Cavaliers Coach Tyronn Lue Values Team’s Health Over Playoff Seeding

David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

With the end of the 2015-16 NBA season right around the corner, the Cleveland Cavaliers are barely holding onto the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. The Toronto Raptors are only a game back of the Cavaliers and could end up being the top seed in the conference when it is all said and done.

Head coach Tyronn Lue talked about the team’s current position in the East standings and how he values the team’s health over where they finish at the end of the regular season via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:

“We definitely want the No. 1 seed if we can get it, but I think we have to rest our guys also,” Lue said after the team’s shootaround Monday morning. “I think health going into the playoffs is more important than the seeding. If we’re fortunate enough to get the No. 1 seed, it will be great for us. But if not, then we just got to play through it.”

As of Monday, the Cavaliers have 13 games left on their regular-season schedule. If Lue’s statement is true, the team may elect to rest some of their star players like Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, and Kevin Love before heading into the playoffs.

Ironically enough, Cleveland is coming off a loss to the Miami Heat, which left LeBron concerned. James expressed concern about the loss due to the fact the Cavaliers have lost to the Heat in all four matchups since LeBron returned to the team.

Along with being 0-4 against the Heat since LeBron’s return, Cleveland can’t seem to find a way to win in Miami. The Cavaliers have lost 11 straight games in Miami which obviously doesn’t bode well for Cleveland if these two teams meet in the postseason.