Many thought Darius Garland could be the dynamic floor general for a good NBA team. The Cavaliers expressly used the No. 5 pick of the 2019 NBA draft on Garland because they wanted him to be the foundation of their new team. High expectations from the get-go for anyone.
So far, so good for the 22-year-old. In his third season in Cleveland, Garland is lighting it up for one of the NBA’s more underrated, surprise teams. A stacked East has seen the Cavaliers hanging in there, largely thanks to Garland. Let’s be honest: 20.5 points and 7.9 assists would help elevate the play of anyone.
On Friday, the Cavaliers (7.5-point underdogs) lost 125-119 to the 76ers, despite a hard-fought game. They only had a chance because Garland came to ball and almost wrestled control from Joel Embiid and Co.
Heat check 🔥@dariusgarland22 | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/tI7TdiWGgG
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) March 5, 2022
Oh man, you know you’re feeling it when you pull up with confidence on a fastbreak.
In the process of Garland’s performance, he matched LeBron James — another player who came to Cleveland and lived up to the tremendous hype — with an impressive mark.
Darius Garland joins LeBron James (x2) and Andre Miller as the only players in Cavs franchise history with multiple 25-point, 15-assist games in a single season.
He finished with 26 points and 19 assist Friday night vs the 76ers (also had 27 & 18 vs OKC earlier this season) pic.twitter.com/BNLzvIALuG
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 5, 2022
A 25 point, 15-assist game is an outstanding effort for any point guard. It means you more than fulfilled your responsibilities as a scorer and primary facilitator (and got a little lucky that your teammates were just as locked-in as shooters). Doing it five times in one season already speaks volumes of the kind of point guard Garland’s become so fast. It’s even more special when it matches James, an all-time great, and once the Cavaliers’ de facto point guard. What a symbolic way to pass the torch.
What a coincidence that the moment the Cavaliers have a great point guard like Garland again, they become a team to write home about.
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