The Cleveland Cavaliers have three games left in the regular season.
However, they have nothing to play for at this point.
They’ve already secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and they will have to wait until after the Play-In Tournament to know who’s going to be their next opponent.
That brings a question as old as time: Rest or Rust?
When asked whether he would rest the starters for the final three games of the season, coach Kenny Atkinson claimed that the coaching staff still needed to figure out the best approach:
“We have to figure it out,” Atkinson said. “We have to be concerned about ourselves and what will prepare us best (for) the playoffs. There are various options on the table. It’s a collaborative thing. The players are a part of this (decision). I do want to make sure the guys who are nicked up (get some rest). We’ll have to think hard about what we’re going to do.”
The Cavs haven’t been as good over the past two or three weeks.
They seemingly took their foot off the gas once it became evident that they were going to be the top seed in the conference.
Of course, that’s good if they manage to stay healthy, as they’ve already proven that they can beat any team in the game.
Nonetheless, that could also lead to trouble because the team took the intensity down a notch, and not every team or player can flip the switch and enter playoff mode.
When they’re at their best, the Cavs are a dominant force on both ends of the court and a force to be reckoned with.
When they’re not locked in, they’re a first-round exit.
This will be a tough test for Kenny Atkinson ahead of the postseason, and you never want to enter the playoffs with doubts or looking like a team in decline.
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