The Cleveland Cavaliers had an average preseason. They won two games and lost three, at times looking like a playoff team and at others like a cellar dweller. When you’re swapping players in and out of the lineup, including some players who won’t even make the team, that kind of result happens.
Some of that swapping allowed the Cavs to experiment with different lineup combinations. Some of those lineups worked, and others didn’t. What stood out most of all was that this year’s roster has a lot more versatility, leading to a unique variety of lineups that they can use this year.
The Cavs have a revamped roster with players bringing different skillsets. What unique lineup combinations should they try out this season?
Cleveland has established its starting lineup, with Evan Mobley joining the holdover group of Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Isaac Okoro and Jarrett Allen. This year they have more options to mix-and-match with, including Ricky Rubio, Lauri Markkanen and a fully healthy Dylan Windler.
With the season kicking off this week, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has to decide on his rotation, including who he closes games with. Here are three lineups he should use this season, if not every game then regularly enough to see if they can be tentpole groupings for this team.