my guess is his coach and teammates told him to keep shooting. Mitchell, too, who for a while couldn't hit anything.
He shot 5-8 one game but that was in a win so Mitchell was playing. Last year he was a different player and going through a lot. It does seem like a bad matchup for him. Quick, physical guards that play tough defense. Small sample size
Yeah seems like the type who might give him trouble and did have an awful Game 5 vs. Boston.......but other than that and last night he's been pretty good against them lately...even in his terrible 2023-24 season.
I saw poor effort last year at times but he went through a lot…that wasn’t the same Garland. I am seeing the exact opposite this year and he played good defense. The effort was fine, if the C’s want to go at him and get him into foul trouble..let that be the strategy. The issue was the Cavs had zero wing defenders. Their best defensive players (not bigs) were all hurt. They could switch onto Garland anytime and the Cavs had no answer other than Jerome or Merrill, guards. Merrill played good defense but doesn’t give enough on offense. Last night, the effort was there from Garland but offensively he wasn’t moving the ball and when he got to his spot he didn’t have it. I think it could be a mental thing with Boston particularly or just a bad game. I would not compare it to last year bc he was a different player honestly. Only time will tell but he looked off from the start.
ftr: I wasn't referencing/knocking Garland's effort or attitude or anything like that.
I mean, not sure I'd compare him to AI as he's not the guy who wants to get his and take 25 shots or more. But, sure, if he is your best or most important player you are not going far....luckily for us he is not that, I guess.
Hell yes!!!
Excuses
