By james art The surplus in the Cleveland Cavaliers backcourt is understandably a huge topic of conversation. Head coach Kenny Atkinson’s job is to make that form work. Two small, ball-dominant guards don’t usually have much success in terms of winning in the NBA, so the question is, would the Cavs be better off splitting the two up?
The Cavs seem to believe this duo can still fit, although those outside the organization seem to feel differently. That was evident in the rumors of a possible split following their second-round elimination at the hands of the eventual champion Boston Celtics.
Garland had a nightmare season that included a broken jaw that caused him to miss two months and lose 12 pounds. It was arguably his worst season since his infamous rookie campaign, where most metrics pegged him as one of the worst players in the league.
At times last season, it felt like Garland couldn’t get into a rhythm playing next to Mitchell, especially under former coach JB Bickerstaff’s highly-maligned attack. It felt like a lot of insult on your turn, on my turn between the two of you. Garland would find himself watching Mitchell carry most possessions instead of moving off the ball and keeping the defense in rotation.
This problem is evident in the composition data. In lineups with Mitchell on the court and Garland off last season, the Cavs had an overall net rating of +8.4. When Mitchell was off and Garland was on, the team’s net rating was just +1. When both were on the court together, Cleveland had a net rating of +5.7.
Those issues reared their ugly head in the playoffs. Lineups with Mitchell and Garland had a net rating of -3.8 in the two playoff series. When Garland was off and Mitchell was on, the team had a net rating of +8.4. When the roles were reversed, Cleveland had a net rating of -18.6. It was the second consecutive season in which the duo had a negative net rating on the court together.
Last season was a rough one for the backcourt duo, but context must also be considered. Garland never really got going all season, and the team played its best stretch of basketball when he was sidelined and Mitchell was playing MVP-level basketball. Garland was never able to reintegrate into the Cavs’ offense and played catch-up all season. Playing postseason basketball underweight, especially given his increased fitness, isn’t easy for a smaller guard.
On the other hand, though, when Garland was healthy in 2023, he and Mitchell coexisted very well. Cleveland had a net rating of +8.9 when both guards were on the court, and Garland also had the most efficient season of his career. He was the only player in the NBA to average 20 or more points, seven or more assists and shot over 40% from three-point range.
Both players have shown the ability to co-exist on the court when both are healthy. Not much stock should be put into last season’s numbers, as Garland has a lot going against him. It’s fair to say, though, that he and Mitchell need to find a way to both be productive in the playoffs for Cleveland to take the next step.
Garland and Mitchell have committed to Cleveland. It would lead you to believe that they still think it can work between them. There’s data to back that up, regardless of how things ended last season.
Atkinson’s new system, emphasizing pace, space and shooting, should play to the strengths of Garland and Mitchell more than the system Bickerstaff runs. But will they thrive when it matters most? The answer to this question will determine whether they are viable in the long run.