Tristan Thompson Replaces Mike Miller in Starting Lineup for Cavaliers vs. Bulls

The Cleveland Cavaliers announced they have replaced Mike Miller with Tristan Thompson in the starting lineup ahead of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, according to Bob Finnan of The News-Herald.

Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group reports the Cavs want to create a more standard starting lineup after losing Game 1 99-92. The move will allow LeBron James to play his more typical role at small forward from the opening tip:

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In an attempt to split the series at home, Cavaliers coach David Blatt will start Tristan Thompson in Game 2 against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, league sources informed Northeast Ohio Media Group.

Sources spoke on the condition of anonymity. Thompson will make his first postseason start at power forward, pairing up with LeBron James and Timofey Mozgov in the frontcourt, one source said.

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It's not a swap that comes as much of a surprise. Cleveland fell behind by 12 points in the first quarter of the opener. The matchup with a smaller frontcourt against the combination of Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol didn't work in the team's favor.

As a result, Thompson ended up playing 37 minutes compared to 16 for Miller. The Cavaliers were plus-four with the bigger body on the floor compared to minus-20 with the veteran swingman. Essentially, the Cavs are trading three-point shooting and spacing for offensive rebounding and size.

It's a situation that also showcases the loss of Kevin Love. His shoulder injury has made finding the right combination of players far more difficult.

The resurgence of Derrick Rose has turned this series into a much tougher matchup for Cleveland than it looked coming into the postseason. His injury woes have dominated headlines in recent years, but he's a difference-maker when healthy. In Game 1, he led Chicago with 25 points to go along with five rebounds and five assists.

Now, the Cavaliers are hoping a more traditional lineup can help them level the series. Heading to Chicago down 2-0 would obviously put the Eastern Conference favorites in serious danger.