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Cavs finally getting some love in NBA power rankings

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Do you like NBA basketball? Have you been watching the Cleveland Cavaliers?

You might’ve heard that the Cavs are 12-0. You also might’ve heard that they’re only the eighth team in NBA history to do so – and that they lead the NBA in points per game, field-goal percentage, 3-point-shooting percentage and probably a bunch of  categories I don’t even know about.

That’s all well and good. But it seems that most national media outlets have been reluctant to cede the No. 1 spot in their power rankings to the Cavaliers – until now.

After blowing out Golden State and grinding out wins over New Orleans, Brooklyn and Chicago, the Cavs are coming in at No. 1 in The Athletic’s NBA power rankings, published today.

The Athletic had the Cavs ranked No. 2 last week.

According to Law Murray of The Athletic, of the seven other teams that have jumped out to 12-0 starts, only two have failed to reach the NBA Finals.

“There is a lot to look forward to, like seeing how long the Cavaliers can keep this up while shooting better than 50% from the field and 40% from 3 as a team,” Murray says.

Likewise, NBA.com boosted the Cavs up a notch to the No. 1 spot in its latest power rankings, published on Nov. 11.

NBA.com writer John Schuhmann asserts that the Cavs’ league-leading 3-point-shooting percentage (41.3% after Monday night’s win in Chicago) is one of the “unsustainable” aspects of the Cavs’ scorching start.

Among other observations, Schuhmann points out that heading into Monday night’s matchup against Chicago, the Cavs had outscored their opponents by 28.3 points per 100 possessions in Caris LeVert’s 210 minutes – the highest on-court mark among 300 players who’ve averaged at least 10 minutes per game.

And for those naysayers who points to all of the sub-.500 teams on the Cavs’ early-season schedule, Schuhmann notes that the Cavaliers have just two rest-advantage games in their first 40 games of the 2024-2025 season. Notably, both of them are this week (Philadelphia and Charlotte).

Not everyone has bought in yet. In Bleacher Report’s most recent power rankings – published on Nov. 8 – the Cavs are No. 3, behind Oklahoma City and Boston.

“Cleveland fans have to be a little annoyed to see their still-undefeated Cavaliers stuck in third place,” Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey wrote. “ … The Cavs still don’t feel like a top-tier title contender, but we may not be able to say that much longer.”

Of course, these NBA power rankings aren’t the end-all be-all of basketball analysis. At the end of the day, they hold about as much weight as a “World’s Greatest Dad” T-shirt.

 

Donovan Mitchell

Musings on the Cavs’ 7-0 start, Kenny Atkinson’s substitutions and Donovan Mitchell’s superstar status

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I just got back from a family wedding in upstate New York, where I learned that there still are places in the continental United States with little to no Wi-Fi or cellular coverage.

That couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time, of course. I ended up missing the Cavaliers’ thrilling 114-113 win over the hapless Bucks Saturday night.

To be clear, even with the luxury of a robust Wi-Fi signal, I probably wouldn’t have watched (much of) the game. There’s no way I would’ve let myself be that guy – the dork who’s glued to a regular-season NBA game at a wedding. But, streaming anything on this bucolic goat farm just wasn’t in the cards, so it’s purely academic at this point.

After watching the game Sunday in the privacy of my home, I have some thoughts that I wanted to record for posterity.

