LeBron James: Cavaliers' Roster Shake-Up Hurt Team's Preparation for Playoffs

Coming off a blowout loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, LeBron James thinks the Cleveland Cavaliers' roster changes during the season hurt their ability to get ready for the postseason. 

Per ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin, James addressed the ways Cleveland used its lineup in the regular season:

"I think we spent so much time trying to figure out who we were in the regular season and getting the right lineups and guys in and out and things of that nature, we could never build for the playoffs. It was kind of like, build for the next game. So the postseason finally hit us and it hit us very well. And I think that can be the best teacher for us to know exactly what we should be ready for tonight."

The Cavaliers underwent a dramatic makeover at the trade deadline in February. They swapped in Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., Rodney Hood and George Hill for Dwyane Wade, Jae Crowder, Derrick Rose, Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and Iman Shumert. 

Cleveland used a total of 29 different starting lineups during the regular season. The most frequent starting lineup with its current roster was used seven times and includes James, Hill, Cedi Osman, JR Smith and Tristan Thompson.

Per Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue said the team was "looking" into making lineup changes before Game 2 against the Pacers on Wednesday.

James' 24 points in Cleveland's 98-80 Game 1 loss were nearly as many as the total of the other four starters combined (25).