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T-Mac: Lue sat Cavs' Big 3 vs. Clippers to help Doc Rivers

NBA on ESPN/Twitter

The Cleveland Cavaliers drew a lot of ire from the basketball world for sitting LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving during Saturday's eventual 30-point loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Head coach Tyronn Lue told reporters prior to tipoff that he was resting his stars on the first night of a back-to-back slate, despite the game airing to a national audience on ABC. This resulted in the league coming down hard on GM David Griffin, even though it was ultimately Lue's call.

Former All-Star and current ESPN analyst Tracy McGrady offered a conspiracy theory during Wednesday's telecast, suggesting that Lue's decision was an assist to Clippers president and head coach Doc Rivers.

"This is my opinion on why I think these guys sat out. I look at the history. I look at who Ty Lue played for in Orlando. I look at who he coached under who was his mentor," McGrady said.

"Coming into his house, the Clippers were struggling. They're trying to get that fourth seed. And I think he (Lue) threw him (Rivers) a bone. Because why wouldn't you play your best players against the tougher team, and then let them rest on a back-to-back against the Lakers? If those three guys sit, you still are capable of winning that game."

Lue was a starter for the Magic during the 2003-04 campaign, the final year Rivers served as their coach. He also worked on Rivers' staff with the Clippers in 2013-14 before moving on to the Cavaliers as an associate head coach.

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