CLEVELAND -- Heading into NBA Finals, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue isn't ready to commit to a starting lineup just yet. That's largely because he's still unsure whether or not his team will have one of its biggest pieces available to start the series.
According to Lue, Kevin Love remains in concussion protocol following his collision with Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Love proceeded to miss Game 7 with "concussion-like symptoms," although he was in the building to celebrate the Cavs' 87-79 victory, which clinched a fourth straight trip to the NBA FInals, where Cleveland will once again face the Golden State Warriors.
In Love's absence against Boston on Sunday, Lue started veteran forward Jeff Green, who scored 19 points in 42 minutes, including Cleveland's final go-ahead 3-point shot with 5:44 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Should Love be available to play in Game 1 against the Warriors, Lue will have a decision on his hands in regards to who to start alongside him in the Cavs' frontcourt. The third-year Cleveland head coach could opt to play Love next to center Tristan Thompson -- as he did for five games against the Celtics -- or return to a smaller unit featuring Love at center and either Green or Kyle Korver in the Cavs' starting lineup.
Lue's decision could potentially come down to the availability of Golden State forward Andre Iguodala. The 2015 NBA Finals MVP missed the final four games of the Warriors' Western Conference Finals against the Houston Rockets due to what is being labeled as a left lateral leg contusion.
Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals between the Cavs and Warriors will take place on Thursday night, with tip-off scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.