Former Cavaliers Star Ron Harper Says Darius Garland Is Key To Team Having Success In Playoffs

Former Cleveland Cavaliers star Ron Harper told NBA reporter Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson that Darius Garland is the key to the team having success in the playoffs. 

The Cavaliers have the top record in the NBA at 52-10 and Garland is having a terrific season. 

“They made a great NBA trade at the deadline,” Harper said about the Cavaliers acquiring De’Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks. “I think this year, if Darius Garland performs in the Playoffs like he has all season long, they should be okay.”

Garland made his second All-Star team this year. He’s averaging 21.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 6.8 assists while shooting 48.1% from the field, 41.9% from beyond the arc and 87.0% from the free-throw line. 

There were rumors last offseason that Garland could ask out if the Cavaliers extended Donovan Mitchell, but it was just white noise. 

“It crossed my mind. Like just literally crossed it for like five seconds,” Garland told ESPN. “But I really love this group, man. It’s like a real brotherhood. We’ve been together for three years now, four years now, and I really want to win here. I think this group has the opportunity to do something special and bring a championship back to Cleveland. And that’s what I want to do.

“I wasn’t really too focused on all the trade talks and a lot of people saying all the other stuff about me. Last year was just a tough year for myself, so I got away. I went out to L.A. just by myself almost damn near and just really locked in on my craft. It really helped me just mentally and physically to just get a clear mind, not try to worry about what all the other people are saying and Twitter fingers. Just trying to work on myself and try to get back to where I was before.”

The Cavaliers look like legitimate championship contenders with Mitchell, Garland, Hunter, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley leading the way. They are first in the NBA in points per game and second in net rating under first-year head coach Kenny Atkinson.