This is it.
The last eight years for the Cleveland Cavaliers will come down to the next eight weeks. From LeBron James leaving town that jumpstarted a rebuild featuring Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. To acquiring Donovan Mitchell in 2022 to start their contention window. To multiple playoff failures, including last year’s catastrophe against the Pacers. To Garland being traded for James Harden in February.
This is without a doubt the most crucial, critical, important…you get the point.
There is a lot riding on this Cavs playoff run. They have arguably their deepest and most talented roster of the Mitchell era. They have the experience now with a battle-tested group that is adding someone with 174 playoff games of their own in Harden. Now is the time for them to break through, and it starts with the Toronto Raptors on Saturday.
With that comes tough lineup decisions, and it will be on head coach Kenny Atkinson to push the right buttons. This is what his rotation should look like against the Raptors.
Starters: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
This lineup projects to be the most reliable and complete unit that Atkinson will put on the floor against Toronto. The sample size is extremely small with this group, but in the 75 possessions this five has shared the court, the Cavs have a +38.9 net rating.
Not much needs to be said about Harden and Mitchell. They are the orchestrators of the offense and are one of the more lethal backcourts in the league.
Wade, Mobley, and Allen have been Cleveland’s three best defenders for quite some time now. Their length, size, and switchability make them an extremely tough trio to get past on that end. In the 364 possessions those three have together this season, the Cavs have a 99.4 defensive rating. For a team that struggled on the defensive end at times this year, leaning on your best defenders will help alleviate those concerns.
Bench: Sam Merrill, Max Strus, Keon Ellis, Jaylon Tyson
The bench unit may not have as much size as the starters, but Atkinson will be able to stagger the minutes between the nine he ends up deciding on.
Merrill and Strus bring a lot of shooting, movement, and overall toughness that Cleveland is going to need from their role guys. Strus especially has a lot of playoff experience and has proven a willingness to do the dirty work and make winning plays.
Ellis has shown that he can be an absolute defensive menace for the Cavs. He is great at putting pressure on the ball, getting deflections and steals, and has enough length to disrupt ball-handlers. His offense has been a pleasant surprise as well, as he is knocking down nearly 36% of his threes and shooting 49% overall from the field.
The last spot should go to Tyson. When Cleveland was struggling early on in the season, he was one of the lone bright spots. His development into a key role player has been nothing short of amazing for the Cavs. His synergy with Mitchell in the short roll, his ability to knock down threes, and just playing with 110% effort every play is what Cleveland needs. All of the bench guys I mentioned have the toughness, spacing, and tenacity that make them the essential bench pieces.
Cutting Dennis Schroder from the initial rotation was a tough decision, but Schroder has struggled for the most part since he arrived in February. He’s shooting only 40% from the field and 29% from three. Atkinson could turn to him in spot minutes, and Schroder has enough defensive activity and veteran experience to be called upon at times, but he should not be a nightly fixture in the playoffs.
The Cavs have the star power and depth to make a run. It will be on Atkinson to push the right buttons against the Raptors and hopefully beyond. But this is how he should start out.