  1. That was one of the best regular-season NBA games I’ve seen in a long time. There’s a grossly grossly overused sports cliché – “This feels like a heavyweight fight” – and I feel comfortable using it to describe this game, a Central Division showdown that featured 19 lead changes. (I also would’ve accepted “This game had a playoff atmosphere.”)
  2. Donovan Mitchell is a heckuva player, but I sometimes wonder if he qualifies as a bona fide superstar. And what, pray tell, are the criteria for being deemed a superstar? A clutch, clutch shot like the game-winner Saturday night in Milwaukee – and his 30-point performance on the second night of a back-to-back – helped answer both questions for me.
  3. FanDuel Sports Network play-by-play announcer John Michael called Mitchell’s game-winning jump shot “the Donovan Dagger.” I think I can work with that.
  4. Mitchell isn’t afraid to talk some smack on the court, and that’s one of the things I like most about him (that, and he can back it up). It brings some much-needed attitude and swagger to an otherwise mild-mannered team.
  5. When the Cavs acquired Mitchell in 2022, Koby Altman said something to the effect that the Cavs were interested in Donovan Mitchell the player and the person. I think about that quote when I watch Mitchell’s interviews with the media. Mitchell is likeable, authentic and well-put-together, and always quick to credit his teammates.
  6. After he cooly drained the game-winning shot Saturday night in Milwaukee, Mitchell told Serena Winters: “That’s not about the shot. That’s about Isaac Okoro’s rebound. We don’t get that possession without Isaac Okoro diving on the floor, calling that timeout, doing the little things. That what it’s all about. … It’s a group effort. I’m proud of the way we fought.”
  7. I really like having Dean Wade in the starting lineup. I like his size and length, his tenacious defense and his hustle. If you’re looking for a stat-sheet stuffer, this isn’t your guy. But if you’re looking for an athletic big who can knock down a few 3-pointers, snag some key rebounds and doggedly defend guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo when the game is on the line, look no further than Wade.
  8. It’s great to see Wade being more assertive in the paint this season. In the past, Wade was a bit timid. He’d get the ball and immediately kick it out to someone on the perimeter. If he can evolve into a low-post scoring threat, that would be a huge step forward in Wade’s development.
  9. It’s going to be interesting to see what Kenny Atkinson does when Max Strus returns. I know where I stand on this issue (see Thought No. 8).
  10. I love Atkinson’s substitutions. With Caris LeVert nursing a sore knee, Atkinson relied heavily on Sam Merrill and Isaac Okoro, and they both provided a spark that the Cavs desperately needed.
  11. As expected, the once-mighty Bucks (now 1-5) came out with a chip on their shoulder in the first quarter. When it looked like the game was getting out of hand, Merrill steadied the ship with three first-quarter 3-pointers, and Okoro drained another to pull the Cavs within seven. Merrill finished with 17 points (and he drew a charge), and Okoro was 3-of-4 from 3-point range, finishing with 13 points and eight rebounds while playing his little heart out trying to corral Damian Lillard (unsuccessfully, I might add). Little-used point guard Craig Porter Jr. dropped a couple dimes in 5:26 of playing time.
  12. Jarrett Allen is listed at 6-9 (6-10 with the fro), and he’s kind of slight compared to a lot of the other centers and power forwards in the league. Despite giving up some height and width to guys like Giannis, Joel Embiid and Brook Lopez, Allen will mix it up with anybody – as evidenced by his 15-point, 12-rebound performance in Milwaukee. Lunchpail in hand, The Fro does what The Fro does, and we love him for it.
  13. The Cavaliers are playing with a lot of confidence right now. On the second night of a back-to-back – against a desperate team playing in front of a raucous home crowd – the Cavs took the Bucks’ best shot and didn’t flinch. They stayed as cool as the statue of Arthur Fonzarelli on the Milwaukee waterfront.
  14. As mentioned earlier, the Bucks are 1-5. Yes, it’s a long season. But it seems like the perennial championship contenders have lost their mojo. The superficial take is the Bucks simply don’t have the supporting cast that they’ve had in years past, forcing Antetokounmpo and Lillard to shoulder a disproportionate amount of the load. If the Bucks don’t turn things around soon, expect the Antetokounmpo trade rumors to hit a fever pitch.
  15. Merrill is a stone-cold assassin. The guy can get set for a 3-point shot faster than you can say “I wanna see ya in a Ken Ganley Kia.”
Cavs are 5-0

The 5-0 Cavs are exorcising some demons

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The undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers are rapidly approaching “Putting the Rest of the NBA on Notice” territory.

Yes, it’s early. And the Cavs front-loaded three quick wins over inferior opponents to tip off the 2024-2025 season.

