Like many teams this season, the Cavaliers have been bit by the injury bug, with All-Star Kevin Love the most glaring omission from the line-up for most of this year’s campaign. In a recent game against Chicago, the Cavs were without six rotation players – Love, Kyle Korver, Larry Nance Jr., Rodney Hood, Tristan Thompson, and Cedi Osman.
Moreover, Cavaliers’ head coach Tyronn Lue remains out with health issues. Yet, things are now beginning to turn around. Osman and Korver remain out, but Love returned earlier this week and, as reported by Joe Vardon of The Plain Dealer, Nance Jr., Hood, and Thompson all returned for tonight’s game against Phoenix, albeit on minutes restrictions.
Vardon adds that there is still no word on whether Lue will join the Cavaliers on an upcoming three-game road trip, with interim coach Larry Drew stating, “I haven’t heard anything. I’m just going to proceed and take it a game at a time until I hear something different.”
There’s more from the Central Division:
- In another article for The Plain Dealer, Vardon details LeBron James‘ response to Cavaliers‘ fans putting up a billboard in James’ favor in his hometown of Akron, OH. “I haven’t seen it, but, like I said before, it’s very flattering. It’s just, I don’t know, it’s very humbling. I know my hometown, so, I already know there’s no place like Akron, that’s for sure.”
- Sam Smith of Bulls.com takes a look at how Bulls‘ big man Cristiano Felicio is looking to improve his game to show he deserves the $32MM contract Chicago gave him over the summer. “I know a lot of people talk whatever they want to. I am not focusing on them. I am just focusing on myself and trying to get better. I know I wasn’t playing well at the beginning of the season (but) now they are giving me an opportunity again, and I am trying to show, go out and show them I can play.”
- It may have taken awhile, but Pistons‘ rookie shooting guard Luke Kennard is now firmly entrenched in the Pistons’ rotation and is an important part of Detroit’s future, writes Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. Teammate Blake Griffin likes what he’s seen out of Kennard lately, saying, “He’s been great this stretch. Not only scoring the ball but running offense with poise when he has it, playing good defense, being in passing lanes, passing the ball well. He’s done everything. He’s very capable of doing that and it’s been huge for us.”
Kennard should start next year.
Agree. Jackson (if healthy), Kennard, Johnson (if he ever learns to shoot), Griffin and Drummond could be a very good starting 5
Bullock has been the guy that has surprised this season with his shooting, Johnson may have more potential since he is a better athlete but if he can’t make open 3s he will hurt them. With Blake and Drummond and Jackson they can’t have the other 2 spots be bad or even average shooters they need good. Bullock has been good, kennard looks like a 7th man on a good team but he is still young, the media and fans give up on players so quickly now if they don’t produce right away they get called busts but really it’s all about getting consistent minutes and staying healthy then you can evaluate. I like Blake and Drummond but I just don’t think Jackson is gonna be the guy to make them a playoff team. The most interesting piece they have is Jon leuer who is hurt but that guy got his contract for good reason he is long, mobile, can shoot and he is a much better athlete than people realize, but If he doesn’t stay healthy it won’t matter.
Bullock has had good prorated numbers for the last several years. SVG finally got it.
—
@Gary you manatee come at me bro. You got me on Ian Clark. But not Kennard