Cavs: Two PGs Darius Garland should be learning from

Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland shoots the ball. (Photo by Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports) /

Cavs: Garland needs to ooze confidence

I think most basketball players growing up learn that there’s a certain amount of confidence you need to have if you wish to continue playing. Westbrook and Young both just ooze confidence. Trae Young’s “shimmy” before hitting a wide-open three was electric. Russell Westbrook goes out there every night to win, but he also contributes in any way possible. Furthermore, both of those guys are very, very good, and they know it.

They want to take the last shot. Trae Young looks forward to a raucous Madison Square Garden crowd, just so he can silence them. I’m not saying Garland isn’t confident in himself, but there are ways to show you are good, while also being a leader at the same time.

As we’ve seen over the course of the past two seasons, Collin Sexton, rightfully so, has taken a lot of the shots. Now if somebody did that to Trae Young, and didn’t get him passes, he would demand the ball. He would because he knows he can help the team right away. The same can be said on the defensive side, referring to Russell Westbrook. Kawhi Leonard could be on the same team as Westbrook, and Westbrook would still choose to defend the best player a bunch.

By showing confidence, especially at the point guard position, only makes you more valuable. I’ve always looked at the point guard position like it’s the quarterback in football. To be a good quarterback you talk your talk, and you back it up. The same can be said for hoops.

Next. Controlled aggression is crucial for Garland in Year 3. dark

Garland has already made some great second-year leaps, but to become the special player we are all hoping he is, he’ll need to watch Young and Westbrook more closely.