Thomas content to see his minutes staggered with LeBron's
The Cleveland Cavaliers have given themselves an opportunity to breathe after winning consecutive games for the first time since mid-December.
As the Cavaliers continue to adjust the rotation to fit Isaiah Thomas, head coach Tyronn Lue will look to give the point guard a chance to play separately from LeBron James to allow both players to run the offense.
It worked during Cleveland's 121-104 win against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday. Thomas played the entire third quarter, the final five minutes of which were without James. Then in the final frame, James played 11 minutes as Thomas sat and watched from the bench as the Cavaliers pulled away.
Handing the keys to James and Thomas at varying moments seemed to work, and the diminutive ball-handler understands it's the best way to get the offense rolling.
"We talked about it, so I think that needs to happen," Thomas said, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "My minutes just can't be with LeBron at all times. We got to play to our strengths. Just like Chris Paul and James Harden, they don't play together at all times.
"We got to play to our strengths. Kyrie (Irving) last year, they didn't play together at all times. So he's figuring it out, and we're figuring it out as a unit, how to use our strengths, and at the same time, we know for the most part we start games together, finish games together, and we go from there. So it's a learning process, and we're still learning each other. I'm still learning this team, and Ty Lue is still learning how to use me and use me to the best of my ability."
In nine appearances prior to Sunday night, lineups that include both James and Thomas have a net rating of minus-18.6 in 193 minutes. More than 84 percent of Thomas' minutes have been with James on the floor. Against the Pistons, just 67 percent of his minutes came alongside The King.
Cleveland squares off against Detroit again Tuesday night.