TYRONN LUE SAYS NO MAJOR CHANGES FOR CAVS FOR GAME 3
Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue is digging in his heels on his approach to coaching his team despite trailing the Warriors 0-2 heading into Wednesday’s Game 3. Lue announced Tuesday that he will keep J.R. Smith as his starting shooting guard, even though Smith combined for just three points on 1-for-6 shooting, two rebounds and zero assists, steals and blocks in Games 1 and 2.
A Cavs source told ESPN following Game 2 that the team would consider starting Iman Shumpert over Smith after Shumpert had some success guarding Kevin Durant and played aggressively on offense. Lue, however, is sticking with Smith, who started 35 of the 41 games in which he played this season. Lue also remained steadfast in the Cavs playing with a frenetic pace, even though the Warriors have outscored them 245-204 in the series so far. The Cavs were average at best, in terms of pace during the regular season, ranking 16th in the league.
Lue acknowledged one adjustment, saying that starting center Tristan Thompson could continue to play reduced minutes. “It’s not anything Tristan isn’t doing,” Lue said. “I just think that against this team you have to score the basketball.” If it’s not Thompson, the Cavs will likely go more to Channing Frye, who was 1 for 5 and only had two points in Game 2. He is not the only role player struggling. Smith, of course, has yet to make an impact, and Deron Williams is 0 for 9 in the Finals so far.
“We have done a great job of getting everyone involved and making sure that everyone feels comfortable, but now we need everything and everybody,” Kyrie Irving said. “And I know they know how important they are. And it’s our job, my job to exude as much confidence as I can in them in order to get the very best, and I will do that.”
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