3 lineups for Cavs to juice the offense in 2022-23 season

3 lineups for Cavs to juice offense: The three guards

Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Caris LeVert, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

If the Cavs want to build the best possible starting lineup for next season, they should start Dean Wade at small forward between the two explosive guards and two monster bigs. More likely they will start Isaac Okoro, who is much smaller but offers the defensive tenacity and quickness to defend opposing guards.

If the Cavs want to maximize the offensive creation, however, they should give this three-guard lineup a try. Its defensive issues almost demand it be completed by Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, but even so the on-ball creation of this group would be a lot for defenses to handle.

The Cavs can run a pick-and-roll with, let’s say, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen. As Garland curls around the screen and heads into the defense, someone has to help. He kicks the ball out and Mitchell or LeVert suddenly get to attack a defense in rotation. If the defense keeps up for a moment suddenly they’re running a third action with a third guard. It’s enough to make Tom Thibodeau’s head spin.

LeVert will need to prove he can be an effective off-ball player for this lineup to shine, but if he does this could become the future starting lineup for the Cavs — this season and maybe even beyond. For now, it should be something the Cavs roll out once or twice a game to see how things look.