If given more minutes, Cavs’ Darius Garland can make impact for Team USA

Garland, based on how he plays for the Cavs, could be a willing passer as the primary ball-handler for Team USA

This is more of an obvious choice, but it’s still valid. Between both of the first two exhibition games, the United States was 23-60 from three-point range. While 38 percent was nothing to laugh at, the majority of the deep shots had been taken by Damian Lillard or Kevin Durant.

Both are very good from behind the three-point arc, shooting 40 percent and 45 percent during this past NBA season. They were a combined 15-31 from behind the arc in both games. That’s pretty darn good. However, Lillard has been the primary ball-handler for the team. In Portland, he has to have the ball in his hands, because he’s the only playmaker on that team.

Conversely, for Team USA, Lillard would be better used by moving without the ball, and coming off of screens. In this situation, Garland could bring the ball up the floor while Durant, Lillard and Beal could be looking to find their open spots. In a simple sort of way, it would serve Team USA better if they had a more willing passer taking care of the ball-handling duties in these exhibition games, seemingly in Garland’s case.

Garland could easily take on this duty, and would be more than willing to look for an open Durant or Lillard. It’s not a good look when your primary ball-handler only had five assists in two games. Lillard did four in the third game, but personally, I think that Garland could have easily doubled that first two-game total if he had been given more minutes.

He had one assist on Tuesday, but it was a great one to Draymond Green.