Irving takes blame for Cavs' skid: 'I need to demand more out of myself'

Kyrie Irving is taking full responsibility for the Cavaliers' recent losing streak.

After watching his team drop three of its last four contests, the 6-foot-3 point guard is well aware that he'll need elevate his play if Cleveland has any shot of repeating as champions in June.

"I had to face it, had to face the music," Irving told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. "I think we all had to do it. But me more importantly, I had to look in the mirror and just wasn't doing enough. I need to demand more out of myself and do it at a high level."

While he's always been more of a scorer than facilitator, Irving has struggled to get his teammates involved of late, averaging just 3.8 assists over his last five contests.

"I have to do my best as a point guard to integrate J.R. and K-Love and get our starting five back to having the continuity. It hasn't been perfect, to say the least," Irving said. "There's definitely been some ups and downs and disagreements. But as adults and professionals we just have to figure it out. I think it just starts with our practice habits and what we demand out of each other. Just holding each other accountable."

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The Cavaliers may have just won a title last year, but that has done little to curb Irving's motivation this season, saying that the true greats are never fully satisfied.

"You can't rely in just thinking that one championship is enough," Irving said. "It's natural for human beings to just get comfortable. To rely on just having won a championship. But if you a muthaf---a you want two, you want three, you want four, like you say you do. And I want more. I'm going to go take it. My job as one of the leaders on the team is to bring my guys with me."