But Monday’s night’s slugfest in Madison Square Garden – in which the Cavs battled back from a 13-point deficit to knock off the Knicks – was a statement win over a team that’s had their number in recent years.

And Wednesday night’s demolition of the Los Angeles Lakers was an exclamation point to that statement.

As of Thursday, the Cavs have the best record in the NBA at 5-0, and are one of only two undefeated teams in the association.

Heading into Wednesday night’s showdown with the Lakers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, LeBron James was 9-2 against the Cavs. With Anthony Davis controlling the boards, the Lakers went 2-0 against the Cavaliers last season.

But things are different this year.

The Cavs pushed the pace against the Lakers – a point of emphasis for Kenny Atkinson this season – and jumped out to a 42-23 first-quarter lead. Their biggest lead of the game was a 28-point margin.

En route to a 134-110 win, Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers with 25 points in just 19 minutes of action. Mobley was absolutely dominant in the fourth quarter – despite being saddled with four fouls to start the quarter – and scored the first 11 Cavs points of the final frame.

“I think he was a little frustrated with the foul situation and the minutes and all that,” Atkinson said of Mobley after the game. “We ran the first play for him. Then they went zone. We talked about it before the game, they go to that 3-2 zone. … We got him the ball at the foul line, and he just started playmaking. He’s so, so talented.”

Atkinson also had high praise for Caris LeVert, who chipped in 16 points off the bench.

“I just can’t say enough [about LeVert],” Atkinson told reporters.  “We’re imploring him to be a more efficient player, to embrace the catch-and-shoot. He’s such a good ball handler, but man the way the league is now, we need his shooting too. … He’s doing it on both ends, I think defensively he’s been phenomenal.”

Donovan Mitchell had 24 points, while Jarrett Allen had 20 points and hauled in 17 big rebounds.

Atkinson, who coached Allen in Brooklyn, raved about The Fro as well, asserting that Allen is “dominating on both ends right now.”

Five games into the season, the Cavs lead the NBA in field-goal percentage (53.9%) and 3-point percentage (41.1%). The Cavaliers are second in points per game (125.6) and steals per game (12).

The next test comes Friday night, when Orlando comes to town.

Marcus Morris

Cavs sign veteran Marcus Morris to 10-day contract

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The Cleveland Cavaliers added some depth and experience with the signing of forward Marcus Morris.

The 13-year veteran appeared in 37 games this season with the Philadelphia 76ers. Morris was traded to San Antonio as part of a three-team deal on Feb. 8, and the Spurs bought out his contract on Feb. 29.

After signing with the Cavs, the 6-8 forward will be eligible for postseason play.

In his career, Morris has played in 820 games (509 starts) with Houston, Phoenix, Detroit, Boston, New York, L.A. Clippers and Philadelphia, averaging 12.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 26.7 minutes per game.

But it’s his playoff experience that makes this such a strong move for the Cavaliers. In 67 career playoff games (45 starts), Morris has averaged 12.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in 30.1 minutes while shooting nearly 41% from 3-point range.

Prior to Monday night’s game in Indianapolis, coach J.B. Bickerstaff rattled off the list of attributes that make Morris a great fit for a young Cavaliers team.

“Just the level of professionalism,” Bickerstaff said. “[Morris is] a guy who’s been through all the trials and tribulations of the NBA; a ton of experience. There’s a toughness to him, a grit to him. [There’s a] reputation around this league of what his peers think about him and how they respect him. And obviously his ability to make shots and compete on the floor.”

With 14 games left in the season, the Cavaliers are looking ahead to the playoffs. The battle-tested Morris is a low-risk waiver-wire pickup for a team that’s determined to advance further than last year.

Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell’s knee still isn’t right

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Like many NBA teams, the Cavaliers have been battling injuries throughout the season.

Jarrett Allen missed the first five games of the season after hurting his left ankle in training camp. Evan Mobley and Darius Garland each missed roughly six weeks starting in mid-December. Max Strus has missed the last seven games with a right-knee strain.

