Cavs: 3 big questions for team hit with a rash of injuries and on losing streak

Question #2: Can Ricky Rubio’s leadership help this team stay afloat?

With the absence of Collin Sexton, and the veteran Ricky Rubio taking his spot in the starting lineup, how much can the Spaniard’s experience help this young Cavalier team? So far, that veteran presence has been huge in keeping the team in games.

Before Thursday’s game against the Warriors, he had scored 25 and 28 points. If he’s not scoring, he is always dishing out assists. He does a very good job of keeping his opponents off balance when he’s helping manage the offense. The instincts of Rubio and his ability to create opportunities for his teammates on the offensive side of the ball are excellent.

A player like Darius Garland is getting a great opportunity to help lead the Cavs from the point guard position with Sexton out, too, as Garland would either way. Having Rubio adding another dimension to the team, what Garland can learn from watching his teammate play every night can only help Garland get better, though.

The only concern I have at this point with Rubio is that with him being inserted into the starting lineup, even while he’s providing many valuable minutes and helping the team while others are out and injured, is that time draining him long term and diminishing his skill set late in these games?

After watching the last several games, where the team has lost close games, it seems that Rubio has been staggering a bit with his energy. This is his 11th season in the NBA. With him being brought here to come off the bench, the minutes he’s getting now as a starter could be an issue as this season progresses.