Cavs: Starting lineup prediction after Collin Sexton injury
Cavs: Starting lineup prediction after Collin Sexton injury
In the end, although the Cavs have some intriguing wing options available to take Sexton’s place, the prediction here is that J.B. Bickerstaff tabs Ricky Rubio to rise into the starting lineup. That would place Rubio and Darius Garland in the backcourt, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in the frontcourt, and Dean Wade probably staying at the 3 until Lauri Markkanen returns.
There are two main reasons to predict Rubio to start in place of Sexton. First is the reality that when Sexton went down on Sunday night it was Rubio who started the second half. Rather than stick to his normal rotation of Garland and Rubio at the 1 he mixed things up to maximize Rubio’s minutes, subbing Garland out early to bring him back in with a reserve-heavy lineup later in the 3rd quarter.
The second reason is that Bickerstaff has proven this season that he only wants to play a tight rotation. In most games he has played just eight guys in the regular rotation, and the second half Sunday was no different, with just Cedi Osman, Dylan Windler and Lamar Stevens coming in off the bench. It stands to reason that he will want to start Rubio in order to get him to starter-level minutes.
It’s possible that Bickerstaff dusts off Kevin Pangos to alleviate some of that burden from Rubio, but more likely Rubio will play a few games in the mid-30s in minutes before the returns of Isaac Okoro and Lauri Markkanen ease him back down to 30 or so per game. Rubio has been excellent thus far this season and it makes sense that Bickerstaff will want to lean on him in the absence of Sexton.
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No one on this roster can replace Sexton’s scoring and bull-headed rushes to the rim. His energy helped to spark this team. Yet removing his 13.6 field goal attempts per game will allow other players, namely Darius Garland, to step up and show what they can do in increased roles. Rubio in particular will likely get the start, and yet another lineup for the Cavs will try to continue the momentum in the face of adversity. Get better soon, Young Bull.