3 dominant lineups the Cavs have to use next season

3 dominant lineups the Cavs have to use next season: Best group overall

Lineup: Darius Garland, Ricky Rubio, Lauri Markkanen, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

The very best lineup that the Cavaliers used for significant minutes last year was a frequent closing group over the season’s first few months. The starting lineup, including the “Triple Towers” look, with Ricky Rubio in the place of either Collin Sexton or Isaac Okoro. In 41 minutes this group outscored opponents by 40.6 points per 100 possessions last season, a minute total that would have multiplied if it wasn’t for Rubio’s untimely injury.

The Cavs struck gold with the Garland – Rubio pairing, as Rubio was able to initiate the offense while Garland bent defenses off-ball and raced to get open. Garland shot 38.5 percent on 3-pointers overall last year, often creating those on his own; catch-and-shoot 3-pointers are proven to be higher-percentage looks for nearly everyone, so finding lineups where Garland can eat in that way will juice the offense.

This group also has plenty of size, with Rubio strong enough to guard 2s and the three seven-footers doing their thing in the frontcourt. What’s beautiful about this configuration is that either of Garland and Rubio can run a pick-and-roll with any of the three bigs, and two of those three bigs can pop as easily as roll. Defenses can’t assume anything; slide the weakside help into the paint because of a Garland – Allen roll, and suddenly the ball swings back out and Rubio is running a pick-and-pop with Markkanen, whose defender is stuck watching from the paint.

Rubio will likely need to see his minutes managed when he does return to keep him fresh for the playoffs, but this group should be deployed on occasion as potentially the Cavs’ best lineup overall; the only group that might be even better is putting Dean Wade in for Markkanen. This group is an interesting combination of skillsets and played very well last season, which should earn it minutes next season.