Tyronn Lue is stepping down as head coach of the Cavaliers temporarily to deal with his ongoing illness, which has caused him to miss three games and impacted him for virtually the entire season. Chief assistant Larry Drew will take over for Lue, beginning with Monday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. In a statement released Monday morning by the Cavs, Lue, 40, made it clear that he intends to return this season. He said he has “had chest pains and other troubling symptoms, compounded by a loss of sleep, throughout the year.” Lue also said in the statement “After many conversations with our doctors and Koby (Altman) and much thought given to what is best for the team and my health, I need to step back from coaching for the time being and focus on trying to establish a stronger and healthier foundation from which to coach for the rest of the season.” Lue has been examined repeatedly by Cleveland Clinic doctors for months and undergone a battery of tests, but there is still no diagnosis. He did not return for the second half of Saturday’s win over the Bulls; previously he missed the second half of a loss to Orlando on Feb. 6 and the entire game against the Bulls on Dec. 21.
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