INDEPENDENCE — The Cleveland Cavaliers had 41 different starting lineups throughout the regular season. That was mostly due to injuries and major trades that shook up the roster at the deadline. But of those 41 different combinations, one has yet to stick out with the playoffs starting on Saturday.
As of now, head coach Kenny Atkinson isn’t ready to name a fifth starter to go alongside the core group of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. He was asked again after practice on Wednesday who the starting small forward would be, and declined to name one.
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“I don’t want to say something [now and then] we change [it],” Atkinson said on Wednesday.
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Atkinson mentioned that who that fifth starter would be is matchup dependent. And those matchups depend on who’s in the lineup for their opponent.
The Raptors’ starting point guard, Immanuel Quickley, has a hamstring injury. He participated in individual work on Wednesday, but his status is still day-to-day heading into the series. Quickley’s availability could impact who the Cavs insert into the fifth starting role.
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Atkinson has been steadfast in not naming a permanent starting small forward. Dean Wade, Max Strus, Sam Merrill, and Jaylon Tyson have all gotten looks this season in that role. Each brings something different to the table that could be useful, depending on who the opponent is.
Based on those comments, it seems like we won’t get an answer on who will start at the three until just before Game 1 on Saturday. And whoever starts isn’t guaranteed to do so throughout the entire postseason.
“That position is going to be flexible in terms of starting and finishing,” Atkinson said earlier this month. “You have to earn it.”
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