Cleveland Cavaliers: Is the three-big lineup working?
By Tony Pesta
Is the Cleveland Cavaliers three-big lineup working?: Defense
The Cleveland Cavaliers understood that making this lineup work defensively would be a challenge. The bigs would need to show a level of versatility that few of them had proven before.
Jarrett Allen is an elite shot-blocker and has built a credible reputation for switching onto the perimeter when the situation calls for it. There is not much concern surrounding Allen.
The same can be said for Evan Mobley, who has surprised everyone with how quickly he has become an impactful all-around defender. Mobley leads the entire NBA in shots contested by a wide margin, with 136 total contested shots. In second place is Giannis Antetokounmpo at 102.
While Allen and Mobley seem trustworthy enough, Lauri Markkanen is left as the glaring weakness. Never really considered a good defender, and completely out of place at small forward, Markkanen has been the determining factor as to whether this lineup can survive or not.
Minutes played together:
- Allen, Mobley: 183
- Markkanen, Allen, Mobley: 138
- Markkanen, Allen, Love: 27
- Okoro, Markkanen, Allen, Mobley: 19
It does not help that Isaac Okoro, the team’s best perimeter defender, has not been available to play since game two of the season. Without Okoro to compensate, Markkanen has been put to the test.
Yet, perhaps miraculously, Markkanen has held his own. Even with the Cavs taking on elite forwards like Paul George, LeBron James, and an emerging star Miles Bridges in Okoro’s absence, Markkanen has survived.
The key to not falling apart with this lineup is covering the three-point line. Allen and Mobley are in the paint to help if Lauri loses his man (the two are averaging a combined 2.3 blocks). Therefore, Markkanen can play tight on the perimeter and not worry about being beaten off the dribble.
Defensive Ratings:
- Allen, Mobley: 99.7
- Markkanen, Allen, Mobley: 99.0
- Markkanen, Allen, Love: 116.1
- Okoro, Markkanen, Allen, Mobley: 109.5
The trio of Markkanen, Allen, and Mobley post a Defensive Rating of 99.0, which would be the third-best rating of any team in the league. Overall, Cleveland has a rating of 105.6, placing them 10th in the NBA.
Markkanen has embraced the challenge of covering the perimeter, contesting 32 total three-point shots in eight games, the 15th most in the NBA. Mobley has been an incredible disruptor in all facets while Allen has been an enforcer in the paint.
Cleveland’s length has been enough to confuse opponents nightly. They rank 16th in steals and 14th in forcing turnovers. While the Cavs are just 27th in blocks, the duo of Allen and Mobley have undoubtedly changed the trajectory of countless attempts in the paint.
There are still some issues, of course. Cleveland gives up 49.8 points in the paint each game – the fifth most in the NBA. They also allow the fifth most fast-break points at 15.7 per game – likely a result of their slower big-men and a high turnover rate from the backcourt.
They also are not very great with Love on the floor next to two other bigs. Where Markkanen at least has the length and mobility to contest shooters, Love is truly a fish out of water on the perimeter.
The Cavs’ youth has shown at times, as well. They have been picked apart by high-IQ opponents such as LeBron James, who pick-and-rolled them to death by spacing the floor and emphasizing their weaknesses in the fourth quarter.
Regardless, the three-big lineup of Markkanen, Allen, and Mobley has been surprisingly sturdy on defense. There are limitations, some of which are magnified by an undersized backcourt and strategic opponents, but this lineup has quickly emerged as the best defensive unit Cleveland has had in years.