This concerns me too because Sexton, KPJ, Nance, and Cedi are showing a relative path forward to build this team. Having a team that is built on more of a decentralizing the PG duties. Having guys play both on and off the ball regardless of position.
I think Sexton is coming close to where he looks like he will be a very solid or top level #2 option. KPJ has flashes and it seems like it's only a matter of time before he is a starter. Then you add another top 5 draft pick into the mix and no protections over the head of the front office, Garland might get lost in the mix.
The opportunities to just learn won't be as prevalent as this team progresses. I hope the light goes on for Garland this season and he has a chance to really build on some success over the off-season. I think Cedi is an example of a player that if the light went on after the first season, that his opportunities would have matched up to really push his development. Yet for Cedi that light came on a year too late and those opportunities weren't there anymore.
I'd love to see him break out for a 35-point coming-out party, but I'm not sure I would prefer seeing it if it came at the cost of his teammates resenting him, as often happens with young rookie guards on bad teams just looking to rack up numbers and letting the chips fall where they may.
I understand the concept you are laying out there... if he continues with the 15 point, 7 assist type games, how do we know he can ever be more than that when/if the Cavs reach a point where they really need him to do it. I get it. I'd love to see a huge night for Darius in a win.
However, this is where I will be the dissenting voice ... he has been one of three constants in our little stretch of good play. When I say "constants" I don't mean that he is one of the guys putting up monster numbers. To the contrary, a lot of nights he has a very pedestrian boxscore. But, in each of the 4 wins in 5 games at the most critical junctures of the games (4th quarter and overtime), Garland, Nance and TT have been on the floor. The other two spots have been filled alternatively and based on the opponent, the way the game is going, etc, by Porter, Collin, Love, Cedi and a couple of those guys REALLY had it going toward the end of some games (Sexton last night, Porter the night before).
I think the mistake people make is they start focusing on one or two guys that are maybe the boxscore stars of that particular game, but might fail to notice the constants. When Porter went off the other night and destroyed Miami, it was next to Garland in the backcourt. When Collin was making big buckets last night, it was next to Garland. I'm not saying he is the lone reason those guys had great nights, but I am saying that his current approach to playing allows for someone to step up and do their thing. Garland is fine being the set-up man or maybe even the hockey assist man that takes some pride in his one-on-one defensive matchups.
I would never compare Darius to Kyrie just because the talent disparity is so massive... but Kyrie STILL hasn't figured out how to really impact a team in a positive way on nights when he isn't scoring 30+ points and dominating the ball (while alienating teammates).
I've also noticed that, especially when it comes to Tristan, they are really hyping Garland up when there is a timeout or stoppage on the floor late in games recently. It is a lot of what looks like genuine joy from the big guys about how Garland is playing especially defensively.
I do think there comes a point where it stops being an accident the ball moves really well and the intensity on both ends kicks up a notch when Darius is out there. And there is also a reason Bickerstaff's closing group since he took over *always* begins with Garland, Nance and TT, and then he will fill in the rest with whomever he feels best about any given night.
Would you rather Garland be putting up 25 points every night and the Cavs losing every game and continuing to look as miserable as they did earlier in the season or do we want him learning on the job how to actually lead a team and figuring out when to kick it up a notch while having a positive impact on the guys around you regardless of your own personal number of points, rebounds or assists or whatever. It is easy to play hard late in games when you have 25 points or 15 rebounds or 10 assists. The mark of a leader is the guy who is going to bring it and not give two sh!ts about his own numbers. I think that is a big reason why the vets have really taken to Garland and he seems more comfortable talking about being a "leader" in interviews. He is starting to "get it."