CLEVELAND _ The Cavaliers still have work to do to find a comfort zone regarding their new-look rotation and offensive and defensive sets, which hasn't been made easier by injuries and disruptions.
Already, though, the Cavs and coach Tyronn Lue have had to adjust their course beyond waiting for injured point guard Isaiah Thomas to return. Derrick Rose, starting at point until Thomas is back, came down awkwardly on his left ankle in Friday night's 116-97 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Lue again on Saturday called "just a sprain."
For now, according to Lue, the Cavs don't have a working timetable for Rose's return. And so the mission to find the right rotation and what sets he likes will be given another speed bump.
"It makes it tough, but injuries are a part of the game," Lue said. "So you have to be able to play through it. You have to game plan through it and that's what we're doing now."
With Rose out, Jose Calderon was thrust into the starting lineup Saturday night against the Orlando Magic, joining Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Jae Crowder and Kevin Love. Lue is leaning on the veteran presence Calderon can bring to the position.
"Just professional, knows how to play," Lue said of Calderon. "Very solid, very steady. He's all about the team, so whatever the team needs. Last game (preseason) we played, he played pretty well. Had 18 points, made some big shots. This is why you have veteran guys who come in ready to play."
Lue also wanted to ensure that whoever started at point guard could handle the flow of the offense instead of immediately putting that responsibility on James or Wade earlier in games.
"(Calderon) can run the plays, run the sets, get us organized early, and then you can always go to LeBron or D-Wade at the backup point," Lue said. "To start the game, you don't want to put that kind of pressure on those guys to handle the ball every possession."
