Darius Garland will make-or-break Cleveland Cavaliers season
By Tony Pesta
Darius Garland will make-or-break the Cleveland Cavaliers season: He has ramped up his scoring
The biggest concern for Garland thus far has been his lack of aggression. He always seemed hesitant to shoot the ball and insert himself directly into the scoring mix.
Garland was attempting roughly 12 field goals per game to start the season. Since Sexton’s injury, DG is hoisting 18.0 shots a night and 9.7 three-pointers. The lack of scoring due to a depleted Cavs’ roster has forced Garland to ramp up his production.
He has been successful thus far, too. Garland is averaging 21.3 points and 5.0 assists during that stretch. That places him as one of 13 players in the league to average 20+ points and 5+ assists over the last six games. Alongside him are names like Stephen Curry, Trae Young, and Ja Morant.
This is the most aggressive version of Garland we have seen. He is shooting off of the dribble more than ever and is converting over 55 percent of his drives to the hoop, an area of weakness in the past.
Putting pressure on the defense by getting to the rim is going to be vital for Garland and the Cavaliers moving forward. Drive-and-kicks are the most effective way to generate open three-point shots, but this only works if Garland is a true threat to score in the paint.
The next step for Garland is to continue attacking the basket so he can keep the defense on their heels. Drawing contact and getting to the free-throw line will make everything easier, as well. He only attempts 2.1 free throws per game, the sixth-fewest of 38 NBA players racking up at least 34 minutes of playing time a night.