The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the league’s best teams earlier in the season.
Entering play on Sunday, January 16, they are the sixth in the Eastern Conference at 26-18.
However, that is just 2.5 games out of first place in the conference.
With their strong defense preventing opponents from getting to the free throw line, Cleveland is third in the NBA in defense.
They have done this in spite of having season-ending injuries to two of their most important guards: Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio.
Sexton had surgery to repair the torn meniscus in his left knee in November.
Rubio tore the ACL in his left knee in December.
Cavaliers have to hope that this is the end of the gruesome injuries to this team.
The team was able to find a new guard in Rajon Rondo, whom they acquired as a part of a three-team trade in early January.
Even after those injuries, the Cavaliers do still have their two leading scorers, and they are the two Cavaliers who deserve all-star recognition in 2022.
2. Darius Garland
The 2022 NBA All-Star Game will be played in Cleveland, and the hometown Cavaliers should have two all-stars.
Darius Garland should be one of those all-stars:
Stars don’t get much brighter than @dariusgarland22 🌟
RETWEET to #LetEmKnow and send DG to #NBAAllStar! pic.twitter.com/dVbJucDH9V
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 16, 2022
Most fans with an analytical mind like to entertain themselves on Basketball-Reference, where the “interesting” nicknames make an appearance.
Garland, also known as Boog and DG the PG, is just 21 years old — turning 22 on January 26 — and he has 27 points in each of his last two games.
He has scored at least 22 points in seven of his last 10 games.
Garland has missed six games this season, and the Cavaliers are 2-4 without him.
He is very important to the 2021-22 Cavaliers, and he would be a great addition to the 2022 Eastern Conference all-stars.
The third-year guard is already ascending into a top talent in Cleveland, and he is set to hit new career highs in many categories.
Now, which Cavalier should be joining Garland at the 2022 All-Star Game?
1. Jarrett Allen
Did the Brooklyn Nets give up on Jarrett Allen too early?
The answer is obvious, and the answer is yes.
Allen is second in the NBA in field goal percentage, effective field goal percentage, and true shooting percentage this season.
He is also fifth in offensive rating and sixth in defensive rating this season.
Allen should be a guaranteed all-star because he has been bringing the Cavaliers quite a few victories this season:
.@_bigjayy_ posted his team-leading 20th double-double of the season (8th most in @nba) in Friday's win at Portland (13 PTS, 5-6 FG, 13 REB, 2 STL, 33 MIN).
The @Cavs are 15-5 this season when Allen records a double-double. #NBAAllStar #LetEmKnow
— Cavs Notes (@CavsNotes) January 9, 2022
After January 9’s loss at Golden State, the Cavaliers have gone to Sacramento, Utah, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City.
Cleveland has won all four of those games and here is how Allen has performed:
- 1/10, at Kings: 18 points, 17 rebounds, 8-for-14 shooting
- 1/12, at Jazz: 12 points, 7 rebounds, 5-for-7 shooting
- 1/14, at Spurs: 17 points, 16 rebounds, 7-for-11 shooting
- 1/15, at Thunder: 13 points, 13 rebounds, 5-for-9 shooting
The Cavaliers are now 18-5 when Allen produces a double-double.
He is a monster on the boards, and he produced the three recent double-doubles somewhere between 30 and 34 minutes played.
The soon-to-be first-time all-star should continue to make a splash for the Cavaliers, who appear to be an interesting contender in the Eastern Conference.
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