What’s up with Darius Garland?

There’s been a lot of chatter in the media about Darius Garland’s performance this season. The former all star just can’t seem to stay healthy, and when he is he isn’t playing near as well as he used to. Right? Here’s a look at what’s up with Darius Garland. 

Career 

Over the course of his career, Garland is averaging 18.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.2 steals a game. Through the previous two seasons, however, he’s become more comfortable in the league. Increasing his averages up to highs of 21.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 8.6 assists, he earned a spot on the 2021-22 All Star team. 

Although his numbers took a dip when Donovan Mitchell joined the team, it was only by a very little amount. Rather than impeding they compliment each other’s playstyle well, and Garland managed to keep his numbers very comparable. 

This season

Although Garland’s numbers aren’t quite as low as his pre-all star seasons, his play has still seen a slight decline this season. In the 30 games he’s played (out of the 54 Cleveland’s played) he’s averaging 18.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals. His turnover rate has also increased, at 3.3, currently higher than all but one of his previous seasons.

It is important to note that he missed time due to injury at the start of the season. After having surgery on a broken jaw, Garland lost about 12 pounds in his time out. It is evident that he’s putting the weight back on, but that kind of drastic change will have an effect on any and everyone. It’s to be expected that his play will take time to recalibrate. 

Last game, in Cleveland’s loss to the Orlando Magic, Garland showed he can still play at an all star quality. He finished with 18 points, two rebounds, 10 assists and two steals. Whether it was whipping the ball across the arc or quickly tapping the ball back to a teammate in transition, Garland put his elite passing vision on display. Though he did have four turnovers, an issue that has been persistent this season. 

Should Cleveland fans worry? 

With Garland’s stats down, is there reason for Cleveland fans to worry? After all, their winning streak did come to an end against Orlando. 

The short answer is that they absolutely do not. Garland is still putting up quality stats in the games he has been able to play in. For reference, the average stat line of point guards this season is 12 points, three rebounds, 4.3 assists and 0.8 steals. 

Aside from hitting the shots he’s known to hit, he was able to find enough teammates for a score to earn himself a double-double. With the tools this team has, his ability to move the ball is maybe more dangerous than it’s ever been. 

As for what’s up with Garland, worrying is about as effective as sitting in a rocking chair. It fills time, but doesn’t get anybody anywhere. Garland is playing exceptionally well for a player that’s dealt with the kinds of injuries he has this season, and with the postseason approaching the Cavaliers are sitting comfortably high in the Eastern Conference. There’s a reason for that. This is an extremely talented team, with enough talent and depth to make noise in the playoffs. 

As for the loss to the Magic, there are a few perspectives emanating from the game like light from a prism. The winning streak ended, but Mitchell missed the game. Garland didn’t have a high scoring performance in Mitchell’s absence, but he recorded a double-double in points and assists. They lost to a team way lower in the standings, but they still played an overall good game. 

Cavalier fans should not worry, in fact with how well Cleveland’s been playing they should be excited. Every year this team improves, and there’s no reason to think this year will be any different. 

They look to bounce back against the 76rs in Philadelphia this Friday night (February, 23) at 7:00 PM. 

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Featured photo courtesy of NBA.com

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