Looking At The Playoff Rotation

It’s finally time. After meandering through the second half of the regular season, and frustrating their fans to know end, the Cleveland Cavaliers are set to begin the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The team is healthy, and has proclaimed themselves ready to go. After an injury-riddled regular season, they are somewhat close to healthy, as everyone on the roster is available to play. The question is, with five new players and a significantly altered bench from last season’s championship run, who will be a part of the playoff rotation?

Locked In: LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, J.R. Smith

As long as these guys are healthy, they’ll play in every game of every series. That LeBron James guy has shown that he is pretty good at basketball. After taking some time to get his legs back, Love is playing well. Smith had found his rhythm, but has seemingly lost it again over the last five games. Hopefully the renewed focus of the playoffs will help him. Irving’s knee has bothered him at times, but the biggest concern is his abysmal defense. Last year in the playoffs, Irving showed that he can be a capable defender when engaged. Can he do it again this year?

All But Definite: Tristan Thompson, Kyle Korver, Deron Williams

It’s hard to seen any of these three out of the rotation, but the possibility exists. Thompson recently suffered a sprained right thumb, and the tendon has been torn to the point that it has brought his consecutive games streak to an end at 447. While he will likely be able to play a in a few games before the playoffs, the possibility of a setback exists. Korver recently returned after experiencing foot issues that could potentially flare up. There may also be certain match ups that Tyronn Lue might not like for Korver defensively, but it’s unlikely that they are severe enough to put him on the outside of the rotation.

Unlike Thompson and Korver, Williams’s issues have nothing to do with injuries. While his shooting percentages and assist-to turnover ratio has been solid for the Cavs, Williams simply hasn’t had the kind of impact many would hope for. Playing backup point guard with limited minutes hasn’t seemed to suit his game. Williams’s defense has been nearly as weak as Irving’s and he has really helped reduce the minute load for Irving or James. In a vacuum, Williams is a better player than Matthew Dellavedova, but he isn’t nearly the fit Delly was. While one would expect him to play in every series, the Cavaliers have shown that they can be extremely effective without a true backup point guard.

Probably: Richard Jefferson

As Jason Lloyd pointed out last week, Jefferson’s struggles earlier in the season had caused the Cavaliers to begin forming plans on a playoff rotation that didn’t include the veteran. Since getting some rest at the All-Star break, Jefferson has been a much better, shooting 52% from the field and 43% from three. While by no means a lock down defender, Jefferson is a smart player with the versatility to guard both forward spots if needed. There really isn’t a potential playoff opponent that is a bad match up for him.

In And Out: Channing Frye, Iman Shumpert

As the Cavaliers’ third big man, Frye will likely play a role against most playoff opponents. His ability to stretch the floor typically outweighs his poor rebounding, and he’s extremely effective against the other teams’ benches. That being said, there are some teams (see: Warriors, Golden State), where Frye’s lack of mobility on defense will likely keep him on the bench. Shumpert’s issue is much more related to the quality of his play versus any particular match up. After shooting the ball well from deep during the first half of the season, Shumpert has come crashing back to Earth, shooting just 27% from three since the All-Star Break. He’s also gone back to trying to attack off the dribble, with the usual poor results. Even Shumpert’s vaunted defense has slipped to the point where he isn’t a significant asset on that end compared to the other wings in the rotation. Lue has stood by Shumpert during his struggles, but even he seems to be running out of patience. It wouldn’t be a big surprise to see Shumpert out of the rotation sooner or later, but in the playoffs, something always happens where a team needs to call on the end of its bench. If that’s where Shumpert is, hopefully he can stay ready and contribute if/when he is called upon.

Only In A Pinch: Derrick Williams, Walter Tavares, James Jones, Dahntay Jones

None of these guys are expected to be part of the playoff rotation, but all could contribute if needed. Williams brings athleticism and energy on the offensive end, and could be effective as a fourth big man who runs the floor. He was a part of the Cavs’ jumbo bench lineup that was extremely effective before Deron Williams was brought in. At 7’3″, Walter Tavares (nicknamed Edy), had a terrific first game with the Cavaliers, and has proven to be an excellent rim protector with the Raptors 905 of the D-League. He’s also a solid finisher and surprisingly good from the line, but is relatively mediocre rebounding compared to other NBA big men who have spent time in the D-League. James Jones will be able to spread the floor on offense until the day he walks away from the league, but he isn’t quick enough to guard wings or strong enough to guard big men, despite solid effort on the defensive end. The signing of Dahntay Jones is a bit of a surprise, if only because he hasn’t played in a professional basketball game since the 2016 Finals. Last season, he played with the Grand Rapid Drive of the NBA D-League. This year? He has been sitting at home. It’s hard to imagine that he can have a greater impact than the defense DeAndre Liggins could provide. Still…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whnWWOmKJBg

Not Happening: Kay Felder

Felder simply isn’t ready to contribute to an NBA team, much less one hoping to win a championship. Maybe that time will come, he’s played well for the Canton Charge and has had some flashes with the Cavaliers, but he still has a lot of work to do before he gets there.

If there’s one thing the 2016-17 Cleveland Cavaliers have taught us, it’s to expect the unexpected. The rotation moves these playoffs may very well be no different. Whatever happens, whether they are bounced in the first round or repeat as champions, the 2017 NBA playoffs will undoubtedly be memorable for Cavalier fans everywhere.