Then there’s MVP candidate Donovan Mitchell. The Cavs welcomed Mitchell back to the fold on March 13 after a seven-game absence, and trounced the New Orleans Pelicans 116-95 – snapping the Pelicans’ four-game winning streak.

Mitchell tallied 14 points in New Orleans. While that’s roughly half of Mitchell’s season scoring average, Darius Garland told reporters after the game that Mitchell’s mere presence on the court is a major boost for the Cavs, because he attracts so much attention from the opposing defense.

Unfortunately, the Cavaliers were unable to carry that momentum into Houston Saturday night, where they lost to the Rockets 117-103.

Mitchell drained three 3-pointers but finished with only 13 points in 25 minutes of action.

After the game, a frustrated Mitchell dropped a bit of a bombshell on reporters.

“I’ll give you some news: I’m probably not playing the next game, to be completely honest with you,” Mitchell said. “I just gotta take some rest and get it right. I thought I was ready. I’m not.”

On March 4, Mitchell received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection at the Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine Center to treat a bone bruise in his left knee. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has attributed the injury to wear and tear over the course of the season.

After the loss in Houston, Mitchell was brutally honest about how the bruised knee has stifled his game.

“No disrespect to some guys – I’m not really blowing by people right now, and that’s disappointing to me and it’s affecting me,” Mitchell said. “ … It sucks. I want to be out there, but it’s clear as day, even to myself. I can’t fool myself. So I have to sit there, get it right and be ready when that time comes.”

If Mitchell can’t play in Monday night’s Central Division matchup in Indiana, it will be a tough blow for a Cavaliers team that’s been struggling since the All-Star break. However, the Cavs have managed to overcome plenty of adversity throughout the season. Despite the rash of injuries, they’re still within striking distance of the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Cavaliers are 33-16 with Mitchell in the lineup this season.

sports betting

Did the refs have money riding on the Cavs-Timberwolves game?

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No.

I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that neither Scott Foster, Natalie Sago nor Danielle Scott had money riding on Friday night’s Cavs-Timberwolves game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

You can say what you want about the quality of the officiating in this game – it seems like a lot of folks on both sides had some issues with it. Rudy Gobert certainly did.

Gobert didn’t like when the refs whistled him for landing an elbow on Jarrett Allen’s face as they jockeyed for position in the low post. And he #letemknow by doing a cute impression of Johnny Manziel on draft day, suggesting that there was a connection between legalized sports gambling and the referees making the correct call with 27.8 seconds left in regulation. (I know, Rudy, it’s always a flop.)

To be fair, sports betting has been legal in the Buckeye State since Jan. 1, 2023, thanks to the passage of House Bill 29. In fact, since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal law that prohibited sports gambling in 2018, some 38 states and the District of Columbia have legalized sports betting in some form, according to Forbes.

And for all you conspiracy theorists out there, according to the National Basketball Referees Association, Sago’s favorite TV show is “I (Almost) Got Away With It.” That’s an admission of guilt if there ever was one. (Her favorite movie: “Home Alone.”)

And we all know about Tim Donaghy. Maybe Gobert just finished watching the Netflix special (“Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul”). Or maybe Gobert knows something we don’t know.

Here’s what we do know: Gobert and the Timberwolves were playing the second night of a back-to-back, without one of their stars. The T-Wolves were spent, and Jarrett Allen was getting under his skin. We also know that Gobert is a blowhard who believes every foul call on him is an egregious flop.

After the game, Gobert doubled-down on his assertion that sports betting is “hurting our game,” according to a CBS Sports article. However, he’s not as big of an idiot as I thought, as he admitted “it wasn’t the time for me to react that way.”

“I should have not done that,” Gobert told reporters. “I cost my team the game, and obviously, they couldn’t wait to give me a tech. That was bad. That was an immature reaction.”

Case closed.

