CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs The Red Sox need a full season from their Core Four to compete with the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Darius Garland is on the front lines as the leader of the snake.
A fractured jaw and a significant family loss made for a tumultuous 2023-24 season that clearly took a toll on the Cavs point guard.
Garland finished the year averaging 18 points, 6.5 assists and 3.1 turnovers per game, while shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three-point range. Almost all of those stats were worse than the previous two seasons.
This offseason, speculation has been rife around the NBA as numerous teams have inquired about trade offers for the 24-year-old. However, after Garland made it clear that he I didn’t want to be tradedThe Cavs turned down all offers.
The Cavs have opted to bring back players around Garland to ensure at least another year for the Core Four, which is entering its third season together. Jarrett Allen, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley all signed extensions with the team this offseason.
Given last season’s performances, where Mitchell emerged as an MVP candidate and Mobley showed his potential in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the eventual champion Boston Celtics, these are the players fans are counting on to lead the team further into the playoffs. While Mitchell and Mobley’s continued success is undoubtedly crucial, a resurgence by Garland could have just as much, if not more, impact.
Everything seems to indicate that Garland is going to have a bounce-back year, as he has taken social media by storm more than once this offseason.
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His workouts have been circulating on the Internet, with the the last success being a windmill dunk on two feet to finish a workout with Portland pioneer Jabari Walker. While a windmill is a new move in Garland’s repertoire, it wasn’t the most eye-catching part of the video.
When the 192-pound goalie fractured his jaw, he had to drink through a straw and was banned from physical activity for an extended period. He lost 12 pounds in a month.
Garland now appears to be back to his old, potentially stronger, form. For a player like him who excels at getting to the basket with his hesitations and dribble moves, the added strength and verticality should boost his confidence to finish at the basket rather than shy away from it, especially against bigger defenders like he has in the past.
A stronger, reinvigorated and confident Garland is exactly the player the Cavs need to lead the charge on offense.
His ability to change speeds and his nervousness make him a tough goalie for anyone to beat, earning the respect of the league’s best defenders.
“I’m a huge fan,” new Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said of Garland during his introductory news conference. “I can’t tell you how many times he destroyed us when we were in Brooklyn. He’s obviously a great shooter.” [and] an underrated passer.
Garland has been working on his bag of tricks all summer and testing moves against anyone who comes in front of him, including former Cav Jordan Clarkson and newly drafted Bronny James.
Last season’s underperformance naturally drew the attention of some skeptics. But as the summer draws to a close, the NBA 2K25 video game has added fuel to the fire.
Garland was recently ranked 75th in NBA 2K25 with an overall rating of 82, down from 87 in 2K23 and 86 in 2K24. His new positioning puts him in the same category as players like Alex Caruso and Jalen Suggs, who are known more for their defensive prowess than their offensive impact. To dispel those doubts and prove he’s better than his current ranking suggests, Garland will need to demonstrate his ability to contribute to his team’s success in multiple ways.
All the highlights of the game take a back seat if the fundamentals are compromised by lackadaisical play.
The biggest challenge for Garland and Atkinson will be seamlessly integrating Garland’s game with Mitchell’s. As a point guard, Garland must sharpen his decision-making to generate offense for himself and his teammates while minimizing the turnovers that have plagued him in the past.
If Garland can regain his All-Star form while facilitating opportunities for Mitchell and Mobley to flourish — creating three high-level scorers on offense — the Cavs could emerge as one of the top contenders in the East.
But it all starts with Garland.
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