Cavs: 3 lineups with Lauri Markkanen they should try

Cavs: 3 lineups with Lauri Markkanen – Bombs Away

Darius Garland – Collin Sexton – Dylan Windler – Lauri Markkanen – Kevin Love

This lineup is the ultimate shooting group, five players who can all hit outside shots at a high level. Kevin Love and Lauri Markkanen are among the best stretch-bigs in the game, making this collection of players truly a 5-out group.

There are two benefits on offense to playing five knockdown shooters. The first is that 3-pointers are worth more than 2-pointers, an obvious fact that took decades to sink in for the league. In the modern NBA, in almost every situation, the more 3-pointers you can get up the better.

Secondly, it completely pulls defenders out into space. There is no one to leave open here. How do rim-protectors like Joel Embiid and Rudy Robert shut down an offense where two “centers” are stepping outside the arc? Darius Garland and especially Collin Sexton will have room inside to attack the rim, creating shots for themselves or hitting open shooters when the defense rotates.

Obviously this lineup would be hopeless on defense, and it may in fact give up as many points as it scores. The reason it might work is that both Love and Markkanen have size, which is a starting point for a conservative defensive scheme that keeps the bigs near the basket. It might not work at all, but it’s worth a try for the fireworks it can put up.