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Cleveland Cavaliers: Is Jeff Green in or out of the Cavs playoff rotation?

By Nathan Beighle

CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 7: Jeff Green #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with another player during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Quicken Loans Arena on February 7, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 - FEBRUARY 7: Jeff Green #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with another player during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Quicken Loans Arena on February 7, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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) /
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The Cleveland Cavaliers are under 20 games away from the postseason, and their rotation will quickly be trimmed from 10 to 8. Will Jeff Green make the cut?

Last postseason, Lue cut the rotation from 10 players to 8, so it’s assumed he’ll do the same in a just a few weeks. Players like Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson were the two men out while Deron Williams, Iman Shumpert, and Kyle Korver were the three non-starters to see over 15 minutes per game.

It’s assumed that the starting lineup will stay George Hill, JR Smith, LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Larry Nance Jr. After those five, the time will be split up by Green, Osman, Clarkson, Hood, and Thompson.

From there, it’s obvious both Rodney Hood and Jordan Clarkson are bound to get time. Hood is a capable, lengthy shooter. Clarkson can handle and do the playmaking for the second unit as well.

That last spot will be up in the air, and Jeff Green has certainly not helped his case since the all-star break.

In his five games following the break, Green has averaged just 8.0 points per game, seventh most on the roster. Green did miss three games following the break due to a lower back injury. However, he did still get to participate in Cleveland Cavaliers roller-skating event.

Scoring isn’t all Green brings to the table though. Green is arguably the second unit’s most athletic player and has shown that he can defend at high levels also. He ranks No. 36 out of 90 qualified small forwards in ESPN’s defensive real plus/minus rating.

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So, while Green is far from a lockdown perimeter defender, he is big enough at 6-foot-9, 235 pounds to guard the 2-5.  In those five games since the break, the Cavs give up just 92.9 points per 100 possessions, the best defensive rating of any Cavaliers’ rotational player.

Green, who is shooting just 44.4% since the break, has proven his consistency, shooting 48.9% in his 56 games prior to the break.

Per 36 minutes, Green is averaging 17.2 points per game, the second highest of his career. His value has been seen throughout this season, but recently with the additions of the younger more energetic players, it seems we’ve forgotten about Green’s steady production.

That said, does he make the cut? Only time will tell, but logic tells us that Green should be cut from the rotational. Even if it’s as simple an explanation as to the fact that LeBron will most likely be playing 40 of the 48 small forward minutes.

It’s hard to see Green play over Korver. The Cavaliers win games by outscoring teams, and it will be detrimental to their offense to cut Korver from the rotation. His creation of space offensively is worth him being in the game.

However, if it’s up to me, both Thompson and Smith will be getting the boot, but it’ll be hard for Lue to cut two of the four players that played and won the 2016 NBA Finals. That experience will be crucial moving in the postseason.

That said, make sure to leave a comment on what you would do. Do you leave Green in the rotation and surround him with offensive playmaking? Do you cut Green and let Smith stay in the rotation?

Must Read: Analyzing each of the Cavs potential first-round matchups

What do you do?