Live Thread: Cavs @ Kings (#TuneUp)

Life on the road isn’t always a smooth ride. Sometimes you need to take a pit stop for a quick tune up… especially after a fairly brutal back-to-back trip through some inclement weather. Even though they picked up a brand new part heading into this long journey into the west, the Cavs are still trying to find the time to integrate him properly. A general lack of test driving in practice has been dogging the team, dating back to when they were missing several key players due to injury and illness before embarking on this current six game tour. They did finally get a day yesterday to run some diagnostics, change the oil and rotate their proverbial tires before tonight’s stop in Sacramento to take on the Kings.

Ty Lue has decided to make some adjustments on the fly, installing Iman Shumpert in the starting rotation, replacing DeAndre Liggins who’s been the starter since J.R. Smith went down on December 21st. When asked about the shift when addressing the media today, Coach had this to say…

“I just wanted to do it.”

Though I’m not sure I completely agree with the rationale… or the move, Lue followed up by saying that he thinks Shump has maybe been trying to do too much with the second unit when he comes in, and might be more comfortable with the starters. You never know, it might also be an opportunity to showcase Shump if he’s part of David Griffin’s plan to bring in another playmaker soon. Lue also indicated that he was looking for ways to get Kyle Korver more time with the Big Three on the floor, and that he flirted with the idea of starting the newest addition as well… so, we’ll see how that plays out in the new Golden1 Arena.

While this game should provide the Cavs with one last opportunity for a well needed tune up before they pull into the Bay Area for their drag race with the Warriors, the one guy who might throw a monkey wrench into their plans could be DeMarcus Cousins. Boogie has been the engine that has propelled the Kings into the race for the eighth playoff seed in the Western Conference. The big man is averaging 28 points and over 10 rebounds per game this season, which will likely earn him a spot on this year’s All Star team. He’s also had help from Rudy Gay, Darren Collison and a resurgent Ty Lawson off the bench. Probably the biggest difference for this model of the Kings though has been the steady leadership of new head coach Dave Joerger.

Probable starting lineup for the Cavs: LeBron James, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert, Kyrie Irving. And, for the Kings: Rudy Gay, Anthony Tolliver, DeMarcus Cousins, Garrett Temple, Darren Collison.

Prediction: Cavs finally get their engine revving and hit on nearly all cylinders from downtown to race past the Kings 125-112.

Stay up late and catch all of the action on Fox Sports Ohio starting at 10:30pm EST (7:30 for you west coasters like me).