Did you know the Cavaliers are 4-2 with Darius Garland and 2-5 without?
That is just one reason why the Cavs need the starting backcourt of Garland (shoulder) and Collin Sexton (ankle) to get healthy. They win more when those two are in the lineup, with Sexton being the leading scorer and Garland showing marked improvement.
This isn’t all about Sexton and Garland, because the Cavs’ defense under J.B. Bickerstaff generally has become a sight to behold. A lot of that is a credit to Bickerstaff. But Garland and Sexton were showing improvement in that area before the injuries.
Mostly, the rise in defense is the result of some actual rim protection in starting center Andre Drummond and shot-altering veteran backup JaVale McGee. Those two have different approaches, but both make opponents think twice before putting up shots in their vicinity.
And the trade for center Jarrett Allen and small forward Taurean Prince will only help the Cavs in that area. In fact, while both Allen and Prince can score, so far, their greatest assets are probably defense. The same goes for rookie forward/guard Isaac Okoro.
You may even be able to say the same about high-flying forward Larry Nance Jr. Not only is he a shot-blocking threat, but he seems to get better ever season when it comes to containing smaller players on the perimeter.
Oh, and what of Kevin Porter Jr., the second-year shooting guard who has yet to play a game this season? Well, he was back on the bench in the Cavs’ win over the Knicks on Friday night. Reports say he has already returned to practice.
It’s only a matter of time before Porter is back in uniform, back in the game. Maybe it can happen when the Cavs play next. Due to COVID-19 issues with the Wizards, the next game isn’t until Wednesday (vs. the Nets). Perhaps the extra time will benefit Porter and help him get reacclimated.
NEXT STEPS
Right now, the Cavs (6-7) are in a good spot. They are playing hard, playing mostly smart, playing entirely together. They aren’t underachieving. Nor are they approaching games with one eye on the tank. They want to get to the playoffs.
Garland and Sexton have been a big part of that, as the Cavs raced to a 4-1 record. Then the injury bug didn’t just bite — it clamped its jaws on the Cavs and refused to let go.
The smart lay is to not bring anyone back too soon. That is what the Cavs are trying to avoid. They probably are a team of .500 talent. They are playing .500 ball, and they’ve been doing it without some of their best players for large chunks.
That’s because of defense. It also may be because they seem to believe they can do something special, pull off more than a few surprises, when Garland and Sexton are healthy.
Why not? Garland suddenly looks like a real player. We already knew all about Sexton — but there were a lot of questions (and criticisms) about Garland after his rookie year.
Not this time.
Instead, Garland has become one of the reasons this team is worth following, and hey, maybe even fun to watch. So it’s OK to be excited about the second-year guard and the Cavs’ overall effort. Most people who support the team just can’t wait to see more.
With the injuries eventually healing, the new additions joining the rotation and Drummond resembling an All-Star, there should be plenty to still see, too.
