Cavaliers

29th after the All-Star break.

“We have hiccups in practice, so I know it’s going to be like that in preseason games and early on in the season,” Crowder said. “You can’t keep making the same mistakes over and over. So once we do make mistakes (Wednesday) and early on in the year, we have to correct it.”

Lue has pretty well laid out why he’s starting Crowder and Love, with Thompson coming off the bench. Crowder and Love are shooters, and Crowder’s versatility defensively will help James to rest on that end and to play in that roaming role. Plus, the Cavs need to replace the 25.2 points per game Irving averaged, so they need scorers on the court.

But in making the lineup change, Lue is taking arguably his best pick-and-roll defender off the court in Thompson, who also was the team’s sole rim protector.

As Lue explained, James’ new role on defense could allow him to be more of a shot blocker.

“Being able to help, roam, cover up for mistakes when guys get beat backdoor, guys turn the corner on pick-androlls,” Lue said, explaining how James can block shots. “Most of the time there’s going to be a non-shooter on the floor. He’ll probably be guarding that guy so he’s able to help and quarterback and cover up for any mistakes that we have. new Cavaliers forward

Jae Crowder

Kevin at the 5, he’s great at taking charges, giving his body up. The guys are really good with that.”

Crowder is used to the role Lue has given him. He usually guarded the opponent’s top-scoring forward with the Boston Celtics (including James). But never before has Crowder played with a player like James helping behind him.

That opportunity did not come Wednesday against the Hawks, but will materialize before the regular season starts Oct. 17.

“The first few days at practice he talked a lot,” Crowder said. “That’s a great thing that you have to have on defense and that helps me as a defender, knowing what’s behind me and him chirping and us being on the same page on the defensive end. It helps a lot and makes my job a lot easier.

“I’m usually the one who is talking the most.”

As for the Warriors, Crowder suggested there wasn’t explicit talk about preparing for Golden State. Rather, Crowder said, it’s obvious that’s what Lue is doing by the kinds of coverages Cleveland is practicing.