After a couple of dismal games from J.R. Smith and his well-storied inconsistencies throughout this postseason, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue plans to switch it up this time around. Hello there, Rodney Hood.
Lue plans to give his seldom-used shooting guard Rodney Hood a shot in Game 3, hoping he can provide the spark this team needs to level this series against the Golden State Warriors.
“We’re going to give Rodney (Hood) a chance, see how he does,” said Lue, according to Connor LeTourneau of The San Francisco Chronicle.
Hood has only played a total of 37 total minutes after refusing to go into a blowout Game 4 of the Toronto Raptors, likely putting him in Lue’s doghouse after the team decided not to fine him for his gambit.
The 25-year-old lefty saw a short cameo on Sunday’s Game 2, with four minutes of garbage time, logging two points, a rebound, and an assist in his short bit of action — yet Lue has been giving Smith major minutes that have only combined into woeful shooting percentages, missed opportunities, and a horrible gaffe that could go down the history books as what kickstarted a ghastly NBA Finals.
Hood is shooting a feeble 3-of-20 from distance this postseason, but shot well all-around in the Cavs’ first-round series against the Indiana Pacers.
Lue doesn’t have very many weapons to replace Smith with, as Korver has only one made shot through two games, and Smith isn’t helping his case, shooting 5-of-15 from the floor, 3-of-10 from deep, and likely costing the Cavs a Game 1 win.