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Cleveland Cavaliers: Ranking the Cavs’ top 5 most lethal lineups

By Nathan Beighle

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 9: JR Smith #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after defeating the Golden State Warriors in Game Four of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 9, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 9: JR Smith #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after defeating the Golden State Warriors in Game Four of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 9, 2017 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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1st September 2017, Fenerbahce Arena, Istanbul, Turkey; FIBA Eurobasket Group D; Turkey versus Russia; Small Forward Cedi Osman of Turkey in action during the match (Photo by Nikola Krstic/Action Plus via Getty Images)
1st September 2017, Fenerbahce Arena, Istanbul, Turkey; FIBA Eurobasket Group D; Turkey versus Russia; Small Forward Cedi Osman of Turkey in action during the match (Photo by Nikola Krstic/Action Plus via Getty Images) /

Lineup #4: Rose, Smith, Osman, James, and Love

This lineup is all about transition.

Cedi Osman proved his athleticism in the FIBA Eurobasket tournament that he just played in. The Turkish native would be able to share the court with J.R. Smith, who has put some highlight reel dunks in the past, and the former-MVP Derrick Rose, who is known for his incredible athleticism even following his knee injuries.

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James is just James. He is athletic, skilled, can shoot, defend, and dominate. It wouldn’t be right to have a lineup without James. Love is included in this lineup because, for starters, if he wasn’t included, this lineup could not rebound. With Love and James securing the board and leaking the ball out to one of these players, this lineup could put up some points in a hurry. The chemistry would have to be top-notch in this lineup if they were to run the court without committing too many turnovers.

Also, with both James and Osman on the court, this lineup might be an above-average defensive lineup. Coincidently, Rose is also a defensive upgrade over Thomas. This could be a mystery lineup for Lue and his staff, but it could prove to be secretly effective on both ends of the court.

This lineup might be a question mark because it might not be effective in the halfcourt, but it would be scary every time it got out in transition which, with that personnel, could be almost every possession.