Fansided

How Semi Ojeleye ruined the Cavaliers’ game plan

By Jason Patt

BOSTON, MA - MAY 23: Head coach Tyronn Lue of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the second half against the Boston Celtics during Game Five of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 23, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 23: Head coach Tyronn Lue of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the second half against the Boston Celtics during Game Five of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 23, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Tyronn Lue’s explanation for not playing Kyle Korver as much as expected in Game 5 doesn’t make too much sense.

As the Cleveland Cavaliers floundered in the first quarter of their 96-83 Game 5 loss to the Boston Celtics, many were wondering the same thing: Where the heck was Kyle Korver?

The Cavaliers’ offense was stuck in the mud after an initial quick burst out of the gates. After going up 12-9 with 7:30 left in the opening quarter, Cleveland managed just seven points the rest of the frame and found itself down by 13 points by the end of the quarter. Korver stayed glued to the bench the entire time as Tyronn Lue went to Larry Nance Jr. and Jeff Green first off the pine.

This despite Korver being a key part of the Cavaliers’ prior two victories. This despite the Cavaliers’ starting backcourt of George Hill and J.R. Smith providing literally almost nothing while playing the entire quarter. Korver finally entered the game to start the second quarter, but Cleveland was already in that deep hole. When asked about the failure to get Korver in quicker, Lue offered up a truly bizarre answer:

This is the same Semi Ojeleye who had played 53 minutes in the last four games and had been ineffective. Why would a fringe rotation player dictate the usage of arguably the Cavaliers’ third-best player? It makes so little sense that there’s almost no way it can actually be true.

Cleveland still hung around a bit and entered halftime down 11 points. Lue could have made an adjustment and started Korver in the second half to counter Brad Stevens going big with Aron Baynes in the starting lineup, or the Cavaliers head coach could have at least gone to Korver more quickly in the third quarter.

Instead, Cleveland’s offense scuffled again and Korver didn’t return to the game until there were less than two minutes left in the quarter and the margin was 16 points. Furthermore, Korver subbed in for LeBron James, which takes away some of the sharpshooter’s value.

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Korver finished with only 19 minutes. While he didn’t put up a huge stat line with seven points on 2-of-6 shooting, his mere presence opens things up for the Cavaliers’ attack. Cleveland shot 9-of-34 from 3 and struggled to get quality looks all night:

Playing Korver more may not have changed the outcome, but it was still strange to see him play so little in such a pivotal game. Korver, LeBron and Kevin Love played just four minutes together, and while they struggled in those four minutes, that’s an extremely small sample size and you’d think Lue would want to play his best guys more minutes together.

Expect to see more Korver in Game 6, Ojeleye or no Ojeleye, because Semi Ojeleye shouldn’t matter.

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