Just imagine how the Cleveland Cavaliers would be boosted. Two-time All-Star Darius Garland is expected to make his season debut Wednesday. Garland, who has been out since June due to surgery on his left big toe, said he was looking forward to returning. He will be expected to quickly revitalize an offense that ranks 26th in efficiency. His long-awaited return follows a drawn-out recovery from an ankle injury that had previously plagued him throughout last year’s postseason.
Garland’s chronic toe injury came up last March, as he missed a couple regular-season games and eventually his return was delayed until late this past summer. It ruptured in the first round of the playoffs, requiring surgical intervention as of June. Since then he’s been laser-focused on rehabilitation, reconditioning the body—throwing and recruiting now has been ramped up throughout the last few weeks. He did join the Cavaliers’ G-League team during training camp. This week, he’s practiced alongside the full roster for the first time, indicating that he’s prepared to get back into the gameplan.
The Cavaliers have felt Garland’s absence significantly. He averaged 20.6 PPG and 6.7 APG last season while shooting a blistering 47% over the course of 75 games. His skills as a playmaker and scorer are expected to provide an immediate impact on a team struggling to find offensive rhythm.
As he counts the days until his return, Garland is excited about being part of the Terps’ winning tradition again. “I feel good and ready to get back out there,” he stated earlier this week. As we said, his ability to manufacture chances will be at a premium for the Cavaliers. If they hope to improve upon their last place offensive ranking in the league, his talents will be instrumental.
The team is eager to see how Garland’s presence will influence their performance on Wednesday. And his track record as a two-time All-Star only serves to further highlight how pivotal he is to the Cavaliers’ hopes this season. With his return, fans and analysts alike are expecting a major boost in the team’s offensive production.
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