The Cleveland Cavaliers topped the Eastern Conference last season, but their playoff performance disappointed.
The Cavaliers were eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals by the Indiana Pacers in just five games.
One reason for that elimination was the injuries to some of the important Cavaliers players.
Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty ImagesIman Shumpert compares Darius Garland to his former teammate Kyrie Irving
One of the players who missed the game was Darius Garland. Former Cavaliers player Iman Shumpert believes Garland is similar to his former teammate, Kyrie Irving.
Garland appeared in only five of nine Cavaliers playoff games, and Shumpert believes his absence dramatically affected Cleveland’s championship aspirations.
The former Cleveland guard expressed both admiration for Garland’s abilities and concern about his injury status during the postseason.
“I am terrified when I see Darius Garland, I’m like I played with Kyrie, he got a lot of that. He is patting that thing,” Shumpert said.
“I think he just wasn’t healthy at the end this year, in the playoffs, so I’m going to give him a pass this year.”
“But he, before he was hurt, I ain’t going to lie in the East I was like ‘who is dealing with this, damn, they scary’,” he added.
Darius Garland’s All-Star season interrupted by untimely injury
Garland delivered a remarkable regular season performance for the Cavaliers, averaging 20.6 points, 6.7 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game.
The 25-year-old shot 40.1% from three-point range while adding 1.2 steals per game, showcasing improved two-way capabilities that earned him an All-Star selection.
Cleveland will again compete for the Eastern Conference’s top seed next season, making Garland’s health crucial for sustained success.
The Eastern Conference presents opportunities with teams like the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers dealing with injury setbacks.
The Cavaliers will rely on Donovan Mitchell‘s leadership alongside new additions like Lonzo Ball, who must integrate quickly into the system.
However, Garland’s availability throughout the season remains essential for Cleveland to capitalize on their championship window.