Cleveland Cavaliers: The 3 best possible starting lineups
By Ryan Piers
With the 2018-19 regular season a couple weeks away, the Cleveland Cavaliers seek the perfect starting lineup. Here are three possible options.
The preseason is upon us. Coaches are tweaking their lineups, testing out combinations like a meticulous chef mixes ingredients. Actually, maybe comparing most NBA coaches to mad scientists would be more accurate.
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue is no exception. Reports are already swirling about what he may do with his starting five. Lue told Cleveland.com the only lock to begin games is Kevin Love. The other four starting spots are up for grabs.
Presumably, George Hill is battling rookie Collin Sexton for the starting point guard spot. J.R. Smith, Jordan Clarkson, Rodney Hood, Kyle Korver and David Nwaba are probably trying to edge each other for roles on the wing. One report indicates Tristan Thompson and Larry Nance Jr. may split time at center.
Which of these combinations will put the most pressure on opponents? That’s tough to say at this point. Lue is like a thief, blindly trying to crack the code of a complicated safe in the dark. That’s probably a better comparison as opposed to a skilled chef or mad scientist.
Looking at lineup rankings and some footage from last season, we may be able to handicap the race for the starting five. Here are the three best options for Cleveland.