Cleveland Cavaliers: Three lineups for Larry Drew to try out

The five-playmaker lineup

Harrison-Clarkson-David Nwaba-J.R. Smith-Larry Nance Jr.

The Cavs aren’t loaded with size, but they are beginning to find more mismatches for their playmakers as of late, and it’s helped create some easier looks for the guards. Cleveland is not good enough in their halfcourt offense right now, and not having Osman and Love is going to hurt them in that regard. On the season, Cleveland is averaging just 20.3 assists per game, and only two teams are averaging less, per NBA.com.

Now, I’m not saying that Clarkson and David Nwaba are going to be dynamic passers any time soon, but their ability to get downhill and finish near the rim (along with getting to the charity stripe) is something that’s going to consistently put pressure on opposing defenses as a default. Harrison is a more willing passer at the 1, and plus, with him being 6-foot-6, he can be a tough matchup physically for opposing point guards, and with his height allowing him to see over defenders, that should aid in getting Cleveland’s cutters the ball on time.

Harrison and Larry Nance Jr. could develop nice chemistry as a pick-and-roll tandem, and with Smith and Clarkson’s ability to knock down three-point shots in catch-and-shoot scenarios (Clarkson is shooting 35.3 percent on those this year and J.R. Smith is shooting 46.7 percent, per NBA.com), Cleveland should have success offensively in spurts with this five. Nance could get a number of wide-open mid-range looks with the ball swinging to him as well, which is something he’s capable of knocking down, and he’s Cleveland best big man passing option minus Love.

On the defensive end of the floor, Harrison’s 6-foot-9 wingspan should help in keeping opposing primary ball-handlers out of the paint consistently, and that should enable Clarkson and Nwaba to stay attached to shooters more. Nance and Smith would likely be the primary trappers in that scenario, which I’d live with.

Cleveland could also elect to have Nwaba guard primary ball-handlers the whole length of the floor, as he’s shown he’s highly capable of doing, and that should allow Nance to not be stuck on guards in early-clock scenarios frequently. Clarkson still has problems getting through off-ball screens, but he’s going to compete, and with his offensive scoring output, I’ll live with that. Smith and Harrison are both capable off-ball defenders in a roaming scenario, too.

Although rebounding could be an issue, the offensive playmaking versatility and athleticism in transition on both ends could definitely make up for it.

The next five would be predicated on endless movement off the ball.