Cavs 'hopeful' guard Iman Shumpert can go in Game 3
By Kyle Welch
As is to be expected, much of the fanfare for the Cavaliers so far in their series against the Chicago Bulls has gone to LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and even Tristan Thompson. But make no mistake, guard Iman Shumpert has been an essential component to the Cavs effort, and came up big in the Cavaliers’ Game 2 victory in Cleveland, which tied the series at 1-1.
But in what was a scary moment for Cavs fans, Shumpert came up lame with a groin strain in the third quarter of Wednesday’s game, spending many of the remaining minutes bouncing from the locker room to the bench to the exercise bike.
Though there has been no confirmation one way or the other, the Cavsremain “hopeful” that Iman Shumpert will be available to play in Game 3 in Chicago, according to the Akron Beacon Journal’s Jason Lloyd.
“It’s just getting out there and seeing what movements feel restricted,” Shumpert said. “I’ve got to test it out and see how it goes. If I can’t go out there and be athletic and help my team be successful, I’m not going to go out there and hurt them. I’ve got to know if I can go and push through.”
Shumpert said it’s “pretty much my decision” whether or not he plays tonight.
But there’s no need for Cavs fans to worry that Shumpert won’t do his darnedest to be on the court for the crucial swing game against the Bulls, via Chris Haynes.
In any event, the news that it’s up to Shumpert should relieve Cavs fans fearful that Shumpert’s groin injury is serious. Coach David Blatt hasn’t said who he would start in Game 3 should Shumpert be able to play.
Shumpert started in place of the suspended JR Smith in Games 1 & 2, saving the Cavaliers from what could have been a perilous 2-0 deficit in the series. Shumpert scored 22 points in Game 1, his high as both a Cleveland Cavalier and a playoff participant. He then added four three-point field goals in the first half of Game 2, helping the Cavaliers amass an insurmountable 64-45 lead.
On top of that, Shumpert was a roving defender that matched up with nearly everyone on Chicago’s roster at one point or another, creating four steals in the two games without any turnovers. If there are any positives to be siphoned from JR Smith’s suspension, it’s that Shumpert proved himself capable of being a big-minute, big-play rotation man for the Cavaliers.
I would expect JR Smith to start even if Shumpert is available, reassuming his months-long role as the starting shooting guard for the Cavaliers. But it’ll a luxury to have Shumpert coming off the Cavs’ woeful bench if he’s able following his excellent effort thus far in this second-round series. If the groin injury lingers throughout the playoffs, it’ll leave an un-fillable void on the Cavaliers bench.
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