CLEVELAND (AP) The Cavaliers’ problems at point guard aren’t getting much better.
Derrick Rose, who was supposed to handle starting duties while Isaiah Thomas recovers from a hip injury, could miss three more weeks with a left ankle injury that has bothered him for a month.
Rose injured the ankle Oct. 20 at Milwaukee and has missed Cleveland’s past five games. The team said Friday that Rose’s ankle will be immobilized for a week and he will undergo extended treatment ”over the next two to three weeks.”
In his first season with Cleveland, the 29-year-old Rose, whose promising career has been slowed by injuries in recent years, is averaging 14.3 points in seven games. The former league MVP signed with the Cavs as a free agent this summer after spending last season with the New York Knicks.
Rose has shown flashes of his All-Star form, but hasn’t recovered from the ankle injury.
Because he’s been limited and with Thomas still likely to be out another month or more before making his Cleveland debut, Cavs coach Tyronn Lue has been forced to juggle his lineups and has used LeBron James at point guard.
He’s also been forced to use Jeff Green and Dwyane Wade at the point.
Iman Shumpert started at point guard during Cleveland’s recent road trips as the Cavs went 3-1. Shumpert started again Friday night as the Cavs host the Los Angeles Clippers.
”We still miss a true point guard,” Lue said. ”It’s hard having to just try to mix and match and have Jeff play the point and D-Wade and different guys, but they’ve been doing a good job of handling and we know he’s going to be out for at least two weeks now so just keep continuing to plug away.”
There remains no clear timetable for Thomas to play. The two-time All-Star, acquired in the blockbuster offseason trade for Kyrie Irving, has increased his workouts in recent weeks.
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