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Cleveland Cavaliers: Rodney Hood refuses to play, irks teammates

By Nick Dudukovich

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 15: Rodney Hood #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up prior to playing the Indiana Pacers in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 15, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 15: Rodney Hood #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up prior to playing the Indiana Pacers in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 15, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Cavaliers advanced to the Conference Finals, but the sweet of the Raptors isn’t without drama, thanks to Rodney Hood.

1. Rodney Hood didn’t play during the Cleveland Cavaliers Game 4 clincher against the Toronto Raptors at Quicken Loans Arena May 7.

Hood lost his playing time to rookie Cedi Osman, but with the Cavs up 30 with 7:36 remaining in the contest, coach Ty Lue tried to put Lue in for LeBron James.

Hood declined, which resulted in his teammates huddling around him in an on-court intervention.

Hood didn’t succumb to his peers’ pressure, opting instead to skip what proved to be a fun team building exercise in making the Raptors extinct, according to The Athletic’s Jason Lloyd.

"“Rodney Hood refused to go into the game during the fourth quarter Monday, multiple sources told The Athletic, angering a number of teammates and those within the organization.”"

Hood has been a bust this postseason as the 6-foot-8 forward is shooting a lousy .133 from 3-point range this postseason.

It may have been garbage time, but Hood could’ve benefited from some real-live game action to find his shot.

2.  LeBron James Legacy Building 101: He’s now four wins away from reaching his eighth strait NBA Finals.

Taking this concept a step further, consider what it would mean if James somehow managed to win the title.

Winning the 2016 championship was the equivalent of winning three titles. What would the Larry O’Brien trophy delivers to Cleveland this June down in comparing him to Michael Jordan?

3. The Cavs were really due for a game where LeBron wasn’t a one-man show. James was LeBron-esque, scoring 29, grabbing 11 rebound and dishing out eight assists, but his teammates were on fire.

Cleveland’s four starters not named LeBron were 25-of-35 from the field for 66 points.

Kevin Love tallied his third straight game of 20 or more points (23). Kyle Korver scored 16 and J.R. Smith added 15.

George Hill was the best part of the mid-season trade that also brought Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson to Cleveland.

Since returning from back problems for Game 7 agains the Pacers, the Cavs’ are undefeated (5-0). Hill chipped in 12 points and five assists in the clincher against the Raptors.

4. Raptors fans are about as depressed as Cleveland Browns fans are every Sunday during football season, and for good reason.

After clinching the No. 1 seed and winning 59 games–the most in franchise history–Toronto got swept out of the playoffs in the second round.

Fire Dwyane Casey? Breakup the team, starting with guards DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry?

You could, but unless LeBron is planning to sigh a deal to play in Canada, it doesn’t really matter what direction the organization takes.

Next: Cleveland Cavaliers mock draft 1.0

My advice to the Raptors: Don’t do anything until LeBron James decides where he’ll be playing next season.

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