From all-stars to public enemies! Garland passed only 1 of 5 games, and the Cavaliers were eliminated as his biggest weakness

When the Cavaliers lost to the Pacers 105-114 at home and were eliminated, the anger of Cleveland fans completely burned to Dalius Garland, the "All-Star guard" who had a maximum salary of 197 million yuan for five years!

handed out disaster data with averaging 16.8 points, 39.2% shooting percentage and 27.5% shooting percentage in the series, becoming the most dazzling black hole on both ends of the Cavaliers' offense and defense. From G1's 3 of 10 shots to G5's stealth in the final quarter, Garland proved with one "reverse masterpiece" after another: he is the biggest stumbling block on the reconstruction of the Cavaliers' dynasty.

[Fatal Injury One: Iron Proof of Completely Failed in the High-End Inning]

Scoring Efficiency Cliff-like Collapse

Garland, known as the "spiritual point guard" in the regular season, lost her high-intensity defense against the Pacers in the playoffs:

Singles incompetent: Average singles only scored 1.2 points, shooting percentage 28.6%. When facing Haliburton and Nemhard's defense, the breakthrough success rate was less than 30%;

Three-pointers were inaccurate: a total of 43 three-pointers in the series were 12 of 43 shots, and Garland made three consecutive open three-pointers in the end of the life and death battle, directly ruining the hope of chasing points;

Key black hole: In the last 5 minutes, Garland made 1 of 7 shots, and the number of mistakes (4 times) was more than scored (3 points).

vs. Pacers point guard Halliburton (averages 25.6 points + 8.4 assists), Garland's "max defender" label is particularly ironic.

Adversary ATMs on the defensive end

When Garland was on the court, the Cavaliers' defensive efficiency dropped by 14.3. Under the Pacers' targeted tactics, his lateral movement speed was even ridiculed by the US media as "like running in the sand":

Pick-and-roll disaster: When the opponent uses his defensive weakness to launch a pick-and-roll, the Pacers scored as high as 1.32 points per round, second to last in the league's playoff guard;

Eye defense: After watching Matherin make an easy layup in G3, the on-site camera captured a classic scene of Mitchell angrily throwing a towel.

[Fatal injury 2: Salary poison locks the team's future]

197 million contracts become a shackle for reconstruction

Garland's maximum salary contract (annual salary exceeds US$40 million from 2025) has completely distorted the Cavaliers' salary structure:

No way to strengthen: In 2026, the Cavaliers' Big Three (Mitchell + Garland + Allen) will account for 72% of the salary cap, completely losing space for signings;

Value inversion: The PER values ​​of the same price defenders Brunson and Halliburton both exceeded 20 in the playoffs, while Garland is only 12.1, the bottom of the league.

More ironic, Garland's contract is even more expensive than Mitchell (163 million in 5 years), but it contributes less than half of the latter.

Trading value plummeted into negative assets

League executives revealed anonymously: "If the Cavaliers want to trade Garland, they need to take at least two first-round picks to find the takeover." Compared with the 2024 offseason, his trading value has shrunk by 60%.

[Strategic Dilemma: The double-gun system went bankrupt]

The fatal conflict with Mitchell

Mitchell's super-goal performance averaged 32.4 points per game in the series exposed Garland's system incompatibility:

Ball rights black hole: Garland occupied 28.7% of the rounds but contributed only 4.2 assists, forcing Mitchell to frequently fall into a single fight;

Space cancer: the three-point shooting percentage is less than 30% but the average shot is 8.4 times per game. The Pacers even let him go to double-team Mitchell.

The Ringer, the US media, said bluntly: "Garland's existence has degenerated the Cavaliers from 'double-gun drive' to 'Mitchell' one-legged jump'."

Youth training dividends have been squandered

In order to retain Garland, the Cavaliers have given up trading potential in recent years, and have now faced the dual dilemma of "core aging + new star stagnation". In contrast, the Pacers have established a sustainable championship competition system with the young combination of Halliburton + Shepard.

【Future choice: A hero cuts his arm or chronic death? 】

Three major stop loss plans

Label sale: Take advantage of the first round of 2028 pick to send Garland to the reconstruction team (such as the Hornets) in exchange for an expiration of contracts to release salary space;

DNP pressure: hide Garland directly next season, forcing him to give up the player option and re-sign the low-priced contract;

Bet out life transaction: Pack Garland + 3 first round Soarhatre Young, and make every bet to upgrade the backcourt.

Historical lessons warn

The Suns in 2023 were Ayton's maximum salary, resulting in a rigid lineup. The Warriors' dream renewal of contract in 2024 triggered a locker room collapse - if the Cavaliers continue to believe in Garland's "pseudo-superstar" attributes, Mitchell's peak period will be completely wasted.

[Conclusion: The Cruel Truth Under the Max Bubble]

From All-Stars to Public Enemy, Garland's fall tore the final fantasy of Cleveland. When his maximum salary contract becomes the noose that locks the team's future, the deal may be the last redemption for the Mitchell era. As the "Open-Air Stand" says: "If the Cavaliers want to return to the Eastern Conference Finals, Garland must become a sacrifice."

(Interactive Topic)

If Garland must be traded, do you think the Cavaliers should switch to the expiration contract to stop loss, or bet on Trae Young? Tell me your choice in the comment section!