No NBA squad is hotter than the Cleveland Cavaliers, and point guard Darius Garland is reaping the benefits. After the Cavs went 4-0 last week, continuing their undefeated run, Garland put forth a spectacular week, averaging 25.0 points and 7.3 assists. In response to his stellar four-game run, he was honored with the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award, following teammate Donovan Mitchell, who won the previous week.
Cavaliers Bounce-Back Star Earns Eastern Conference Award
Cleveland Cavaliers Guard Darius Garland Earns Player of the Week
Most expected the Cavaliers to be a playoff contention team, as they have been the last two seasons, but I don’t think anyone expected them to fly out of the gate in a 12-0, undefeated fashion. Not only that, but they also sit atop the East alone, with the Boston Celtics having dropped a couple of games already. The Cavaliers remain the sole unbeaten team in the league. New head coach Kenny Atkinson is performing wonders after spending several seasons under Steve Kerr with the Golden State Warriors. It appears that winning a championship and coaching in a championship-driven organization impacted the former Brooklyn Nets head coach tremendously.
Back to Garland, though, who is having a bounce-back level season after an up-and-down 2023-24 campaign. His partnership with perennial All-Star Mitchell was sluggish initially following the trade with the Utah Jazz as the two guards tried to acclimate their games with each other. Since Mitchell joined Cleveland, they have been playoff contenders but have yet to make it past the second round. The Cavaliers will, of course, lose at some point. Still, judging by the product they’re showcasing and the elite play from Garland, Mitchell, and others, the Cavs are marking their territory. They are positioning themselves as championship contenders.
Garland’s Impact
In the Cavs’ latest win over the Chicago Bulls, Garland made history twice over. He made Player of the Week, but he also made it two Cavs players to win the award in back-to-back weeks. Garland was also the seventh Cavalier to earn the award multiple times. Past recipients of that achievement include LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and, of course, Mitchell. LeBron won it 42 times, while Kyrie and Mitchell are tied with four mentions.
On the season, Garland is averaging a career high in points (20.8) and three-point percentage (45.9%). His offensive production has been solid since opening night, but his defense has also impacted the Cavs. While not a great defender, Garland is playing tougher on the defensive end this season. He’s played five games where he recorded two or more steals (four against the Bulls on Monday). He has also initiated jumping into passing lanes more often than in previous seasons. As for his chemistry with Mitchell, it has improved deeply, and it’s evident on the court much more than in previous seasons as well.
The Team to Beat?
Emotion might direct you to pick the Cavs as the team to beat in the East. What they’re doing is incredible, and they’re simply loads of fun to watch. That being said, it’s still the Celtics conference, even though they’re 2.5 games back in the standings. The Celtics have lost twice already. It’s just a matter of time before the Cavaliers drop their first couple of games, too. At some point, Boston will restore order. That doesn’t mean the Cavaliers won’t keep pace with them as the season progresses toward the playoffs in April. Providing the Cavaliers don’t fall off the cliff between now and then, expect the battle for the East to lie between the Cavs and the C’s.
