After playing against him for so long, Derrick Jones Jr. is happy that Darius Garland is on his side.
The Los Angeles Clippers are slowly becoming Darius Garland's team and it's a formula that's beginning to pay off in a big way.
Garland was the Clippers' biggest pick-up at the trade deadline and it took a heavy price to get him in the form of sending James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Since Garland has joined the Clippers, he's averaging 21.4 points per game while shooting 49% from the field and 49.3% from three point range. The way that Garland is able to affect the Clippers' offense is palpable. He ups the pace and he finds new ways to to create looks for both himself and for his teammates.
LA Clippers guard Darius Garland (10) looks to pass the ball over Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) during the second quarter at the American Airlines Center. Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesGarland's Capabilities
Garland has been everything that the Clippers needed. He's shown that he can be relied on as the main initiator of the offense and for his new teammates who are more used to seeing him be a menace for another team, seeing him impact the Clippers has been a surreal experience.
"Just being able to be on his team and seeing how shifty he is up close and personal and how easy he gets to the paint and how much he gets foiled and don't get the call half the time, but still has the power in him to will through it," Derrick Jones Jr. said (via Clippers). "He's doing great right now."
New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen (22) dribbles against LA Clippers guard Darius Garland (10) during first half at Smoothie King Center. Stephen Lew-Imagn ImagesAcquiring him is a major investment in the young core that the Clippers are building toward alongside players like Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders. Garland is clearly the leading figure in that new core and the new pace that he to the floor makes the Clippers more dynamic offensively and it makes them overall harder to guard.
How His Physicality Changes Games
His physicality is another dominant trait that helps him be even more effective as a guard and change the way defenses have to treat him.
LA Clippers guard Darius Garland (10) makes a jump shot over Dallas Mavericks forward Marvin Bagley III (35) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesAs he's gotten more comfortable with the Clippers' offense Garland has gotten, the more he's been able to show off his innate skills and apply them to the floor.
His craftiness and his ability to affect the offense is going to be huge for what the Clippers are planning to build as a scrappy, fast-paced and exciting team.
The more synergy that the team builds, the more that Garland win particular will be able to shine and have the Clippers' build around his style.
For now at least, Jones Jr. is definitely impressed with what his teammate can do.