Kyrie Irving, meet Derrick Rose. For the first time.
It's true, as Irving is in his third season in the NBA, and the Cleveland Cavaliers' point guard has never faced Rose, the Chicago Bulls' point guard and former league MVP.
Irving and Rose have had the opportunity to face each other seven times previously. But one or both has been injured or ill in each of those possible encounters.
Actually, Rose missed the opportunity to encounter anyone last season. He sat out the entire year while recovering from knee surgery.
So, Kyrie, what's your take on the first matchup -- which takes place Monday, when the Cavs visit Bulls for the first time this season (8 p.m., FOX Sports Ohio)?
"Another game," Irving said.
Irving is coming off a 39-point and career-high 12-assist performance in Saturday's double overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
He won Rookie of the Year in 2011-12 and was selected to the Eastern Conference All-Star team last season.
More recently, Irving had been struggling a little (for him) prior to the win over Philly. His scoring average was down almost seven points to just more than 15 a game. He was shooting poorly and overall needing time to adapt to new coach Mike Brown's defense-first (and second and third) scheme.
Meanwhile, Rose hasn't been the Rose of old, either.
He won NBA MVP in just his third season, or one season prior to the Cavs choosing Irving with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. But Rose blew out his knee in a playoff series against the Sixers the following year, and again, didn't return to the court until this one.
In five games so, Rose is averaging career-lows in scoring (14.0 ppg) and assists per game (4.0).
Along with the point guards, the Cavs (3-4) and Bulls (2-3) have gotten off to relatively slow starts. But it's a long season with plenty of time for everyone to get things right.
So, D-Rose, what's your take on the first matchup with Irving?
"I try not to get into matchups," Rose told reporters in Chicago.
Irving and Rose may give similar answers, but they play very different styles. Rose uses speed and quickness to erupt to the basket and set up teammates. Irving uses deft ball-handling and shrewd shooting to overcome what he may lack in natural athleticism.
Rose is explosive; Kyrie is crafty. Each clearly respects the other.
"Always playing any Bulls team, with D-Rose or without him, they're a good team," Irving said. "But now that they have him, they're a threat. Obviously he's a great point guard, a great player and I have a lot of respect for him."
But Irving wouldn't concede that he may be looking forward to this matchup more than any other.
"I get up for everyone," he said.
Meanwhile, Rose was equally diplomatic when it came to admiring Irving.
"He's a great young player," Rose said. " (But) I try not to get into matchups, and just go out there and just play. If we were winning, I'd probably get into it. But we're just trying to win games right now."
Rose speaks the truth, as he and Irving will be just two of 10 players on the floor.
Just as big of a factor in who wins and loses will be the likes of the Cavs' Anderson Varejao, Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson, the Bulls' Joakim Noah, Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer, and both benches.
An equally intriguing matchup, of course, is that of the head coaches. Brown and the Bulls' Tom Thibodeau are both devotees of scrappy, grind-it-out games with defense at the center of everything they do.
But because it's the first meeting between Irving and Rose, the point guards are getting the start at center stage.
Who wins that clash, after all, could go a long way in determining which team wins the night.
Twitter: @SamAmicoFSO
