Cavs: Darius Garland getting to free throw line more is crucial next season
By Dan Gilinsky
To help him be in-rhythm more consistently for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Darius Garland should look to get to the free throw line more next season.
I’ve been encouraged by the playmaking feel and passing vision of Darius Garland in his rookie season for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
While the Cavs have been hardly the prime of example of assist totals this season, as they are just 25th on the year in that category, according to NBA.com, they’ve been more productive lately in that department, being tied for ninth among teams in their last 15 games, and Garland has led the way for Cleveland most of the year in regards to assists.
More from King James Gospel
- 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
- The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
- 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
- 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
- This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead
Garland, even while turnovers will still plague him at times, which is understandable, he’s shown he’s capable of making wrap-around passes, dimes to cutters, extra passes, logical dump-offs and lobs. Tristan Thompson, Larry Nance Jr. and also Andre Drummond would definitely attest to the dump-offs and lobs in relation to Garland, too.
To me, while I’m aware Garland might not be at really his full capacity with him coming off a reported meniscus tear that cut his Vanderbilt career to just five games last season, next season, Garland should seek out more free throw opportunities.
Hopefully, Garland, who missed the Cavaliers’ last game against the Utah Jazz due to a reported left groin strain and is reportedly out versus the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, can get stronger this offseason. That would likely help him as a finisher on the interior (he has only a 46.8 percent hit rate on shots 0-3 feet out) and likely lead to him having more free throw chances.
Thus far in the 2019-20 season, Garland has averaged just 1.2 free throw attempts per game and only 1.4 free throw attempts per 36 minutes, per Basketball Reference. Granted, I’ve been glad to see Garland show better touch on floaters, for the most part, as the season’s progressed and his scoring average of 12.3 points per game has been fine, in my opinion.
Nonetheless, while I’ve been a fan of DG not forcing shots up recklessly and looking to get his teammates, such as Collin Sexton, Love, Cedi Osman, Kevin Porter Jr. and Nance going a bunch, getting to the free throw line more next season would allow Garland to be in-rhythm more consistently as a scorer/shooter.
This year, while he’s likely to break Sexton’s Cavs’ rookie three-pointers record of 119 and is shooting a decent 35.5 percent from deep, as DG already has made 105 triples, per Basketball Reference, and his two-point shooting clip of 43.4 percent has been fairly underwhelming, a point of emphasis going forward should be getting more free throw chances.
Additionally, with Kevin Love seemingly having a good possibility of being traded this summer with the free agent pool being weak, the Cleveland Cavaliers may want Garland to be more assertive as a scorer next season, and if Love is dealt, feasibly have a few more shots per outing than Garland’s 11.8.
That’s factoring in the Cavs having likely a top five draft selection in June, too, and hypothetically, another lower first-round pick or developmental second-rounder (and likely another future 2) maybe via Love deal.
Make no mistake, I still am fine with Garland’s three-point shooting, and if gets more explosive, with his handle, he would likely get more separation in that way as well.
With DG’s ability to change speeds, though, I believe he’s left some opportunities on the floor this season when he’s had defenders chasing or contesting in a somewhat undisciplined manner, which could’ve led to some more free throws. Garland has shot 87.5 percent from the charity stripe, too.
Hopefully, this offseason, a point of emphasis, somewhat coincided with some added muscle/explosive quickness for the 192-pound DG (assuming his groin injury isn’t nagging), will be Garland getting more free throw opportunities.
Perhaps working alongside Collin Sexton, Cleveland’s leading scorer and who also has averaged a solid 4.1 free throw attempts per game this season, could aid the 6-foot-1 DG in his feel in that regard, and Garland could help Collin in his pick-and-roll feel as a passer for both to have more counters, too.
Anyhow, Garland could get in better rhythm next season as a scorer throughout games, with him perhaps having more decisiveness in letting pull-ups fly, and lead to him and Cleveland being more efficient offensively next year/coming years if DG seeks out contact more inside after ball-fakes and gets more free throw chances.