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Ranking all 32 players in tonight’s Cavs vs Lakers game

By Josh Cornelissen

Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers and Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers and Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images /
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Dean Wade, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Ranking all 32 players in Cavs vs Lakers: Key Players in Rotation

These players may be starting, may be coming off of the bench, but are capable of providing excellent value to their teams in the right role.

14. Patrick Beverley, Guard, LAL – Patrick Beverley has a long, established track record: pest, instigator, energy, an elite defender and high-level shot-maker. Unfortunately, the shot has deserted him this season and his age is starting to sap his defensive impact.

13. Lamar Stevens, Forward, CLE – Newly elevated into the starting lineup, Stevens is a strong forward who is willing to take shots and loves to muscle inside. His help instincts make him an excellent fit in the Cavs’ versatile defensive scheme.

12. Lonnie Walker IV, Guard, LAL – The Lakers spent their only real money this offseason to sign Lonnie Walker from the Spurs, where he largely disappointed on the potential he showed as the mid-first-round pick. Yet he has been a pleasant surprise, averaging a career-high in scoring and efficiency, and the Lakers would be in truly dire straits without him.

11. Russell Westbrook, Guard, LAL – When he was starting his impact on the Lakers was the most damaging in the league, but he has settled into his bench role and seems to be finding ways to help. He’s averaging a career-low in scoring, but his passing has settled the Lakers’ bench and his terrible shot-taking is tempered when it’s not taking shots out of LeBron and Davis’ hands.

10. Ricky Rubio, Guard, CLE – Rubio is out for at least a few more weeks recovering from a torn ACL, but he was having an excellent season last year for the Cavs and should be a major boost when he returns. He is a gifted passer, a good defender and his scoring ticked up last year.

9. Caris LeVert, Wing, CLE – Like Westbrook, LeVert is best deployed off the bench; he is ineffective off-ball so playing him with Mitchell, Garland and Mobley is a series of diminishing returns. On the bench, he can go to work, and his isolation scoring and passing work best when surrounded by shooters like Kevin Love and Cedi Osman.

8. Dean Wade, Forward, CLE – Another player currently out due to injury, Wade is the Cavs’ best fit as the fifth starter. He is a good shooter and great defender, able to go one-on-one against big wings and rotate with Mobley to form a blanketing forward combo on defense.

7. Kevin Love, Big, CLE – Love is one of the very best big-man shooters in the league, and he is also one of the very worst big-man defenders in the league. His place alongside Allen and Mobley is perfect, and his floor-spacing is crucial to elevate the offense.