Cavs Stock Up, Stock Down heading into the playoffs

Stock Steady: Darius Garland

Darius Garland has fallen off of late from an efficiency perspective, as he’s connected on only 42.0 percent of his shots and just 28.6 percent of his threes in his past 11 games. It’s been a bit strange to see recently as to why his deep looks have been off, as Garland routinely creates ample separation to hit those shots on-ball, and is never a player opponents can rotate off of.

That said, he’s still averaged 7.2 assists per game in that 11-game span, and he still has come up with some key baskets at times, en route to averaging 19.6 points in that stretch. Plus, he’s his average plus-minus in his 11 appearances has been plus-8.4.

Garland’s efficiency has to more along the lines of how he’s done for the vast majority of the seeason, in which he’s often been on-point as a multi-level scorer, in the playoffs. Him converting on 41.0 percent of his threes in the postseason might be a tall order, but either way, if he can knock down open looks at times when they come, that’d help get him rolling again.

However, what also has to be acknowledged is how Garland has continually gotten better as a primary playmaker, and decision-maker for Cleveland. He’s consistently been a crucial factor for getting Mitchell, Mobley, and LeVert, among others going with his deliveries.