Cleveland Cavaliers: Darius Garland has arrived as an offensive threat

Darius Garland was one of the 2019 Draft’s most mysterious prospects. His blazing hot freshman season in Vanderbilt was cut short due to a knee injury, leaving a small sample size for the Cleveland Cavaliers to consider before selecting him fifth overall.

During his rookie stint, it was evident Garland’s previous injury was still holding him back. The pure 3-point stroke and quick-twitch athleticism he showed in college was nowhere to be found at the NBA level.

Consequently, he struggled. DG posted just 14.7 points, 4.9 assists and 2.6 turnovers per game — finishing with zero Rookie of the Year votes. His lack of size, inconsistent shooting and underwhelming speed made Garland one of the worst starters in the entire association.

Fortunately, a nine-month layoff delivered all the time needed for Garland to fully heal and recuperate before heading into his sophomore season. The difference in his game has been night and day thus far.

Darius Garland has overcome a turbulent rookie season and is making his formal arrival as an offensive threat for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Before the season even began, the Cavaliers could see the difference in Garland’s game. DG emphasized rebuilding his body by changing his diet and adjusting his training regiment. The work paid off and his teammates were the first to notice in training camp.

"“He was pretty far and away the best player there — dominated the gym at times…He was awesome. He’s been healthy, he’s been shifty, he’s been shooting the heck out of it, obviously. That’s who my eye’s on — Darius Garland”Larry Nance Jr. on Darius Garland in December, Via Akron Beacon Journal"

Garland began the season with a bang, scoring 22 points and dishing six assists in a victory for the Cavaliers. This is a stat line he didn’t post once as a rookie but has since matched or beat it nine times in his sophomore season.

His injury concerns didn’t evaporate, however. Garland hit the deck hard in his sixth game of the season, ultimately missing the next two weeks with a shoulder strain. He has dealt with several other nagging injuries throughout the season but is gradually building momentum in both health and confidence.

Over his last 19 games, Garland is taking (and making) more shots than ever before. He’s up to 20.4 points per game on 47.7 percent shooting from the floor during this stretch. Furthermore, Garland has drilled 34-of-83 (41.0 percent) of his 3-point attempts since late March, the best streak of his young career.

Scoring on the perimeter has always been Garland’s strength. He flashed his potential to shoot the lights out even as a struggling rookie. Nonetheless, he’s built on his ability to score as of late, not only becoming a more consistent shooter but finishing at the rim at a higher rate as well.

Garland rarely attacked the paint last season due to his lack of size and mobility. Now that he’s healthy, his shiftiness is helping him burst into the paint and score more frequently, converting 58.0 percent of his attempts at the rim as opposed to just 46.0 percent as a rookie. This has opened up new avenues for Garland such as drawing contact and getting to the free-throw line twice as often as he did last year, where he is shooting close to 84 percent from the stripe. More importantly, his ability to finish in the paint is allowing him to create openings for teammates.

Garland’s scoring has been compounded by his threat as a passer this season. He has one of the most fascinating handles in the league and his IQ is skyrocketing as he acts one step ahead of the defense to manipulate and set up plays.

Since Feb. 21, Garland is averaging 6.6 assists per game. He’s thriving in the pick-and-roll with a lob-threat like Jarrett Allen and is constantly looking to kick out to the perimeter now that Kevin Love is back on the floor.

He is showing a knack for dropping all types of dimes. Whether it be full-court bounce passes with an extra spin for flare or one of his no-look slingshots to cutters, Garland has become a deadly playmaker.

Garland’s ability to be a triple-threat on offense, scoring in the paint, shooting 3-pointers and creating plays has helped him blossom into one of the best players of the 2019 Draft and a reliable building block for the Cavaliers moving forward.