Darius Garland needs to step up this playoffs

The Cavs will need Garland at his best in the postseason.

The theme for Darius Garland this season? Revenge. This comes after a year last season where he suffered a broken jaw that cost him two months and almost 15 pounds. The injury set him back so much that he not only played basketball at his lowest weight since high school, but it also caused him to lose his joy for the game.

Fortunately for Garland and the Cleveland Cavaliers, he has rediscovered his joy this season. Garland has bounced back to his All-Star form, earning his second selection and is on pace to set a career-high in field goal percentage (47.2%). He has also been one of the NBA’s best in the clutch this season, as he is tenth in total points (97), has an incredible net rating (+31.6), and shoots 56% from the field and 56% from three-point range in the clutch. In case you were wondering, those aren’t typos.

Additionally, Garland’s ability to break down his defender and get to his spots has been at a high level all year, shown by his 54% clip on floaters and his 200 made three-pointers this season. He is also shooting 41% on above-the-break threes.

However, since the All-Star break, Garland has seen some slippage. Post break, he is only averaging about 18 points on 40% shooting, 32% from three-point range, and has only six games of 20 points or more, compared to 32 such games before the break.

Garland has still been effective as a playmaker, averaging about seven assists per game post-break and he is showcasing the same confidence in his game and shot selection, but his efficiency has taken a dip.

This isn’t something to worry about, as games against the Boston Celtics, the Portland Trail Blazers just last week, and the win over the Brooklyn Nets show that the point guard will be just fine. In those matchups, Garland showcased the clutch ability he has displayed all season and closed those games out. He was confident and assertive when it mattered most. Yes, the efficiency dip is concerning, but he has shown in a handful of games that he will show up when needed.

The playoffs have not been kind to Garland though, as he’s only averaged 18 points on 43% shooting, 36% from three, and three turnovers per game. He’s also had nightmare outings like Game 3 against the New York Knicks in 2023 and Game 5 against the Celtics last year. Cleveland is hoping the third time’s the charm for their All-Star point guard and it has to be.

In order for the Cavs to accomplish their championship goals this season, they are going to need Garland to be the Robin to Donovan Mitchell’s Batman (or Spida-Man). He doesn’t need to carry the offensive burden or anything of the sort, but he has to be able to put constant pressure on the defense with his shot creation and playmaking. Yes, the Cavs have the depth to survive a bad Garland game, but they aren’t going far if he isn’t playing at an All-Star level. The question becomes, is this post-break slippage a concerning sign of things to come or just a blip in the road?