Isaiah Thomas Benched for 4th Quarter to Keep Separate from LeBron James

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue kept Isaiah Thomas on the bench during the fourth quarter of Sunday's win over the Detroit Pistons at Quicken Loans Arena in an effort to stagger his minutes with those of LeBron James.    

"We talked about it, so I think that needs to happen," Thomas told reporters after the game. "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," he continued. "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."

Thomas, who has struggled since his return from a hip injury in January, had 14 points and seven assists in the 121-104 victory. He played the entire third quarter before sitting out the fourth.

Teams have outscored the Cavs by 15 points per 100 possessions when James and Thomas have shared the floor this season. Part of that is an understandable adjustment—Thomas has looked like a shell of himself thus far—but the two are also an imperfect on-court match.

Thomas, like Irving before him, needs the ball in his hands to be successful. Unlike Irving, though, Thomas does not command as much attention when he plays away from the rock. His 5'9" size allows defenses to feel more comfortable stepping away for help defense, since they know it doesn't take as much effort to close out. 

"I think Ty, what he's been doing, he's trying to get guys in a rhythm," Kyle Korver said. "He's in a tough spot. He's trying to find, trying to get guys in rhythm, but he's also trying to feel the game. He sees someone gets hot, he rides them.

"He usually does that. And, but he's in a tough spot. I.T.'s finding his rhythm, different lineups are finding their rhythm, and that's what the regular season is for, is for us to figure out what's best."

Opponents were outscoring the Cavaliers' former starting lineup of Thomas, James, Jae Crowder, Kevin Love and JR Smith by 22.3 points per 100 possessions. 

On Thursday, following a four-game losing streak, Lue made a switch by putting Tristan Thompson—who started 78 games last season—in the lineup in place of Crowder.      

Stats courtesy of NBA.com.