team says there is no further damage that can be done while Irving proceeds on playing. Even it were the case, Irving would still be out there. He has made it known that he's not missing this moment for the world. He's committed to the organization and his teammates.

He's not Pau Gasol.

You know a series is getting intense when even the beat writers are firing shots.