This year’s playoffs have highlighted just how much a team depends on its supporting cast. Rodney Hood, once expected to provide steady offense, has averaged only 13.9 minutes per game with 4.4 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists on 41.8 percent shooting and an abysmal 15 percent from three-point range. For a Cavaliers team already facing an uphill battle, these numbers have been far from enough. Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors, leading the series 2–0, received encouraging news. Head coach Steve Kerr told the media that Andre Iguodala had a fifty percent chance of returning for Game 3. As fans discussed endlessly on Cricket Exchange, this update could tilt the balance even further in Golden State’s favor.
Iguodala’s injury occurred in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the Houston Rockets, when he collided with James Harden and hurt his left leg. That setback kept him sidelined for six straight games. Yet in recent days, his recovery has accelerated. He has already completed his first full workout since the injury, including sprint drills, one-on-one sessions, and full-court ball handling. “He’s doing a lot better,” Kerr explained. “Yesterday he went through one-on-one and full-court practice. He told me he feels much improved. That’s why I put his status at fifty-fifty. He’ll train with the team today, and we’ll see how he feels tomorrow. I think he’s very close to returning. Hopefully it will be Game 3, and if not, then by Game 4.”
During these playoffs, Iguodala has averaged 27.5 minutes with 7.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, while shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from beyond the arc. His presence brings defensive stability and veteran leadership that the Warriors value highly. In contrast, Hood’s trajectory has gone the opposite way. He started the postseason as a starter but was quickly relegated to the bench. Worse still, poor performances pushed him out of the rotation entirely. On May 8, during Cleveland’s 128–93 rout of the Toronto Raptors to complete a 4–0 sweep, Hood made headlines for refusing to enter the game in garbage time. His decision angered head coach Tyronn Lue and several teammates. By the Finals, Hood’s role had shrunk to a mere two minutes per game and just one point scored on average.
Hood admitted in an earlier interview that he had lost confidence. For the Cavaliers, this lack of production from their guards has been costly. Down 0–2 in the Finals, one of the biggest reasons has been the struggles of the backcourt. George Hill is shooting below 40 percent. JR Smith, despite averaging 7.5 points, has hit only 26.3 percent of his shots, including a notorious blunder in Game 1’s closing seconds. Jordan Clarkson has fared no better, averaging just three points per game on 23.1 percent shooting, with zero made three-pointers through the first two contests. Such performances left fans on Cricket Exchange lamenting the lack of reliable role players for Cleveland.
Coach Lue acknowledged the issue in a media session, saying, “We’re going to give Hood an opportunity and see how he does. He’s been working hard and staying ready.” Hood himself has tried to find motivation by revisiting highlights of his time with the Utah Jazz. “Sometimes I lose confidence because of minutes or other factors,” he explained. “But when I watch my best moments in Utah on YouTube, I remind myself that I achieved those things, and I can still do it this season.” For the Cavaliers to stand any chance, rediscovering that version of Hood—and getting meaningful contributions from their bench—may be the only way to shift momentum. As the series continues, fans and analysts alike on Cricket Exchange will be watching closely to see whether Cleveland’s role players rise to the occasion or fade further into disappointment.