Cavs’ Kenny Atkinson reveals the reason for Lonzo Ball’s DNP-CD against the Spurs

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Lonzo Ball didn’t play in Monday night’s impressive win against the San Antonio Spurs, prompting questions about his status in the team’s rotation. Craig Porter Jr. got the nod from the bench when he was inactive for the backs, but that was not the case this time. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson made the decision to sit Ball as an active player for the first time this season.

After the 113-101 win that snapped a two-game skid, Atkinson explained his position.

“We wanted to look at some different combinations, but also, with ‘Zo, I just have the big picture,” Atkinson said. “Just to keep him healthy and fresh. That was a two-fold reason. I talked to him. We need him healthy and available, and he has been so far, but I want to keep it going. I know we don’t have back-to-back players, but we play every other day. So at some point I have to find him some games (to rest).

“I talked to him about it, and it happened to fall on Monday (Monday).”

The Cavs play every other day for the next three weeks, ending with a road game against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 16. (There will be two days between the next game, an MLK Day matinee matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder.) Atkinson thinks prioritizing Ball’s health will prove beneficial in the long run, especially physically during the postseason.

The ball is there has given Cleveland a mixed bag up to this point. While he provided excellent defense and phenomenal passing, there was a lid on the rim when he shot the basketball, and many of those attempts were ill-advised. You can give him some leeway in turnovers since it’s a new team, but his 85.5 points per 100 shooting attempts rank in the second percentile among NBA players, according to Cleaning The Glass.

At the same time, the 28-year-old has rebounds where he looks like the best point guard in the NBA, and the ball doesn’t stick when he plays. However, he equally has issues that make you wonder if he should still be playing in the league. It must be challenging to judge.

Luckily for Atkinson, the Cavs have Porter to throw into the mix to run the show, and he’s been needing to play more for some time. He, Jailon Tyson, Nae’Kwan Tomlin and Tirese Proctor were constants of wine and gold, bringing the juice and providing the spark that ignited others. Again and again, Porter will make big plays in his allotted court time and changes games. It happened again Monday in San Antonio when the Cavs fell behind.

“His offensive rebounding for a 6-foot-4 kid, it’s amazing what he does,” Atkinson said. “Really good minutes, really good energy.”

In the fourth quarter, Porter blocked second overall pick Dylan Harper on the run and made several key passes, including one to Jarrett Allen from close range in what was otherwise a great night for the big man.

“Jailon Tison and Craig (stood out), honestly,” Allen said. “Those two guys. Jaylon making those big threes, Craig getting offensive rebounds, finding the open person. Really, it just fell from there.”

“Jaylon and CP, our energy, guys off the bench, played their part, getting us extra possessions,” Atkinson added. “Jaylon hit two big threes. But it was really a team win. A lot of guys. Dre (Hunter) was really good. We had a lot of guys play well.”

Porter is one of the least-used players in the league, but still scores 120.7 points per 100 shots with a 1.48 assist rate. Both of these numbers are in the 81st percentile, according to Glass Cleaning.

Whether Atkinson is telling the truth about the roster situation, prioritizing Porter over Ball in the rotation, or is somewhere in the middle, there’s no doubt that Cleveland is playing better right now when the first one gets those reserve guard minutes.