Weird Week for Cavs

Cavs cap off weird week by beating best team in the West

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Playing their fourth game in six nights, the Cavs knocked off the best team in the Western Conference – in overtime – two nights after beating the top team in the NBA in dramatic fashion.

Sandwiched between those gutsy wins were losses to the Hawks and the severely undermanned Knicks.

Friday night, the Cavs went toe-to-toe with the Timberwolves and their No. 1-ranked defense, matching Minnesota’s physical style of play – a promising sign for a team that got pushed around in the playoffs last year.

With Evan Mobley out, Jarrett Allen stepped up in a big way. Against a bigger man in Rudy Gobert – the second-leading rebounder in the NBA – Allen was a force in the paint, and he finished with a career-high 33 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks.

It was fun to watch Gobert’s late-game meltdown that led to a technical foul and a game-tying free throw. Gobert pantomimed the money sign with his fingertips after getting whistled for his sixth foul, suggesting the refs had money riding on the game. Allen clearly got under his skin.

Allen’s strategy against Gobert: “Just go out there with energy.”

“I think Rudy gets a lot of hate for what he does, but I still think he’s excellent in his position and how he goes out and plays the game,” the affable Allen told reporters after the game. “So for me it was to try to find little moments where I can sneak in, grab a rebound, tip the ball out or just catch him slipping.”

Gobert’s sixth foul sure seemed like a legit foul. But the hot-headed Frenchman didn’t see it that way. With 27.8 seconds left in the game – and the T-Wolves clinging to a one-point lead – it probably wasn’t the best time for Gobert to get on his soapbox about sports gambling.

The Cavaliers prevailed in overtime, 113-104, without the services of Mobley, Donovan Mitchell and Max Strus.

“It just boosts us for when everybody else comes back,” Allen said. “Contrary to [popular] belief, I do believe we’re at our best when everybody is back in the lineup.”

Still, it sometimes seems that Allen plays better when Mobley is out of the lineup. He’s more assertive, more aggressive and more decisive. Maybe it’s a case of next-man-up mentality.

J.B. Bickerstaff chalks it up to Allen’s consistency.

“He’s just been consistently dominant,” Bickerstaff said after the T-Wolves game. “We’ve been saying this since before the All-Star break, where we thought he was deserving to be an All-Star, because I can’t tell you bigs that are playing better than Jarrett Allen. He’s just been phenomenal. It’s a testament to him as a human being, as basketball player, to just want to do more to help the team win. And that’s who JA is.”

Darius Garland wasn’t too shabby either. Garland – who after the game said he doesn’t feel anywhere near 100% yet – paced the Cavaliers with 34 points on 13-of-26 shooting and eight assists.

“We know what Darius is capable of, and we believe in Darius wholeheartedly,” Bickerstaff said. “In the NBA, guys go through ups and downs, but the great ones figure out a way to come out of it. And he puts the time in, he works his tail off, his teammates believe in him, support him, trust him, and we know he’s gonna make the plays when we need him.”

Dean Wade

Dean Wade finally has his moment, and I couldn’t be happier for him

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The Boston Celtics were taking it to the Cavaliers Tuesday night – just as they’d done to so many other hapless teams this season – on the Cavs’ home floor, in a nationally televised game nonetheless.

Down 87-71 to start the fourth quarter – and without three of their starters – the Cavs were in dire straits against the NBA’s best team. Early in the fourth, the Celtics extended their seemingly insurmountable lead to 93-71.

Down by double digits to start the fourth, Georges Niang had some advice for his teammate Dean Wade: “Empty the clip.”

Wade, whose last bucket came in the first quarter, took Niang’s advice to heart. And then some.

Wade splashed five 3-pointers in the final frame, igniting an improbable rally that snapped the Celtics’ NBA-best 11-game winning streak. Wade finished with 23 points – including a putback dunk that sealed the game – and his 20 fourth-quarter points outscored all of the Celtics combined (17) in the deciding quarter.

The soft-spoken Wade, who has battled injuries through much of his young NBA career, had his moment Tuesday night, delivering one of the Cavs’ biggest wins of the regular season so far. Isaac Okoro and Niang hit big 3-pointers in the final stretch as well.

