Kris Humphries likely to see minutes against Cavaliers

Kris Humphries was absent from the rotation in Atlanta's first-round series win over the Boston Celtics. However, he could play a part in the second round against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Chris Vivlamore on Saturday that he thinks there will be a role for Humphries against the Cavaliers.

"I think we’ll need Kris in this series," Budenholzer said Saturday. "I can see us needing Kris and (Muscala) and everybody. I think Kris is always ready. He’s anxious. He’s let me know he is ready to go."

Budenholzer opted to go with Mike Muscala and Mike Scott off the bench against the Celtics in an effort to match up to their smaller and more mobile bigs. While Cleveland has a lot of size with guys like Tristan Thompson and Timofey Mozgov but the Cavaliers toyed with smaller lineups in their first round sweep of the Detroit Pistons.

"Cleveland has played a few different ways but obviously Tristan Thompson and rebounding and those types of things is something we feel Kris can help us with," Budenholzer said. "But in their last series (a sweep of the Pistons), they put out a lot of smaller groups and Boston put out a lot of smaller groups. I think Kris will play and will help us in the series but so will Mike Muscala."

The Cavaliers used lineups against the Pistons that featured Kevin Love at center. However, that look likely wouldn't be as effective against the Hawks due to the versatility of Paul Millsap and Al Horford. The Cavaliers beat Atlanta up with their size in last season's Eastern Conference Finals and if they try to go that route again, Humphries will likely be needed.