SAN ANTONIO – Darius Garland felt it early. Hours before the report.
Although Monday’s clash against the San Antonio Spurs started earlier than usual – 6 pm local time instead of 7 pm – The Cleveland Cavaliers held a morning session at the AT&T Center. There was no horse play. No jokes. No laughter. Everyone was locked up. It was all business. Then, when the Cavs were about to leave for the team’s hotel near the famous San Antonio Riverwalk, Garland told assistant JJ Outlaw – the technician responsible for overseeing Garland’s development – that it would be a good day.
Garland was wrong. Was a great day. The best of his young career, helping Cavs overcome his frustrating skid in five games and overtake Spurs 125-101.
The second-year point guard scored Cleveland’s first nine points. He was just starting, finishing with 37 points, his career record, in 14 out of 22 shots, including 5 out of 10 from a 3 point streak to go with seven assists in 30 minutes.
Garland showed everything. Eyesight. Ball handling. Ticket. Filming. There were patented floats, driving finishes, soft jumpers and long-range pumps. He bypassed the screens and prepared the defenders in isolation, getting anywhere he wished. He even strengthened on the defensive end, achieving two steals and a block. San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich set traps and tried pressure across the court. He used several defenders, some with speed and others with size. Spurs even changed zones a few times. Nothing worked. Garland had all the answers.
That’s exactly what the Cavaliers imagined almost two years ago, when they made Garland the fifth choice in the 2019 draft, pairing it with Collin Sexton in hopes of building a young and dynamic defense court. Although it was a slower increase for Garland, nights like Monday show the potential. He’s starting to look like the franchise owner. That’s why teammates call it “DG the PG”.
“It’s all there. We need to keep pulling it out, ”Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff told cleveland.com.
After the shootaround, which Bickerstaff performed more like a practice, Garland focused on two areas when discussing the plan for victory. The same things he repeated throughout the season: first and third quarters.
Garland ensured that this was not a problem on Monday. Aggressive at the start, he scored 11 of his 37 points in the first quarter. There was no drop in Cleveland energy in the interval this time. Leaving the locker room with more time on the clock and led by Garland, who scored 14 more points in the third, the worst team in the third quarter of the league exploded in 43 during those stunning 12 minutes. This time, the Cavs only had to protect a leadership rather than fighting uphill.
“Coming out of the second half, we just had to come with a lot of energy and play the way we were playing in the first half,” said Garland. “Playing with rhythm, speed, spinning the ball, getting open eyes. We just continued to preach this during the second half. Achieve easy looks and many swing-swing passes for 3s. I just got in the ring tonight. “
Sexton scored 22 points, recovering from a bad start. Isaac Okoro also reached double digits, scoring 11 points out of 4 out of 6 on the field and 3 out of 3 in the back. Kevin Love, playing his third straight game and remaining with a minute restriction while trying to recover from an injury, added nine points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes.
“I’m going to go back and see the film. Keep my confidence high. Just show me that I can do this every night. Keep playing as I have been playing, ”said Garland. “If the shots go, they go. If not, I still have to figure out how to get a win. It’s all about the players on this team, not just me. We all brought it tonight. “
Much of the final stretch is about answering questions. What works. What not. Who belongs. Who doesn’t like it. Garland goes on to show where he fits – and why the Cavs never stopped believing in him.
“I thought he looked incredible tonight,” said Bickerstaff. “We saw his potential in the draft and that is obviously why we selected him. We believe in its potential. It was a difficult start because of your circumstances. But we knew that steps were coming. We want him to play with that belief and confidence every night, because that is what the shipowner and the operators do. So, when he’s feeling this way, we want him to take advantage of it, crack it down and bring it on Thursday in Oklahoma City and then on to the next game, because that’s the potential we see in him. “
Bench lift
Bickerstaff shortened his bank on Monday night, going with just four guys as he took Cedi Osman out of the car once more. Well, until the game gets out of hand and it’s time for Brodric Thomas to finish. This adjustment worked. Behind pivot Isaiah Hartenstein and Taurean Prince, the Cavs took 42 points from the reserves.
Hartenstein scored 16 points from 7 of 8 field shots, with 12 rebounds and three assists. Prince had 14 points and seven boards.
Next
The Cavs will end their three-game trip on Thursday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Delivery is scheduled for 20h
–
New Cavs face masks for sale: This is where you can buy Cleveland Cavaliers themed facial covers for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($ 14.99) and a pack of 3 ($ 24.99). All NBA proceeds donated to charities.
More Cavaliers coverage
Okoro earns Jimmy Butler respect: ‘Your potential is out of this world’
Garland was sent off while the losing streak continues, 115-101
With love, Dellavedova ready to pull your weight, help in the final push
Veterans show potential impact despite loss to 76ers
Altman, Love and where the Cavaliers are being rebuilt: Podcast
Jazz demonstrates how unconventional backcourts can thrive
Cavaliers lost by Jazz, 114-75, at the end of the trip
Drummond signs with Lakers 2 days after purchase
Nance Jr. continues to validate the team’s rejection of commercial offers
Why was an exchange not found for Andre Drummond?
What to do with McGee’s trade, Drummond acquisition: Podcast