After the Cavs’ 105-104 win, it was a refreshing sight to see Wade on the podium, where he was pepped with questions from the media.

“It felt good, the fourth quarter,” Wade said matter-of-factly. “The rim looked really big.”

During his postgame comments, Wade offered a glimpse into the mindset of the Cavs as they battled back from a 22-point deficit. Interestingly, Wade said he didn’t look at the scoreboard for much of the fourth quarter.

“When that momentum shift happened in the fourth quarter, you’re kind of aware of the score but you’re really just kind of in the flow of the game,” Wade told reporters. “You’re not really worried about anything except making the right play, and when I looked up there, I think we were either down 2 or down 4. I was like, Oh yeah, momentum is on our side, we’re playing well right now; defensively, we’re getting stops – I think we’re in a good spot.”

Wade credited Niang for his “empty-the-clip” pep talk in the fourth. Wade’s teammates and coaches had similar words of encouragement for him at halftime.

“They’re like, shoot it a hundred times. I don’t care if you miss every single time,” Wade said. “Them having that confidence in me really motivated me and gave me confidence. We came out in the fourth and they found me every single time I was open. The ball was in my hands every time I was open – [with] perfect timing. I gotta give [credit] to my teammates for having that confidence in me.”

The first three quarters of the Celtics game looked like a continuation of the previous game against the shorthanded Knicks, a 107-98 loss. But as each shot fell for Wade, the fifth-year forward said he could feel the momentum shifting.

“This group, we just never stop fighting,” Wade told reporters. “We have full belief in ourselves and each other, and tonight really showed that no matter what happens, we’re gonna play hard and play together.”

Wade said he probably hasn’t had a quarter like that since high school, “or maybe before high school.”

It’s hard not to root for a guy like Wade – a Wichita, Kansas, native who stayed in his home state to play college hoops. He’s had some hard luck with injuries early in his career, but when he’s healthy, he plays hard, hustles on defense and crashes the glass.

It was nice to see his entire game on display. In addition to six 3-pointers, he got two big baskets by being aggressive in the paint. He also hauled in eight rebounds.

“[It’s] just all those little things,” Wade said. “I was trying to get out there and run the floor as hard as I could, going for all the offensive rebounds. And on defense everyone relies on each other, and I didn’t want to be the person to let them down. That’s my whole mindset.”

Down the stretch, Wade was in the zone.

“Man, it’s a great feeling,” Wade said after the game. “It’s kind of like your mind’s quiet – just quiet – and the rim looks huge, that’s all I can tell you. As soon as the ball touched my hand, I think I hit a 3 and [the Celtics] called timeout, but that whole time running down the floor I was like, If DG flips this back to me, no matter where I’m at on this court, it’s going up. And I had just hit a couple before that … and the rim looked like a swimming pool – so that helps.”

Donovan Mitchell

Knee injury to sideline Donovan Mitchell for at least 3 more games

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Donovan Mitchell will miss the next three games due to a knee injury.

On March 4, Mitchell received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection at the Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine Center to treat a bone bruise in his left knee, according to the Cavs.

Mitchell apparently injured the knee during the Cavaliers’ Jan. 28 double-overtime loss in Chicago. He missed the following two games against Dallas and Detroit.

The team said it will re-evaluate Mitchell’s status over the weekend.

Mitchell, a five-time All-Star, is the heartbeat of this team. With Mitchell leading the way, the Cavs went 18-3 from Jan. 1 up to the All-Star break. Mitchell was the Eastern Conference Player of the Month in January.

Mitchell is averaging 28 points per game, and career highs in rebounds (5.4), assists (6.2) and steals (1.8).

The upcoming schedule won’t provide much mercy.

On March 5, the Cavs host the Boston Celtics, who hold the best record in the NBA. Then they fly to Atlanta for the second night of the back-to-back. Two nights later, they’re back at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to host the Minnesota Timberwolves, the top team in the Western Conference.

