It’s evident that Cleveland Cavaliers rookie guard Darius Garland is going to have a steady approach, which is particularly encouraging, and he’s off to a good start to his NBA career.
Rookies in the NBA are always going to have their ups and downs, and rookie primary playmakers, usually point guards specifically, are going to have even more growing pains. At face value, one could argue that Cleveland Cavaliers rookie guard Darius Garland has not gotten off to that great of a start to his career.
He currently has averaged 3.7 assists and 3.0 turnovers per game, and has an effective field goal shooting clip of only 45.3% (per NBA.com).
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If you’ve really watched Cavs games at this point, though, you’d probably say that Garland’s looked very promising and that the numbers will pick up for him.
He’s played at a good pace, has continuously gotten his teammates involved throughout games and initiated ball-swings often, and has by and large, gotten separation well to create quality looks for himself off-the-bounce.
Garland has an assist rate of 19.0%, which is third on the Cavs at this point, with veteran backup guard Matthew Dellavedova leading Cleveland and star big Kevin Love, who has been a key playmaker for head coach John Beilein, second.
At any rate, Garland has looked really comfortable for a rookie that’s only played four NBA games for the most part, and the way he seems on the floor, and with his approach throughout availability to this point with the media, it’s apparent that Garland has an ideal temperament for a youngster.
He’s seemingly had a steady vibe to him, in that he’ll have a smile on his face, but he also seems to have the never-too high and never-too-low mindset, which is always a nice one to have for a lead guard.
After Wednesday’s shootaround, Garland seemed to again come off as having a steady approach, and just knowing that it’s a process, and more positive things will come if he keeps playing the right way.
Garland has had an underwhelming 9.7 points per game by his standards, but that’s really not bad at all at this point, and though he’s struggled defensively, not many young guards are plus defenders, anyhow.
He also appeared in only five games at Vanderbilt in his collegiate career (per Sports Reference) due to a reported meniscus tear, but on the bright side, he seems fully healthy now.
Anyway, here’s a bit of what Garland had to say about shots not going in as normal for him, as was transcribed by 92.3 The Fan’s James Rapien.
"“It’s a couple shots that I’ve been taking in games that I usually make,” Garland said. “Just trying to knock some of the rust off – just trying to get my groove back.”"
Additionally, when asked about goals for this season, it was clear that Garland’s just thinking about the group as a whole, and getting more and more on the same page with his teammates, which is essential.
Here’s more on that, per the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Grow relationships and get teammates involved more ✅@dariusgarland22 knows chemistry is important for his basketball growth: https://t.co/8fcrIoARSa#BeTheFight pic.twitter.com/6NIfzLIuFC
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 30, 2019
This soundbite is not just playing into Garland saying what the organization wants to hear.
If you’ve seen how he’s played at this point, even with him not nearly being able to showcase his big-time scoring potential thus far, it’s clear that he’s going to make the right play, and the shots will come for Garland.
He’s shot a respectable 35.7% from three-point range, and I’d imagine will end up near the 40.2% then-rookie guard Collin Sexton shot from deep last season (per NBA.com).
Garland has an outstanding handle and range, manipulates pick-and-rolls well, and is going to always get his teammates involved throughout games and as he gains more experience, the chemistry will come as he plays more with pieces such Sexton, young wing Cedi Osman, Kevin Love and others.
Again, though, the more I see in regards to Garland, both on the floor and from the soundbites from media availability, the more is encouraged I am, as Garland has that steady vibe to him.
It’s a big plus for the rookie that Sexton, who went through his share of ups and downs in his rookie season in 2018-19, is a player Garland can go to this year for advice, too.
Garland highlighted that recently, as was transcribed by Forbes‘ Evan Dammarell.
"“Collin’s been like my big brother throughout the whole season,” Garland said. “He’s always talking to me, on and off the court, about little things, really. He’s been through it. And I listen to him.”"
It’s also a key positive for Garland to be able to go to his father, Winston Garland, too, as the season progresses. Winston played seven seasons in the NBA and was a point/lead guard himself.
He started 315 of 511 career regular season games (per Basketball Reference) and played for the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles (then not branded just LA) Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets and then Minnesota Timberwolves, and he’ll be a rock for Darius to rely on in his NBA career for advice.
That plays right into the Cleveland Cavaliers rookie having a steadiness about him, and that’s seemingly an ideal mindset to have in what will hopefully be a really long career for Garland with Cleveland.
The Cavs should be more than satisfied with the play of Darius Garland at this point, and I’d expect his production to pick up very, very soon.
Perhaps Garland can even go off on Wednesday against, maybe at times, his buddy Coby White (as Rapien hit on) and the Chicago Bulls.
Either way, the never-too-high, never-too-low vibe with Garland on the floor and seemingly off it should be particularly encouraging to Cavs fans, Beilein and the coaching staff and the organization.