CLEVELAND -- Following an ankle injury suffered by Tristan Thompson, the Cleveland Cavaliers will unveil a new-look starting lineup against the Detroit Pistons lineup on Monday night. But new first-string center Larry Nance Jr. won't be the only Cavs player making his starting debut for Cleveland against Detroit.
Prior to tip-off, Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue revealed that Rodney Hood will replace Cedi Osman in his team's starting lineup. Nance Jr. and Hood will be joined by Cleveland's three other traditional starters: LeBron James, J.R. Smith and George Hill.
According to Lue, the move was made in hopes of getting Hood open shots while playing alongside James. Osman, who has started the past 9 games, will remain a part of the Cavs' rotation and is expected to fill the energy role off the bench that was formerly filled by Nance Jr.
"He gives us that same boost and that same energy off the bench, defensively," Lue said of Osman, a rookie out of Turkey.
Thanks to a combination of trades and injuries, the Cavs' lineup has remained in flux dating back to the start of the season. Since making a series of trade deadline deals in which it sent away five players and acquired four new ones -- including Nance Jr., Hood and Hill -- Cleveland has stuck with a lineup that featured Thompson at center, James and Osman at forward and Smith and Hill at guard.
The lineup saw initial success, with the Cavs winning their first two games following the arrivals of their trade deadline acquisitions. Cleveland, however, has lost four of its past six games, including each of its last two.
With their new-look lineup, the Cavs will look to end their two-game losing streak on Tuesday, when they host a Pistons team fighting to secure its postseason future. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
