By james art The Cleveland Cavaliers had an inspiring victory over the New York Knicks. Perhaps nothing felt more encouraging than Darius Garland’s dynamite performance.
The first sip
I don’t need to remind you that last season was a nightmare for Darius Garland. It’s safe to say we all get it at this point — and we’ve all been waiting for him to turn it down. I’d say he did just that in an explosive game over the Knicks.
Garland finished with 34 points (12-19 shooting), 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. This box felt as beautiful as it looked. He was the best player on the floor and caused all kinds of problems for New York’s defense.
Watching Garland beat defenders like Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby to penetrate the paint and convert players was good for the soul. His lack of an inside game was a major contributor to his struggles last season. But against New York, you’d never know it. Garland looked confident attacking the basket and that’s a promising sign for the season.
Garland came into his own down the stretch, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers and snapping a 13-game streak for the Cavs. His three-point shooting (5-of-8) felt miraculous in a game where only two other Cavaliers hit multiple threes.
Most impressive of all, Garland was a lockdown defender in this one. The Knicks attacked him relentlessly, but Garland held his own all night. His defense was stellar, culminating in a huge sack on Jalen Brunson in crunch time.
It would be foolish to write Garland off after his previous season. But it’s still nice to get confirmation that he’s still an elite player when healthy.