Just about everything that could go wrong for the Cavaliers in the month of January has gone wrong. Whether it’s been the team’s run of poor form — it is 3-7 since the calendar turned to 2018 — or the fact that there are tensions in the locker room, it’s been a rough time in Cleveland.
Amid all these struggles, something has to change. It might be as simple as flipping a switch, but more likely, it involves making a more drastic move, as evidenced by the fact that the Cavaliers seem to be doing their due diligence when it comes to examining trades.
One move that has not been made is a switch to the team’s lineup. Ty Lue has been asked in the past and said he has no intention of changing the team’s rotation, but after the Cavaliers lost to the Kawhi Leonard-less San Antonio Spurs by 12 on Tuesday night, Lue changed his tune, announcing that he will mix up his lineup.
Ty Lue on his lineups after another loss: “I’m going to make a change.” He would not reveal what.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 24, 2018
Cleveland has been trotting out a lineup of Isaiah Thomas, J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Jae Crowder, and Kevin Love over its last four games, with everyone but Thomas starting at least 42 games this season. Smith, who has struggled mightily this year, seems like the most likely candidate to be relegated to the bench, but it remains to be seen what Lue actually plans to do.
