Last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers had an array of players they could bolster a small-ball lineup with, namely LeBron James and Jeff Green. Those two were the key forces behind an elite small-ball lineup.
This season, there are really two things that will limit Cleveland from playing that type of lineup.
First of all, an elite, yet versatile, power forward will be a factor. The main goal of small-ball lineups is to spread the defense out and create open looks while, at the same time, creating a defensive lineup that’s quick and possesses at least mediocre rebounding.