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From a column by Kelsey Russo on Garland in The Athletic:
Garland’s sophomore season started on a high note. He was averaging 17.2 points and 6.3 assists per game through the first six games before his shoulder injury....
With him on the court in 286 minutes this season, the Cavs have an offensive rating of 110.5. With him off the court, their offensive rating is 102.2. They are 8.3 points per 100 possessions better when Garland is on the court than when he isn’t.
Garland worked out with his brother and his dad, Winston, during the extended offseason, finding his way to a gym. He tried all kinds of workouts to stay in shape: running, pool workouts, boxing and biking. He lifted weights to build strength and fill out his body. He changed his diet, cutting out fast food and sweets, eating more protein and vegetables.
When the Cavs held a minicamp in September, Bickerstaff noticed an air of confidence in Garland. He saw an added strength. He noticed an ability to finish through contact, make shots at all levels and create shots for himself and others. There was a willingness to compete on both ends of the floor...
He floored teammates during the early games of the season with his drastic improvements.
“I don’t think there was anyone that could have foreseen this,” Larry Nance Jr. said in December. “I mean, he’s been, defensively, has been improved. He’s talking, he’s calling plays, he’s relaying the plays that J.B. calls, you know, tells him, and he’s relaying the team being loud, taking the lead, and that standpoint. So I can’t say enough positive about Darius Garland.”
Throughout the first stretch of his second year, Garland said he’s noticed how the game is slowing down for him. He sees different reads, picking out various places where his teammates get their best shots and when they get to those spots. He knows players’ tendencies around the league, their strengths and weaknesses and their spots on the floor from watching film.....
“He’s a unifier,” Bickerstaff said. “What he does on the offensive end of the floor is, he involves everybody. He makes everybody feel like they’re part of it. So having him on the floor accelerates that stuff. He makes his teammates better. He can obviously score the ball. But he’s a guy who, through his spirit and his game, brings people together.”
Last night he kicked in 24 points against the Knicks on 9-for-17. It looks like he's fully recovered from the shoulder injury and back in sync. I'm looking forward to seeing him continue to grow over the next 50+ games. He just turned 21 last week.
Garland’s sophomore season started on a high note. He was averaging 17.2 points and 6.3 assists per game through the first six games before his shoulder injury....
With him on the court in 286 minutes this season, the Cavs have an offensive rating of 110.5. With him off the court, their offensive rating is 102.2. They are 8.3 points per 100 possessions better when Garland is on the court than when he isn’t.
Garland worked out with his brother and his dad, Winston, during the extended offseason, finding his way to a gym. He tried all kinds of workouts to stay in shape: running, pool workouts, boxing and biking. He lifted weights to build strength and fill out his body. He changed his diet, cutting out fast food and sweets, eating more protein and vegetables.
When the Cavs held a minicamp in September, Bickerstaff noticed an air of confidence in Garland. He saw an added strength. He noticed an ability to finish through contact, make shots at all levels and create shots for himself and others. There was a willingness to compete on both ends of the floor...
He floored teammates during the early games of the season with his drastic improvements.
“I don’t think there was anyone that could have foreseen this,” Larry Nance Jr. said in December. “I mean, he’s been, defensively, has been improved. He’s talking, he’s calling plays, he’s relaying the plays that J.B. calls, you know, tells him, and he’s relaying the team being loud, taking the lead, and that standpoint. So I can’t say enough positive about Darius Garland.”
Throughout the first stretch of his second year, Garland said he’s noticed how the game is slowing down for him. He sees different reads, picking out various places where his teammates get their best shots and when they get to those spots. He knows players’ tendencies around the league, their strengths and weaknesses and their spots on the floor from watching film.....
“He’s a unifier,” Bickerstaff said. “What he does on the offensive end of the floor is, he involves everybody. He makes everybody feel like they’re part of it. So having him on the floor accelerates that stuff. He makes his teammates better. He can obviously score the ball. But he’s a guy who, through his spirit and his game, brings people together.”
Last night he kicked in 24 points against the Knicks on 9-for-17. It looks like he's fully recovered from the shoulder injury and back in sync. I'm looking forward to seeing him continue to grow over the next 50+ games. He just turned 21 last week.
