Cleveland Cavaliers: Is the three-big lineup working?

Is the Cleveland Cavaliers three-big lineup working?: Offense

The Cleveland Cavaliers already have some experience playing multiple bigs together on offense. Last season, they ran lineups consisting of Andre Drummond, Thon Maker, JaVale McGee, and Larry Nance Jr. frequently. While this previous collection of bigs wound up stumbling over each other in trainwreck fashion, the trio of Lauri Markkanen, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley has more promise.

Allen has made notable development as a post-scorer. Behind some improved footwork, Allen has been able to work himself deep into the paint consistently. In that area, Allen has made 38 total field goals on 77.6 percent shooting.

League leaders for field Goals in the paint (field goal percentage):

1. Domantas Sabonis: 41 (71.9%)
2. Anthony Davis: 39 (60.0%)
3. Jarrett Allen: 38 (77.6%)
4. Montrezl Harrell: 35 (83.3%)
5. Evan Mobley: 33 (76.7%)

Evan Mobley is not far behind Allen, placing fifth in the league for field goals made in the paint. He has shown a natural feel for hiding in the dunker spot and slipping screen-and-rolls for easy points in the paint. Not to mention, Mobley is a dynamic ariel threat for lob passes.

While neither Mobley nor Allen is a fantastic ball handler, they are both respectable enough to avoid holding back the Cavaliers’ offense. Mobley, in particular, has shown brief flashes as a playmaker. His 40 potential assists place him as the 11th-best passing center in the NBA this season.

Offensive Ratings:

• Allen, Mobley: 94.3
• Markkanen, Allen, Mobley: 96.6
• Markkanen, Allen, Love: 89.1
• Okoro, Markkanen, Allen, Mobley: 79.5

The team’s Offensive Rating of 105.4 places them as just the 18th best in the NBA. With none of their big lineups even coming close to hitting this mark, it is clear something is holding them back.

The biggest reason for Cleveland’s less-than-ideal offensive flow has been Markkanen’s frigid start from the field. Markkanen is just 14-50 (28.0 percent) from the three-point line and 11-31 (33 percent) on “wide-open” attempts from deep. This is well below his career average of 36.3 percent.

Markkanen is not the only member of the Cavaliers to struggle shooting the three-pointer. The Cavs are 23rd in three-point accuracy with Cedi Osman leading the entire team at just 19 total three-pointers. Compared to the rest of the league, Osman is 42nd in three-pointers made.

In fact, the league, in general, has been shooting historically badly from the three-point line. The league average is just 34.3 percent, the lowest it has been since the 1998-99 NBA season.

This can be attributed to a number of factors such as a new ball and the recent rule changes. These changes have made it easier for defenders to close out on shooters more aggressively without the risk of fouling.

Nonetheless, Cleveland’s three-big lineup comes with a lack of spacing. This has restricted the Cavaliers from scoring at a high rate, placing 23rd in points per game.

However, it can likely be assumed that some of these problems will solve themselves once Markkenen begins knocking down open shots and the rest of the team builds chemistry with each other.

For now, the three-big lineup leaves much to be desired offensively, even if Mobley and Allen have been phenomenal in the paint.