Kawhi injury update gives Darius Garland golden opportunity to redeem himself

Following a rough outing against the Portland Trail Blazers, where he finished with a horrific field goal percentage of 31.3% and three turnovers, Darius Garland needs to make the most of his next shot at redemption. He must prove that bright lights and a playoff setting do not scare him, as right now it sure seems that way, given how badly he was exposed by Portland.

Well, with Kawhi Leonard out due to an ankle sprain versus the Golden State Warriors, the perfect opportunity arrived right away. There is a ton of pressure riding on Garland’s shoulders, as the Clippers need a win to keep any chance of obtaining the eighth seed alive, and by living up to the hype, the criticism will be put to rest.

A strong performance could also build some much-needed momentum for the 26-year-old heading into the Play-In Tournament for the second time in his career.

However, if the two-time All-Star crumbles once more, the Clippers will certainly begin to question whether they made the right move at the trade deadline.

The key for Darius Garland to succeed is to limit mistakes

Without Kawhi Leonard, best believe the Golden State Warriors will be swarming Darius Garland with defenders from start to finish. He is the only star Steve Kerr will have on his radar for the LA Clippers, so it makes sense why this would be the defensive game plan.

In fact, the same strategy worked against Garland on his debut for the Clippers at Golden State. He logged five turnovers in just 23 minutes off the bench and was uncomfortable for a chunk of the night.

To prevent these mistakes, Garland simply has to use his awareness, read the coverage, and make strong, timely passes that reach his teammates on the money.

If done correctly, Garland could easily end the night with zero turnovers. This would be huge boost for LA, as he is the Clippers' current leader in turnovers per game.

However, in addition to taking care of the ball, Garland must contest shots cleanly and be in the correct defensive position at all times. This was a problem in Portland, leading to unnecessary frustration and, more importantly, four fouls in 41 minutes.

That said, as long as he plays the right way, a masterclass from Garland is inevitable. He’s done it before and can leave a giant statement by doing it again.