When the Cleveland Cavaliers rest their Big Three, people notice.
After the Cavs' 108-78 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night -- a game in which coach Tyronn Lue rested LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving -- the NBA league office, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Dave McMenamin, called Cleveland general manager David Griffin to express its disdain.
The Cavs' Big Three returned to the lineup Sunday and combined to score 101 points in a 125-120 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. After the game, James chimed in on the matter and made his position clear.
"I don't think the NBA can do anything about it," James said. "At the end of the day, it sucks at times where certain guys have to rest, but certain guys need rest."
Does James have a fair point? Or should fans expect superstars to play every night?
The decision to sit Love and Irving against the Clippers was strictly due to health issues. With the Cavs' star point guard and forward sitting out, Lue decided to make James a healthy scratch.
"He wants to play," Lue said of James before Saturday's game. "He was mad, but I just thought for him it was the right decision -- not to go out there and try to carry the whole load by himself and playing more minutes. I just think getting those two back tomorrow and getting on the same page is good for us, instead of just trying to play him when Kevin can't play in a back-to-back and Kyrie can't play in the back-to-back."
To no one's surprise, the Cavs are a different team without their Big Three on the floor, including an 0-6 mark when James hasn't played this season.
-- Isaac Chipps
