3 lineups the Cavaliers can deploy with Ricky Rubio

Potential Rubio lineup No. 2: Rubio-Darius Garland-Cedi Osman-Kevin Love-Mobley

This lineup features the Garland-Rubio backcourt that was a great pairing last season for stretches pre-Rubio injury. That enabled Garland to be able to play off-ball more, where he was able to be a movement shooter at times, and to hunt shots a bit more it seemed coming off screens in that realm.

Regarding the other elements to this lineup, Osman and Love can both benefit greatly from the playmaking tandem of Rubio and Garland, Cleveland’s best passers, with how those first two are two key bench shooters for Cleveland.

Plus, with Love’s chemistry as a longtime teammate of Rubio’s in Minnesota, it could pay off for a plethora of other Cavs, too, with how those two play off each other so well. That relates to handoff scenarios, transition play, pick-and-pops and/or with Rubio knowing how to be in the right spots from Love mid-post initiation.

As for how Mobley can mesh in this five-man grouping, Cleveland could also run some offense through him, feature him at the elbows, and enable him to function as a go-to dunker spot player, where he’s continually gotten better.

Now, on the other end of the floor, the Cavaliers would need Osman and Garland to be especially active off-ball, and perhaps the Cavs could zone up a bit here and there, with Mobley and Rubio’s abilities. On the plus side, Osman and Garland are guys that are very active as rotators, and with the transition possibilities with this lineup, it could be another one Cleveland could go to for stretches upon Rubio’s return.