Rodney Hood has basically been a non-factor for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the postseason, and his playing time has decreased with each series. After he got on the floor for four minutes in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Tyronn Lue says Hood will be called upon to contribute more in Game 3.
Lue told reporters on Tuesday that Hood is going to get an opportunity on Wednesday night, but the Cavs coach would not say if he is planning to make starting lineup changes.
Tyronn Lue: "We're going to give Rodney (Hood) a chance, see how he does."
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) June 5, 2018
Cavs Coach Ty Lue says Rodney Hood will get “a chance” during Game 3, that he’s been working hard in practices. Ty would not reveal if Cleveland willl have any starting lineup changes.
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) June 5, 2018
Hood technically got a “chance” in Game 2, but Lue must be talking about giving the 25-year-old more than just four minutes. Given the way the first two games have gone for Cleveland, that makes sense.
After he played horribly in the Cavs’ second-round sweep of the Toronto Raptors, Hood has basically been taken out of Lue’s rotation. He was a DNP in four of the last five games Cleveland played against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, and he didn’t touch the floor in Game 1 against the Warriors.
Hood is fortunate he wasn’t suspended or fined by the Cavs for the stunt he pulled earlier this postseason, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Lue knows his team needs a spark in order to have any chance of beating Golden State, so he might as well give Hood a shot.
