With Dean Wade out three or four weeks with a shoulder injury, the Cavaliers started Mamadi Diakite against the Knicks on Sunday, Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer tweets. Diakite made one previous start this season as a fill-in for Jarrett Allen. The third-year big man out of Virginia, who went scoreless in 11 minutes, is on a two-way deal.
We have more from the Central Division:
- Bulls coach Billy Donovan moved Patrick Williams and Ayo Dosunmu to the second unit and Donovan believes it could facilitate their development, particularly the young power forward, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes. “This may actually help his development, putting him in some situations where he can be a little more aggressive. I still think the development part for him is in place,” Donovan said.
- Despite the lineup changes, the Bulls aren’t going anywhere unless Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic do a better job of blending their talents, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago writes. LaVine concurs with that assessment. “Coach got to make his decisions, but you know the best players on the team, we got to be the ones that make the plays,” LaVine said. “On bad days, take the criticism. Good days, make sure to help us win. Play defense. Make the shot. That’s what you do. That’s why you’re in position to do this. It’s a player-driven league. I think it always starts from top to bottom.”
- Andrew Nembhard has been a solid presence at both ends for the Pacers during his rookie campaign, Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files notes. The Pacers signed the first pick of the second round to a four-year deal that is fully guaranteed for three full seasons and $6.4MM, a record amount for a second-rounder coming out of college. Nembhard, who hit a game-winning 3-pointer against the Lakers, is averaging 7.4 PPG and 3.4 APG in 21.9 MPG.
- Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton missed Sunday’s game due to a sore groin, Agness tweets. It’s the first game he missed since being acquired from Sacramento last season.
Cleveland Cavaliers starting to get hit hard by injuries. Hopefully Jarrett Allen can get healthy and sure up that Center Position. The Small Forward position has been a revolving door. I honestly think they need to make a trade to shore up that position. Jarrett Allen Evan Mobley Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell is the core but they need a Small Forward that can defend multiple positions and knock down the open three.
…so do the 29 other teams!
I’m loving what I’m seeing out of the Indiana Pacers. This team is headed in the right direction. I hate what I see in the Chicago Bulls because they headed in the wrong direction and they not built right at all. I’m not sure what they going to do but whatever it is it better be funky.
The Cleveland Cavaliers might need to trade for somebody like Saddiq Bey or Jae Crowder.
I’d be starting Dragic with Lavine. Puts pressure on the Bench, those guys need pressure, or more development time, so either way it seems like a good idea. I doubt Dragic is starter minutes reliable, but they need to change something. Teams are loading up on Derozan. Ayo has played good in his sophomore season, and I’m okay with him starting also. Williams can definitely go to the Bench, and probably needs to. Somebody on the Bench, beyond Dragic, needs to show up consistently. I think its a good move for Williams’ development, and good for Chicago long term.