Cavs Playing Rest/Rust Game Perfectly
Every year, whether it is in the NFL, NBA or MLB teams who have locked up specific spots in their respective playoffs thinking about rest versus rust. The Cleveland Cavaliers are dealing with the rest/rust game right now in preparation for the NBA Playoffs. The Cavs are locked in as the #2 seed and Central Division Champions. Nothing can change that.
Let leads 1st year NBA Head Coach (Don’t call him a rookie) David Blatt in a particularly tricky situation. His team has been playing very well since January 15th but relies on some veteran players, LeBron James, J.R. Smith and James Jones, and some injury prone players, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and Iman Shumpert. James, Love and Shumpert have already missed a ton of time due to injuries this year while Irving has missed a couple games for the same reason.
When other teams are faced with the rest/rust game they tend to go in one of two directions. Either they keep pushing their players to try to keep rotations solid and players in a rhythm or they give the players full game(s) off to allow their bodies to heal.
The Cavs are playing the rest/rust game far differently than those two options. Last night both Irving and Shumpert missed the game but they were dealing with specific injuries. So Rule #1 for Blatt’s rest/rust game, it seems, is if you have an actual injury you will sit.
LeBron, Love, and the rest of the Cavs core players, except for Matthew Dellavedova, were on a pretty hard minutes restriction. Rule #2 for Blatt’s rest/rust game, it seems, is if you are important your minutes will be limited.
Finally Kendrick Perkins, Joe Harris, Shawn Marion and Mike Miller all played double digit minutes. Rule #3 for Blatt’s rest/rust game, it seems, if you are a bench player you are going to get extra minutes to prepare you in case you are needed.
Irving and Shumpert could be back on Sunday but LeBron (wrist/back/knee) and Love (back) might have flare ups of their injuries and sit. Rules #2 and 3 will be in full effect for whoever is on the court. Minutes restriction for the regulars, maybe even Delly won’t play over 30 this game if Irving and/or Shump is back, and bench guys will get some burn to try to get ready for the NBA Playoffs.
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Blatt’s rest/rust game sets the team up perfectly for the playoffs. Injuries are given time to heal. The key players stay in rhythm while not putting too much stress on their body on a given night. Role players get a chance to stretch their legs a little bit in case they are needed in spots in a given series. No one gets too rusty but everyone who needs it gets a little rest.
Well done David Blatt and the Cavaliers, you are playing the rest/rust game perfectly and the Cavs should benefit come playoffs.
Are you surprised by how the Cavs are dealing with this end of season question many teams face?