Cleveland Cavaliers media day: Tyronn Lue focusing on new chapter

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue is going to have a totally new rotation this season, and he seems ready to adjust.

The Cleveland Cavaliers had a tremendous four-year run with LeBron James leading the team to the NBA Finals each season of his “Return” to Cleveland. Without him and a now a rotation that will feature more young players playing significant minutes, Tyronn Lue has hinted at the team playing differently at Cavs 2018-19 media day. The national media has its doubts about the Cavaliers without James, but their organizational mindset is not playing into that, as they intend to compete for an Eastern Conference playoff birth.

He showed a bit of his humorous side as well, and seems energized and ready for Cleveland to turn the page, and maybe defend their Eastern Conference title (we’ll see on that). Joe Vardon of The Athletic relayed that with this Tweet.

That being said, Lue noted that with young players, such as Collin Sexton, Cedi Osman, Larry Nance Jr. and others playing a ton of minutes this season, there will be growing pains. It’s going to be a process in 2018-19 for a much lesser-experienced rotation. Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal illustrated that Lue mindset heading into this season.

In terms of a different style, Lue seems to have really put an emphasis on pushing pace. That will help Sexton, Osman, Nance, Rodney Hood, Tristan Thompson and others have an easier time putting the ball in the basket. In most James-led teams, pushing the pace hasn’t been as much of a focus all the time.

It’s understandable, though. When you have LeBron James, getting him the ball has to be the primary focus, and Cleveland won’t have to do that this season on every possession.

This was what Lue had to say on that emphasis, per Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz.

Although he’s not going to the number one option (which will be Kevin Love), Osman will get his chance to showcase his improved playmaking and shooting. Look for Lue to feature him more and more as the season moves along.

He fits right into Lue’s preferred uptempo style, and will have a key role as one of Cleveland’s best defenders this season. In regards to the aforementioned Sexton, he’ll also be have his chances to prove he’s one of the best two-way players on this new Cleveland roster.

He’s not going to be affected by a potential Kyrie Irving shadow, as a young point guard with the same old Cavs number two, either, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.

From a general standpoint, Sexton and company should be an uber-competitive team and Lue sees young guys playing often as the best way for the Cavs to find out what they have, per Spencer Davies of Basketball Insiders. Experience is everything for development.

Nonetheless, this won’t be a season defined by tanking, if it’s up to Lue, and he’s ready for a new chapter post-James with Cleveland’s mix of young players and veterans.

Overall, Lue seemed ready to lead a franchise in the right direction, even after losing the NBA’s best player.

It won’t be easy for Cleveland to make the postseason, but Lue and the Cavs could do it if they’re willing to push the basketball more, play gritty defensively, and be patient in adjusting away from isolation-heavy ball.