Jeff Green to start for Cavaliers in playoffs

Jeff Green is going to start for the Cavaliers now and when the playoffs kickoff in a little more than a week.

“Yes,” Lue said when asked if he had settled on Green as a starter. “I just like his versatility. I just think defensive wise, you can put him on [DeMar] DeRozan, you can put him on John Wall, Bradley Beal. You can put him on [Victor] Oladipo. I just like that we can switch a lot of one-through-four stuff [with him] and it gives us another ball handler on the floor, too, at times. I just think it’s the right thing for us to start.”

Heading into Thursday’s game against the Wizards, Green has started in nine of the 74 games he has appeared in. He is averaging 10.5 points and 3.2 rebounds in 23.2 minutes per game.

The names Lue isn’t mentioning — the likes James Harden and Kevin Durant — are also why Green is starting. This year, the Cavs have used Green as their defensive stopper for LeBron James can play off ball on defense. If the Cavaliers get to the Finals again, and play the Warriors or Rockets, Green is going to draw the toughest assignment so James can roam.

Green being named a starter means Kevin Love will start at center with Larry Nance Jr. and Tristan Thompson both coming off the bench.

Lue also said that Cedi Osman will start in place of the injured Jose Calderon against the Wizards.