King James Gospel
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Cleveland Cavaliers: Lessons from yet another loss against Denver

By Jackson Flickinger

CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 3: Will Barton
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 3: Will Barton /
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CLEVELAND, OH – MARCH 3: The Humungotron during player introductions prior to the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Denver Nuggets at Quicken Loans Arena on March 3, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Nuggets defeated the Cavaliers 126-117. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – MARCH 3: The Humungotron during player introductions prior to the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Denver Nuggets at Quicken Loans Arena on March 3, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Nuggets defeated the Cavaliers 126-117. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

The starting lineup isn’t working.

The lack of production from the starting lineup is the simple explanation for why the first quarters have been so bad. The current starting lineup of Hill, Smith, Osman, James, and Thompson have been awful recently. They are getting outscored by 27.4 points per 100 possessions since the break.

Coach Lue seems to be sticking with this lineup for the time being despite the fact that it’s hurting them in the short term. The Cavs are still experimenting with lineups and figuring out who plays well together and who don’t. While Lue is sampling many lineups, he doesn’t want to be continually experimenting with the starting lineup by sticking with four guys who have been here all season.

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Despite what many think, Lue does know what he’s doing. He’s forced to manage real people who have egos. Jerking people in and out of the starting lineup before a clear solution presents itself is the worst thing that could be done at this point.

This won’t be the starting lineup forever and certainly won’t be the starting lineup in the playoffs. Besides Kevin Love being inserted into the starting lineup, it’s probable that Nance will replace Tristan Thompson and possible that Rodney Hood replaces JR Smith.

People will be relentlessly criticizing Lue until the starting lineup is altered. And, if he goes into the playoffs with this lineup he probably deserves that criticism.

Lue knows that home court advantage and playoff seeding mean absolutely nothing to LeBron and this team. Managing veteran players and keeping the locker room together is what’s important. From the outside, it appears that is what he’s trying to do by sticking with this starting lineup.