Lonzo Ball sat out despite being available as Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson explained the move was about managing his health over a busy stretch.
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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Lonzo Ball was a surprise absence in Monday night's win over the San Antonio Spurs, even though he was healthy and available.
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The 113-101 victory snapped a two-game losing streak, but Ball watched from the sidelines as head coach Kenny Atkinson chose to adjust the rotation.
After the game, Atkinson explained that the decision was about the long-term plan and keeping Ball fresh during a busy stretch of the schedule.
“We wanted to look at some different combinations, but also, with Zo, I just have a big picture thing,” Atkinson said per ClutchPoints. “Just keeping him healthy and fresh. It was kinda two-fold, the reason. I spoke to him.”
“We need him healthy and available, and he has been so far, but I want to keep that going. I know we don't have back-to-backs, but we're playing every other day. So at a certain point, I need to find him some games [to rest]. “I talked to him about it, and it just happened to fall on [Monday].”
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Cavaliers will play every other day for the next three weeks, which Atkinson believes makes rest even more important, especially with the postseason in mind. Ball has been active all season, but the coaching staff is clearly trying to manage his workload carefully.
On the court, Ball has had an uneven impact. His defense and passing have stood out, but his shooting has been a problem.
He has struggled to finish plays, and some shot attempts have hurt the flow of the offense. Still, there are moments where Ball looks like an elite point guard, moving the ball and raising the level of the team.
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