Darius Garland, the Cleveland Cavaliers point guard, is the sole representative for the team at this year’s All-Star Game taking place in Cleveland. The fact that the Cavs only have one player going to the game is absolutely unacceptable. The Cavaliers have been “the story” of the NBA this year and yet they are only getting one player to represent them at the showcase of the league.
Cleveland had Evan Mobley, the rookie big man out of USC, and Jarrett Allen, Mr. Double-Double, not get selected to be at least reserves in this year’s game, again in Cleveland. The tragedy of the league faltering in this manner will only damage the league’s reputation. They’re going to need to make up for their mistakes and one way they can gain back some decency is to make sure all three Cavs make the All-Star game in the future. They all have definitely earned a nomination this year.
The Cavs stand at 32-21 on the season, good for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. This team is likely going to not only make it to the playoffs, but make a push at the championship this year. That type of production isn’t going to disappear in future seasons so expect the three players including Garland, Allen, and Mobley to be right there competing next season.
Let’s take a look at all three players, and discuss why each is worthy of the selection this year, and definitely why they’ll deserve the nod next year at the All-Star Game.
#1: Darius Garland
The conversation after Collin Sexton, the other Cavaliers regular starting guard, went down with a season-ending injury was how would the team respond and more specifically, could Garland replace Sexton’s production and become the guy to help quarterback the team.
We certainly got the answer quickly this year, as Garland has soared and has helped guide the team to a nice season record and eyeing a playoff run this spring. To top it off, Garland was selected as a reserve for the upcoming All-Star Game. He is now considered one of the best in the league.
There doesn’t appear that there will be any dropoff in the years to follow. His confidence has grown tremendously before our own eyes. It’s exciting to watch the level of play increase with every dribble.
Garland’s averaging 20 points on the season, to go along with over eight assists a game. These are all sharp increases from his previous two seasons but also demonstrate how a young player can gain valuable time while playing on the court and become an All-Star. He’s only had two single-digit scoring games this season, and both of those were nine-point outputs. He’s scored over 20 points in 22 games.
His assists per game are just as impressive. Back in January, he rattled off five games in a row where he had 11 assists or more. He even had an 18-assist night in that batch of games, that included a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder; that was a career-best.
The sky is the limit for this kid. I’ve been saying that for three seasons. He wasn’t able to showcase those skills as much the previous two years but now with Sexton out, Garland has found his way and now is probably lining up to go to many All-Star Games in the future.
#2: Jarrett Allen
Jarrett Allen was robbed of an All-Star selection this year, but he’s the most consistent member of the Cavs team and has helped this team get to be where they are today.
Without Allen’s production, the Cavs wouldn’t be a playoff team. After the snub from the NBA, Allen went out and destroyed the Charlotte Hornets the other night and finished with a career-high 29 points and had a season-high 22 rebounds. Just your average night for the big man, who has been a member of the team for over a year now after being part of the multi-team James Harden trade.
I had called him out very early in the season because he had a series of games where he wasn’t scoring or doing much of anything, to be quite honest. But the light bulb must have gone off in his head then because he’s been nothing short of spectacular since that moment in time.
He’s had 36 games out of 38 since that time of scoring in double figures. He has 27 double-doubles on the season, and he’s averaging 16 points and 11 rebounds too on the year.
He certainly looks to have turned a corner in his career and I would expect him to be an All-Star selection from this point forward. There’s also a good chance that one of the Eastern Conference starters or reserves won’t be able to play in this game and Allen will get to suit up in front of his hometown fans. A little wishful thinking isn’t that out of line when we are hoping Allen gets the call.
#3: Evan Mobley
Evan Mobley could have easily been an NBA All-Star this season, but being a rookie in the league is a tough place to be if you wanted to be selected, despite the solid statistical numbers and overall play that everyone this season has been witness to.
He’s averaging 15 points and eight boards on the year. But more than that, if you watch Mobley on a nightly basis, you will see firsthand how he’s made his young Cavalier team better and have them eyeing a playoff run already.
He is the difference-maker with this team. Without him on the team this season, the Cavaliers are not in third place in the Eastern Conference. He is an excellent defender and has left opponents on the outside looking in and saying to themselves, “Oh God, we can’t go in there!”
Why? Because Mobley has become the ultimate rim protector and defensive player. He can guard the guards and wings on the outside, due to his outstanding footwork and lateral ability to keep the little guys running around confused on how to score on the big guy. And when bigger and more powerful post players do try and score over Mobley, the rookie uses his outstanding instincts and natural abilities to often alter or even block their shots.
Offensively, Mobley is as calm and smooth with his jumper as someone taking a snooze in a hammock on a breezy beach shoreline. He can pull up along the baseline, take a step back three at times from the top of the key or flush home a slam dunk. Opponents can’t figure him out because he’s such a smart player and keeps adding shots to his repertoire.
Many All-Star Games will include Mobley and next season will be the first, in my opinion. Rookie of the Year honors await this young Cavalier for now, but be ready Cavs fans to watch Mobley in the All-Star game for years to come.
It’ll be nice to see Garland in the NBA All-Star Game in a few weeks, but it will be triple the fun next season to see Allen and Mobley join him.