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'You've got an All-Star guy': Darius Garland has Cleveland Cavaliers offense humming
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- 'You've got an All-Star guy': Darius Garland has Cleveland Cavaliers offense humming
CLEVELAND — For years, Darius Garland studied Damian Lillard's game. In fact, the Cavs ' 24-year-old point guard still studies the Milwaukee Bucks star, who happens to be 10 years his senior.
For one night, Garland and Lillard battled one another — and Garland came out on top.
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The Cavaliers beat the Bucks Monday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to improve to 8-0 this season, which ties the franchise record for the best eight-game stretch to open a season.
There was a game within the game, as at one point it virtually became a one-on-one matchup, with Garland and Lillard trading baskets and highlights. Lillard finished with 36 points. Garland ended up with 39, and he got the win thanks to his key pass to Jarrett Allen in the closing seconds.
"Man, it was amazing. I grew up watching Dame," Garland said afterward. "I still watch his film to this day, so it's super cool to have a little duel, a couple minutes of one-on-one basketball in a high intensity game like this. It was super fun battling against him."
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) celebrates during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Cleveland.
Garland's potential and development is another key factor for the Cavs' No. 1 goal of taking that next leap as contenders in the East ( along with Evan Mobley topping that list ). So far, the Cavs have seen a more productive and more efficient version of Garland, as well as one who put some needed weight back on after losing 12 pounds last year after jaw surgery .
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Through eight games, Garland is averaging 20.5 points and 6.5 assists but, most notably, he's shooting a career-best 52.5% from the floor.
Cavaliers guard Darius Garland reacts after a second-half basket against the Milwaukee Bucks, Nov. 4, 2024, in Cleveland.
His Player Efficiency Rating of 22.9 is 16th-best in the NBA , and his 0.8 Offensive Win Shares put him in a tie for sixth in the league — with Lillard, in fact.
Darius Garland making case for All-Star season in 2024-25
Garland has arguably been a top-20 NBA player this season. The Cavs have seen Garland back to being himself after dealing with the weight loss issue last year. In essence, they feel they have his best form back in the lineup now that he's past the jaw surgery.
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"That's the DG we all know," said Jarrett Allen. "I mean, last year we know he went through something crazy that none of us have experienced, and you can see that his game took a dip. It's hard for anybody to go through that, but now he's back to his old self, and he's showing why he's one of the best point guards in the league."
Cavaliers guard Darius Garland drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. during the second half, Nov. 4, 2024, in Cleveland.
Garland's scoring will often grab the highlight reels. But the Cavaliers have highly valued his work running the offense as a facilitator. After Monday's win over the Bucks, new coach Kenny Atkinson first discussed Garland's pass to Allen in the final seconds that put the game out of reach.
"Everyone's going to talk about the 39 points. I want to talk about that pass to Jarrett Allen," Atkinson said. "He had everybody going with him and he threw it — I don't know how he got it there, going to his left. … It was an incredible play. Also, 39 points, but two turnovers. Last game in Milwaukee, no one talked about Darius, but he had 10 assists, two turnovers.
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"He is a true point guard. And now add the scoring to it, and you've got an All-Star guy."
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs guard Darius Garland could be putting together 'All-Star' year
