Sources: Cavs to start Thompson in Game 2
CLEVELAND — Cavaliers coach David Blatt is planning to change his starting lineup by inserting Tristan Thompson for Game 2 against the Chicago Bulls, sources confirmed to ESPN.com.
Thompson will replace Mike Miller, who struggled starting in place of the injured Kevin Love in the Bulls’ 97-92 Game 1 victory. Thompson started 15 games during the regular season, averaging 12.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in that role. He finished fourth in the recent sixth man of the year voting.
Miller had five rebounds and hit a 3-pointer in Game 1, but the Cavs were outscored by 20 points with him on the floor. The Cavs were a plus-5 in Thompson’s 37 minutes in Game 1.
Blatt initially went with Miller to enable the Cavs to spread the floor and allow for more driving lanes for LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. The Cavs, however, struggled defensively in that setup with Miller having issues defending Mike Dunleavy and James forced to defend at the power forward position.
It is unclear who Blatt intends to use as a backup center with Thompson now starting alongside Timofey Mozgov, and it’s possible that midseason pickup Kendrick Perkins could get some playing time.
Thompson is averaging 6.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in 28 minutes in the first five postseason games of his career.
The lineup change was earlier reported by Cleveland.com.
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