If you want to pick the most surprising team in the powerful East this season, in addition to forming the Big Three and jumping into the top three, it is the Cleveland Cavaliers who are in charge of the youth Guards but are expected to return to the playoffs. The Cavaliers' success was inseparable from Ricky Rubio, who had rejuvenated the second spring of his career. After the former Spanish Golden Boy washed the lead, Yuk Village played the role of a mentor for the mission, and young people such as Garland, Syxton, Arun, Marconin, And Mobley finally found a sense of standing in the league with his help, and the combat effectiveness of this knight should not be underestimated.
However, with Rubio collapsing in the game against the Pelicans — diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee — and anticipating season reimbursement , the Cleveland Cavaliers' prospects for the rest of the season became uncertain. The leak came in the rain overnight, including rubio's injured game, after the Cavaliers, who had been strong against Lian Ke, had suffered two consecutive defeats and had a hidden tendency to fall behind.
It's clear that Cavaliers management isn't willing to sit still, leBron James has been stuck for too long since they chose to leave for the second time, and Cleveland's hometown fathers and elders are eager to taste the playoffs again. Change is imperative, and at this juncture, the famous Shams-Charania broke the news: the Lakers and Cavaliers' deal for Lajan Rondo is close to being concluded.
The deal came a bit abruptly, but it was so logical; on the surface, the average numbers this season have slipped to 3.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists, and Rubio, who can average 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game, is far from the same, but in fact, the similarity of the two functional positioning, playing style and contribution on the court makes the deal seem logical.
Long's shooting this season is terrible, shooting only 32.4% from the field and 26.7% from three-point range, but rubio, in turn, shoots less than 40% of the way and only 36.3% from 33.9%, and ranks 106th in the league with a three-point shooting rate of 33.9%. More often, Rubio plays the role of a stadium commander in the team, responsible for combing the attack and controlling the rhythm, and as for his personal scoring, more often than not, it is the icing on the cake. In this regard, Long's guidance is also such a role, as a first-class top control master of ball business, Rondo has been known for being good at combing attacks since his debut, and his basketball understanding is no less than that of the Spanish Golden Boy.
Under the lakers' existing system, the reason why they can't integrate for a long time is that they can't blame Rondo for being ineffective. Both coach Vogel and acting coach Fitzdale have pushed James to the fifth position in order to solve the problem of Westbrook's ball rights and the team's constipated offensive space on the field. In such a big environment, if you give James, who is a center, with Rondo, Horton Tucker, and Thomas Jr. (who has left to join the Lone Ranger), it is really a mutual embarrassment. Therefore, leaving at this juncture is a relief for Both Coach Long and the Lakers.
If the Knights were willing to accept Rondo's plan to change his breath, the Purple and Gold Legion could save about 7 million dollars. For Rondo, joining a team like the Cavaliers, which urgently needs to strengthen the Number One to make up for Rubio's losses this season, is the best opportunity to prove himself again. Long's guidance to feed high-quality interior players is absolutely a must, and with him, Peak Cousins is also obedient, so that there is no complaint in the bottom corner of the air defense; thick eyebrow brother only entered the playoffs once when the Pelicans were the boss, and one of them was more or less stained with the light of Long's guidance.
The most effective of the Cavaliers today is undoubtedly their long line: the starter can put Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Markkanen, three three who are above 2 meters 11 in the third, fourth and fifth positions. In theory, Long can feed these three big men to vomit, instead of taking the ball and shooting three points like when he was in the Lakers, doing what he is not good at. Don't forget that the Cavaliers bench also sits on the bench like Kevin Luck, a former All-Star power forward.
In short, it is completely feasible to let Long direct the role of Ricky Rubio before. As for the degree to which it can reach the success of the previous Spanish Golden Boy and how well it can be run-in with the team, it depends on the degree of call from Rondo and the four big men of Allen, Mobley, Markkanen, and Lefour, I believe that for Long's coaching, this is not a problem at all.
Are you optimistic about the prospects of Coach Long joining the Cavaliers? Can he make up for Rubio's season reimbursement and help Cleveland return to the playoffs after years?