It’s easy to look at the first stretch of the season and decide Darius Garland has been a problem the Clippers can’t afford. Nearly 10 games in, the mistakes have piled up, and they’ve come in the worst possible ways - turnovers, rushed shots, and possessions that have swung games the wrong direction. His scoring and playmaking have always been part of the package, but right now the issue is the damage he’s doing while trying to carry more than he has before.
Still, the Clippers are not in a spot where they should be ready to move on. Garland is handling the role of primary option for the first time in his career, and he’s doing it while LA is dealing with a battered roster.
That matters. It doesn’t erase the rough play, but it does change the conversation.
If Brandon Ingram had been there from the start, or if Rui Hachimura had been giving the team steady production, the case against Garland would look a lot stronger. A player struggling this much, on the salary he’s on, with real help beside him, would be a different story entirely.
But that’s not the reality the Clippers have had to work with. Hachimura has been underwhelming, putting up 13.4 points per game while shooting 36.9% from the field. He’s also missed multiple games, which hasn’t helped Garland’s situation one bit.
Keaton Wagler hasn’t stabilized things either. After briefly looking like he might take on a larger role, he’s now shooting 29.0% from the field and has been in a slump over the last few games. The rookie also carries the second-highest usage percentage on the team, which only adds to the burden Garland is facing.
That’s why writing him off now feels premature. The Clippers simply haven’t given him enough consistent support to make a fair judgment.
There is at least a chance that changes soon. Ingram appears to be on the way back after being briefly assigned to the San Diego Clippers. Once he returns and settles into the rotation, the team can start evaluating Garland without so many built-in excuses.
For now, though, the Clippers have to show a little patience. Garland has been rough, but plenty of stars would struggle under these conditions.
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