Some first starting assignment of the season.
Thabo Sefolosha will start at small forward when the Hawks play at the Cavaliers Saturday night and will draw the defensive assignment of guarding LeBron James.
The last time Sefolosha was at Quicken Loans Arena he wore a walking boot on his right foot and watched as the Hwaks were eliminated from the Eastern Conference Finals as me missed the Hawks’ postseason run.
Sefolosha has been limited this season as he returns from season-ending surgery on his leg and ankle in April. He made his first appearances in back-to-back games this week. With Kent Bazemore out for a third straight game with a right ankle sprain, Hawks coach Mike Budenhozler turned to his veteran.
“We are not in a back-to-back situation,” Budenholzer said. “His minutes, we’ve been trying to keep them in a reasonable place and make sure we are progressing him along in a somewhat slow and steady progress. I think he is capable. We haven’t played in two days. We aren’t playing again for two days. Start and maybe his minutes can get up a little bit.”
Sefolosha played a season-high 30 minutes Tuesday against the Nets. He returned to play 21 minutes Wednesday against the Jazz.
“We’ve communicated quite a bit,” Budenholzer said of Sefolosha’s health concerning his ankle. “The decision to play the back-to-back was something we talked about a fair amount. After playing the first night, he felt he could go that second night. We’ve talked about how many minutes and where he can get to. Sometimes it’s me holding him back. Sometimes it’s him saying he can do a little more. It’s been a good, healthy conversation.”
In the previous two games without Bazemore, the Hawks went big and started Tiago Splitter at center against the Nets and started Justin Holiday at small forward against the Jazz. The matchup against James was the determining factor in turning to Sefolosha.
“Of course having Thabo to matchup and guard LeBron James is a good thing to have,” Budenholzer said. “Thabo’s experience and his ability as a wing defender. It’s a challenge he looks forward to. But I think if we were playing CSKA Moscow tonight we would be starting Thabo at the small forward.”
In other injury news:
* Budenholzer said Jeff Teague, who has missed the past three games with a left ankle sprain, would warm up and he is “hopeful” the starting point guard will be available. Regardless of Teague’s availability, Dennis Schroder will start.
* Bazemore made the trip to Cleveland despite being ruled out of the game on Friday. He went through a pre-game warmup. When asked by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on the way to the court when he might be able to return, Bazemore said “soon.”
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