Celtics guard Marcus Smart said his thumb will be reevaluated Tuesday in New York and he's hoping to be cleared for contact at that point. Smart said he could be available for a potential Game 6 against the Bucks, if cleared.
Agree. NBA fans don't know Jazz' Igor Kokoskov like we do but has been in NBA since 2000. twitter.com/ryanpannone/st…
Celtics coach Brad Stevens said he won't make any changes to his starting 5 for Game 4. Stevens said his team simply needs to match the intensity that Milwaukee displayed in Game 3. Stevens: “If intensity levels are at different levels you're not winning."
George Hill remains questionable for Game 4 because of back spasms. The good news is the MRI he underwent on Saturday revealed no structural damage. Tyronn Lue said he will start Jose Calderon at point guard if Hill cannot play, rather than just shift point guard duties onto LeBron James. "I don't want LeBron to have to do everything," Lue said at Sunday's shootaround. "Have to handle the ball and make the plays. It will be a stretch where LeBron will be playing the point, we know that for sure, but not to start the game."
Tyronn Lue said he thinks Game 4 will be the time to work Tristan Thompson into his rotation. "I can trust him," Lue said of Thompson. "I think Tristan can also get us extra possessions offensive rebounding. He brings toughness and that's been a problem last couple games. I think he brings toughness, rebounding, defense." Thompson has just two garbage-time minutes in the series so far. Last year, he averaged 8.2 points on 58.7 percent shooting, 8.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists, starting 18 games for Cleveland during its run to the Finals.
The Cavaliers were outscored in the third quarter by 11 points in their Game 3 loss to the Indiana Pacers. LeBron James said it's been a recurring problem for Cleveland. "I mean we've had horrible third quarters all season,' James said at shootaround Sunday morning. "If I could put my finger on it, we'd change it. So you just hope going into the next time, coming out of the break that you play better."
John Henson (back soreness) will not play today in Game 4.
LeBron says the Cavaliers have been bad in the 3rd quarter all year and that needs to change tonight. He adds his legacy is more than basketball.
LeBron says they have to score more, but pleased with their defense.
Coach Lue speaks before practice.
Lebron practicing before a very important Game 4.
Great news for Australian NBL which is on the rise. @SydneyKings announcing Monday the signing of former NBA No.1 p… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
On This Date: LeBron James puts together his first playoff triple-double of his career in 2006. pic.twitter.com/qHMtnx8Hlx
Liked Quin's decision to slide Rubio onto Felton/Abrines so they could switch more Russ-PG-Melo stuff -- something… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
Anthony Davis went OFF, giving the Pelicans their first playoff win since 2008. pic.twitter.com/l4pTNRfAZN
Covered Super-Bowl winning teams, but never got a post-game shower quite like this, via Utah Jazz. pic.twitter.com/YuaoJY2FTD
Russell Westbrook was seen getting some treatment in his upper body in the second half and was asked if he's dealing with any kind of injury: "A lot of s--- going on with my body, but that's everybody right now."
Westbrook on Ricky Rubio getting hot from midrange: "He made shots. [He got] too comfortable. But I'm gonna shut that s--- off next game though. Guarantee that."
Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell is close friends with his former Louisville classmate Lamar Jackson, spoke to him Frida… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
Ricky Rubio with the triple-double against the triple-double king 👑 pic.twitter.com/RmkXLwv881
Paul George has come out very assertive in the fourth. And he needs to be. With Westbrook struggling, it's going to be up to George to carry OKC's scoring.
