2 goals for Cavs’ Ricky Rubio in the 2022-23 season

Goal #2: Shoot over 42% from the field/be a threat from deep, while also retaining a 3-1 assist-turnover ratio

The way I look at it, the Cavs had a pretty lackluster offseason. After finally breaking through last year they drafted a good wing in the 2022 NBA Draft, but didn’t do much else outside of that. To me, that means that whether we like it or not, there’s a lot on the line in regards to how well Rubio’s knee heals from injury.

So while also playing in at least 50 games, Rubio needs to improve his overall shooting, while also being the playmaker that has made him so effective over the length of his career.

This will be the Spaniard’s 12th year in the NBA, and he has not shot over 42% from the field in any of those seasons. So, yes this is a pretty sky-high goal for Rubio to aim for. But, he shot over 34% from three last season, so teams will have to at least respect him on the perimeter. This could open up many driving lanes for him, and some obvious lob opportunities. Also, the emergence of Garland and Evan Mobley will attract the majority of the defense.

He proved to the Cavs last season, that he’s at least a threat from outside, so he should get some easier buckets this season. However, he still needs to be a playmaker for his teammates.

When Rubio was on his way to the NBA, people were amazed by clips of his passing and creativity with the ball. He’s a born playmaker with eyes that seem to be in the back of his head. The point guard has averaged 7.6 assists per game in his NBA career, while only turning it over 2.6 times per game. I’m not great at math, but that’s pretty damn close to a 3-1 assist-turnover ratio. While that is a high mark, he’s done it nearly every season in his career.

Overall, the more I look at the Eastern Conference, and how much better a lot of teams got this offseason, it’s really starting to look like Rubio is going to play a major factor for the Cavs this season. Hopefully sooner rather than later. So yes, asking a 31-year old veteran going on 32 to have one of the best years of his career is a bit much to ask.

However, like I said, like it or not, that’s the reality for Cavalier fans for the 2022-2023 season.