Mitchell isn’t the only banged-up Cavalier right now.

Caris LeVert is listed as questionable for the March 5 matchup with the Celtics, after missing Sunday night’s game against the Knicks due to a right-elbow sprain. Max Strus is out with a right-knee strain.

Meanwhile, Isaac Okoro is questionable for the Celtics matchup due to a left-elbow sprain.

With Mitchell out, the Cavs will have to lean on Darius Garland, who is averaging 18.4 points and 6.1 assists per game this season. Craig Porter Jr. also should see increased playing time. We’ll see what else J.B. Bickerstaff has up his sleeve as the week progresses.

Darius Garland 2

‘He’s just getting comfortable’: Darius Garland is looking more like himself

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Darius Garland’s first game back after fracturing his jaw was Jan. 31 against the Pistons. Up until the last few games, though, it hasn’t felt like Garland has been back.

Considering how smoothly the offense flowed when Donovan Mitchell was running the point in Garland’s six-week absence, his role on the team going forward has been the subject of much debate.

Adding fuel to the fire, Garland just hasn’t looked like himself since returning.

At his best, Garland is a quick, crafty, elusive slasher who can create his own shot and score on demand. Garland is a perimeter threat as well, and he hit 41% of his 3-point attempts last season (a career high). Complementing his scoring capabilities, Garland is a gifted passer, and has been among the league leaders in assists for the past two seasons (he ranked seventh in the NBA last year and sixth in 2021-2022).

Since coming back from a broken jaw that he suffered in a collision with Kristaps Porzingis on Dec. 14, Garland has struggled to find a rhythm. In his first game back, on Jan. 31, Garland score 19 points in 20 minutes. The next night in Memphis, he had nine points in 24 minutes, although he dished out seven assists.

In a Feb. 7 win at Washington, Garland had 13 points and four assists in 28 minutes.

Garland has looked tentative, especially when driving to the basket. That’s completely understandable in my view. I can’t imagine a more painful or frustrating sports injury than a fractured jaw. I’d be a little gun-shy too. But to make matters worse, his perimeter shots haven’t been falling either.

Fortunately, it seems like the fifth-year guard is starting to turn a corner.

In the Cavaliers’ double-overtime loss in Chicago on Feb. 28, Garland was 7-of-14 from 3-point range in a 23-point performance. And that was just a warmup for Friday’s game in Detroit.

Against the Pistons, Garland hit eight 3-pointers and led the Cavs to a 110-100 win without Mitchell in the lineup. Garland finished with a game-high 29 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists.

Garland is a 38.5% career 3-point shooter. When his shot is falling – he was a scorching 8-of-12 from 3-point range in Detroit – it puts defenders in a bind.

“It makes people have to chase him and make tough decisions,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff told reporters after the March 1 win in Detroit. “Now you have to decide if you want to trap him, if you want to switch, and then all that does is create advantages for us in other places. And he’s such a willing passer, if you trap him he’ll get off of it and now we’re playing 4-on-3 advantage basketball. So we love it, we love to see him be aggressive and get as many 3’s up as he can.”

Bickerstaff had a good perspective on Garland’s progress since returning from the jaw injury, and the unique challenges of having your jaw wired shut for a few weeks.

“He’s just getting comfortable, that’s one of the things,” Bickerstaff said. “In the middle of a season to just completely have to pause – and remember, he couldn’t do anything. He couldn’t lift a weight, he couldn’t touch a basketball. And then he had to work his way back, and you gotta kind of ramp yourself back up.”

For Garland, it was almost like being in training camp again.

“But again, we don’t have time to stop, and he’s just been going game after game,” Bickerstaff added. ” … And I think what you’re seeing now is his confidence is growing, his teammates continue to feed in his success, and he continues to help them. So he’s Darius, and he’s who we expected him to be.”

As the Cavaliers grind through a grueling post-All-Star-break schedule, the real return of Darius Garland should be a welcome sight for Cavs fans.

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