Cavs Keep Climbing Without Garland - Is a Sixth-Man Role the Key to Unlocking Their Full Potential?
The Cleveland Cavaliers are making serious noise in the Eastern Conference-and they’re doing it without one of their biggest names. With a 29-20 record, they’re tied for the fourth seed, and what’s turning heads isn’t just the win total. It’s how they’re winning-and who they’re winning without.
Darius Garland, the team’s max-contract point guard, has been sidelined, and yet the Cavs have been thriving. This isn’t a fluke or a hot streak. It’s a trend that’s starting to demand real attention.
Let’s talk numbers. With Garland on the floor this season, the Cavs are an even 13-13.
Without him? They’ve gone 16-7.
And this isn’t new-two seasons ago, when Garland missed extended time, Cleveland posted a 17-8 record in his absence. That’s not a coincidence.
That’s a pattern.
So what’s changed?
For starters, Cleveland’s defense has leveled up. In the seven games leading up to their recent win over the Lakers-a game in which they held L.A. under 100-the Cavs were giving up just 109 points per game.
That’s well below the league average of around 118. In fact, in seven of their last eight wins, they’ve held opponents to 104 or fewer.
That kind of defensive consistency doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a product of a roster that’s leaning into its strengths-namely, size and interior presence. With Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and Dean Wade holding down the frontcourt, and Donovan Mitchell leading the charge offensively, the Cavs have shifted away from a heavy three-point reliance and are now playing a more balanced, bruising brand of basketball.
They’re controlling the paint. They’re winning the rebounding battle. And they’re dictating the pace.
Which brings us to the million-dollar question: What happens when Garland returns?
It’s a tricky situation. Garland is a gifted scorer and playmaker, no doubt. But he’s also a smaller guard who’s had trouble staying healthy and fitting into the Cavs’ new identity-one that’s built on defense, size, and physicality.
So here’s a thought that’s gaining traction: Could Garland thrive as a sixth man?
It’s not a demotion. It’s a strategic shift.
Think Jamal Crawford, Lou Williams, Jordan Clarkson-guys who could start, but who brought instant offense off the bench and changed the game’s rhythm. Garland has that kind of scoring punch.
And in a reserve role, he could feast on second-unit defenders while easing the physical demands on his body.
More importantly, it could solve one of Cleveland’s biggest problems: bench scoring. Right now, the second unit brings energy but lacks a consistent offensive threat. Garland could be that guy-giving the Cavs a dynamic scoring option without disrupting the defensive chemistry the starters have built.
There’s also some historical precedent here. Before Donovan Mitchell arrived, the Cavs experimented with a “tall-ball” lineup featuring Lauri Markkanen, Allen, and Mobley.
It worked. And now, they’re tapping into that same formula again-with Wade stepping into that stretch-forward role and helping the Cavs dominate the interior.
Of course, with Mobley now sidelined by a calf injury, Cleveland’s going to have to dig even deeper to maintain their defensive edge. And with a five-game Western Conference road trip on the horizon, this group will be tested.
But here’s the bottom line: This version of the Cavs-big, physical, and defense-first-is working. And if Garland can slide into a role that maximizes his strengths while preserving the team’s identity, Cleveland might just be onto something special.
The numbers don’t lie. The Cavs are winning-and they’re doing it their way.