Cavs: 3 standout performers from preseason action thus far

The 3 Cavs preseason standouts: #2 – Ricky Rubio

Secondly, I have my Rubio. After I thought it was puzzling to have seen him shoot six triples in that first Chicago game, he has rebounded very nicely, and it seems as if Rubio is getting more comfortable alongside his new Cavs teammates.

He’s had 10.3 points per outing in his past three games, to go along with 5.7 assists and 1.3 steals per contest, and it’s evident that he’ll help ease the playmaking burden on Darius Garland this season.

Rubio has done a nice job creating interior looks for the likes of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, some in pick-and-roll operation, and he’s hit some spray-outs and initiated productive ball-swings after penetrating, too. There have been some questionable turnovers at times in instances when he has looked to make extra passes, admittedly, but those I can live with here and there.

He’s also hit made some awesome lead passes in the transition game, and that sort of thing, combined with his defensive activity should generate some easy run-out opportunities for the Cavaliers this season, feasibly in key minutes off the bench.

I’ve been pleased with Rubio, in a general sense, in preseason, anyhow, and he seems to be adjusting well to this new situation.

Granted, just to be clear, while I could foresee him having some spot starts here and there, as he did on Sunday versus the Bulls with Garland out due to a non-COVID-19-related illness, Rubio will be Garland’s primary backup typically.

That’s with Rubio’s shooting limitations, and in that start, he did have nine assists and gave Cleveland juice, but he was four-of-13 from the field, too in 17 minutes. Sexton was out in that one because of a right shoulder injury/precaution regarding that, for what it’s worth, so perhaps in that sort of scenario Rubio could start with Garland.

Either way, Rubio has made a good first impression, and I have him as the second-best preseason performer for the Cavaliers through four games. It is preseason, in fairness, and one has to take it with a grain of salt, but props to the vet for what he’s brought, whereas Garland and Sexton have been up-and-down.

As an aside, Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff does seemingly want to find ways to get Rubio in games in “starter’s minutes,” as h/t Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. We’ll see how that shakes out, and it was due to Mobley and Markkanen’s versatility, although it’s clear that Rubio will be a crucial contributor and get his share of time, generally speaking.