The Cleveland Cavaliers are feeling the effects of making a deep run into the postseason, and they reportedly want David Blatt to start lightening the load.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, there have been rumblings within Cleveland’s locker room that Blatt needs to start using a deeper rotation in the NBA Finals to give his starters and top reserves some rest.
The Cavs are indeed playing with a lot of grit in these Finals — that the series is tied 2-2 despite their decimating injuries is a statement. But there is also a strong feeling within the team, multiple sources said, that coach David Blatt could rely more on the veterans he’s been leaving unused on the bench.
…With several players, James and (Matthew) Dellavedova especially, looking worn down from the demands in the playoffs, players have begun to privately grumble that Blatt needs to use his whole roster.
Blatt used just seven players in Game 4 on Thursday night before the game turned into a blowout, at which point he started subbing out his regulars. He used eight players in the first three games of the series, though Mike Miller (the eighth) played sparingly.
Dellavedova, who is averaging 30.8 minutes per game in the NBA Finals after averaging 31.0 in the Eastern Conference Finals, was treated for dehydration following Game 3 and later released from the hospital. LeBron is playing an insane 45.8 minutes per game in the Finals, and that number would be higher if Game 4 remained more competitive.
Windhorst also reports that veteran forward Shawn Marion is “itching” to make an appearance in the Finals, though he has been battling a calf injury and dealt with a hip injury during the regular season.
Late Thursday night, LeBron sounded open to the idea of using a deeper rotation.
“That’s the coach’s decision if he decides he wants to go deeper in the bench,” James said. “We haven’t played many guys throughout this playoff run. I think it would help some of the guys that are playing some high minutes, for sure. Just give guys a couple minutes here, a couple minutes there. But I think the coaching staff will try to do what’s best to help us be physically and mentally prepared for Sunday.”
Blatt’s rotation will depend on the flow of the game, as it should. LeBron at 80 percent is still better than most (all) players on the Cavs roster, so you can understand Blatt wanting to stick with what works. But if key players keep going down with injuries like this, not using enough bench players could come back to bite Cleveland.
