CavsKermit
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The Cavs are 7-9 in games Garland plays that Mitchell doesn't. That's a 43% winning percentage.
The 76ers are 11-17 in games Maxey plays that Embiid doesn't. That's a 39% winning percentage.
I don't see enough of a difference here to continue harping this same bolded point. I also don't see anyone saying, "injuries don't matter, only the team's record with that player leading the charge position." Can you point me to that?
I'll be curious to see what this comparison looks like as the Cavs' sample size grows with Mitchell out.
As far as individual stats are concerned, Maxey blows Garland out of the water this season. He's putting up 26 points per game, averaging the exact same number of assists as Garland, however, he's turning the ball over nearly half as often as Darius. His efg% is 1 point lower, likely because Darius has slightly more 3 point volume on the same shooting percentage.
To say that you'd currently take Garland without question is denying the facts at hand in favor of subjectivity that lacks substance.
I can run down the individual stats for Desmond Bane too (the Grizzlies are 14-26 when he plays, fwiw), but he's statistically the best two-way player of the 3. He left my mind when I listed guys to compare Darius to the other day, but that's a guy I'd take over Darius on this Cavs team without thinking twice. Perfect blend of need and skillset. A Mitchell/Bane tandem would give teams absolute fits on both ends of the court.
Maxey is requiring A LOT of attempts (20 pg) to get to 26 points per game, they're not winning with Maxey playing that way, and Maxey currently has Tobias Harris/Buddy Heild available to help keep defenses honest. If Embiid comes back healthy for the playoffs, Maxey won't be averaging 20 shots pg.
Bane can't run an offense, create his own offense, or break down an opposing defense off the dribble. He's basically a 3&D guy who's defense is actually problematic against quicker guards as he's top heavy. We're seeing what it looks like when he doesn't have a legitimate PG to stir the drink. I'm not at all convinced he'd pair better with Mitchell in the playoffs as Mitchell would be facing the same type of defensive pressure Garland is, maybe even worse, and LeVert would still be the only secondary creator available.