The Cleveland Cavaliers have had a great start to the 2021-22 NBA season. They are 20-14 and have bucked standard convention with how they built their roster. While teams around the NBA are trending smaller, the Cavaliers went big with their lineup.
Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Lauri Markkanen are all seven-footers, yet all three are in the starting lineup together. It has led to the Cavaliers having a dominant defense, as they funnel everything on the perimeter toward their imposing duo of Allen and Mobley at the rim.
For a strategy like that to work, a team needs excellent production from the backcourt. Cleveland is getting that from Darius Garland, who is taking the next steps in his development and should garner some attention for an All-Star appearance.
The third-year guard is becoming a three-level scorer with ascending playmaking skills. He is putting in the work to develop his game, but some credit should be given to the presence of veteran point guard, Ricky Rubio.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Ricky Rubio, Cavaliers Face Complicated Situation After Torn ACL
Rubio has been everything the Cleveland Cavaliers were hoping and more since they acquired him from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the offseason. He was the only Cavalier to appear in all 34 games thus far this season, but that streak will, unfortunately, be coming to an end.
Against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night, Rubio suffered a knee injury. The worst outcome was revealed in an MRI, as Rubio was diagnosed with a torn ACL in his left knee. It is the second time that Rubio has torn his ACL in his left knee, as he also did it as a rookie in 2012.
This is a brutal blow for him and the team. Personally, Rubio is playing on an expiring deal. It will be tougher for him to land a multi-year deal heading into the offseason rehabbing an injury. He was having a solid season, averaging a career-high-tying 13.1 points with 4.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
There are plenty of teams that would have been interested in him, as he can provide value as a stopgap option in the starting five or a high-level backup to run the second team. With the Cavaliers, he spent a majority of the season coming off the bench, but his presence will be sorely missed.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Ricky Rubio, Cavaliers Face Complicated Situation After Torn ACL
Rubio was a big reason why the team has turned things around in the fashion that they did. After going 22-55 last season, the Cavaliers were going to blow that win total out of the water this season.
Kevin Love, who played with Rubio earlier in their careers with the Timberwolves, shared how disappointing it was to see one of his friends go down with an injury.
“Him and I have such a history,” Love said after Tuesday’s game. “I really care for him. … We’re just completely gutted. He was having such a great season.”
The Cavaliers had already suffered a major loss in their backcourt, as Collin Sexton had surgery on his meniscus and will also miss the remainder of the season. With Garland currently in the league’s health and safety protocols, Cleveland will be scrambling for a point guard in the next few games.
LATEST NBA NEWS: Ricky Rubio, Cavaliers Face Complicated Situation After Torn ACL
Even when Darius Garland returns, the Cleveland Cavaliers are going to need to find some backcourt help. Expect them to be active on the trade market as they will be looking for a veteran that can help produce at the same level Rubio did, but provide the veteran leadership that he did as well.
