Cavs: Like others, Ricky Rubio can help team in transition game as well

It’s nice to know that Ricky Rubio will be a reliable backup 1 option to help ease the burden on Darius Garland this season for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

I wouldn’t expect Rubio, with the season Garland had last year, and with his offensive abilities, to be a serious candidate to be a starter regularly, but Rubio will have a significant role. He’s had a healthy 9.1 assists per-36 minutes for his career, and has incredible vision and can throw players open regularly.

Rubio is a big upgrade at the backup 1 over what Cleveland last season, of which, largely because of injuries, was a revolving door scenario. Matthew Dellavedova had his share of problems the past two seasons staying healthy, and I wouldn’t anticipate that to be nearly the same situation with Rubio, who, even with him approaching Year 11, has been mostly durable.

Rubio, who was acquired via trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves, is still a highly capable primary playmaker, crafty finisher via some drives and cuts, and is a quality defender. He’ll get his share of playing time it seems, and should be a contributor on both ends in his minutes for the Cavs.

And while others, such as Garland and Collin Sexton as outlets, and Isaac Okoro as a finisher will aid Cleveland’s transition game, Rubio can, too, to some degree. That shouldn’t be overlooked.

Similarly to others, Rubio can help the Cavs transition game, too.

I’m not suggesting he’ll be looking to a ton of the time in there, but Rubio can help Cleveland push pace in some stretches, where his lead passes will lead to easy opportunities hitting rim runners and cutters.

That was shown at times in preseason, where he was able to hit Lauri Markkanen and others, and over the course of his career, that’s been on display at times throughout games, which can generate momentum.

Along with that, after getting initial outlets or after defensive rebounds, Rubio can help create at times in secondary transition with subtle change-of-pace with his threat as a passer to cutters and shooters, or get to interior looks himself. From there, he has shown to have success with secondary transition floaters in favorable matchups, or with his heady play, can help generate free throw opportunities, which could help Cleveland get on schedule.

And circling back, though, his passing in early clock, to that point as a counter, can aid Isaac Okoro, or shooting threats on the move getting into plays in early clock, such as Sexton or Dylan Windler.

Lastly, while it’s not necessarily always lead to himself initiating from there, in stretches he’s in there, with Rubio being an active team defender and having great timing in getting deflections and/or with quick hands as a rotator, he’ll help create more run-outs defensively.

Rubio has had a robust 2.0 steals per-36 minutes for his career over the course of 10 seasons, and had 2.3 deflections per outing last season with Minnesota, per NBA.com’s player hustle data.

So again, whether it results in him leading the break in that respect, or it leads to a live-ball takeaway with others leading it, it’s one of the ways Rubio, as compared to Cleveland’s backup 1s last season, will be another meaningful transition player hopefully.

Moreover, as we noted, it won’t mean he’ll be pressing necessarily, but Rubio can give the Cavaliers some juice in early clock with his transition instincts, too. I’d anticipate that to be more impactful from Garland as a scoring threat, conversely, with his quickness and shooting range, however, Rubio can be a notable transition player as well when he’s in off the bench.