3 reasons Isaac Okoro should start at shooting guard

3 reasons Isaac Okoro should start at SG: Success of his lineups

Isaac Okoro was thrown into the fire from day one, starting slightly out of position at small forward for game one of his rookie season and all 67 games he appeared in. Last year was supposed to be different, with Lauri Markkanen starting at the 3, but when Collin Sexton went down with a season-ending knee injury Okoro got the nod to start at shooting guard, which he did 61 times last season.

What’s lost in the narrative around Okoro is that the starting lineup with Okoro did extremely well last season. Out of the NBA’s most frequently used 5-man lineups (200 minutes or more) the Cavs’ starting group with Okoro and Markkanen ranked seventh out of 34 total groups, with a net rating of +11.6. Swap Markkanen out for Dean Wade, and that lineup was a similarly-strong +8.6 in fewer minutes.

Okoro specifically paired well with Darius Garland, as his defensive chops allowed him to take on the most intimidating backcourt threat on the other team, and Garland’s shooting and playmaking allowed Okoro to slide into a low-usage role running out in transition and cutting on offense. They played 1,319 minutes together last season with an overall net rating of +6.2.

Overall, Okoro had a +7 net rating last season, one of the strongest on the team. He was a significant hindrance on offense, but his defensive impact and strategic pairing with Garland allowed the Cavs to still find success despite his limitations.