Cavs’ Darius Garland still seems off, and not surprisingly, so is the team

This isn’t how anyone drew it up.

Through 28 games, the Cavaliers are 15-13 and sitting ninth in the Eastern Conference. That’s a jolt when you consider Cleveland finished last season with the top record in the East and entered this year believing continuity would matter.

Right now, though, things feel off. And leaguewide, people are noticing.

In a Bleacher Report piece examining each team’s biggest issue, Grant Hughes zeroed in on Darius Garland’s surgically repaired left big toe. It’s not a hot take. It’s an uncomfortable reality.

Garland missed the first seven games following offseason surgery and, frankly, hasn’t looked like himself since returning. The burst isn’t there. The separation isn’t there. And defensively, he’s getting targeted more than ever.

Hughes notes that Garland’s efficiency has cratered, and for the first time since his rookie year, Cleveland’s offense has actually been worse with him on the floor.

That’s not a criticism of Garland’s effort or competitiveness. It’s about health.

Garland has already aggravated the toe more than once. Anyone around the team will tell you he wants to play through it, but wanting and being able are two different things.

Through 12 games, he’s averaging 15.4 points and 6.4 assists while shooting just 36.3 percent from the field and under 30 percent from three.

The Cavs’ offensive rating drops by more than five points when he’s on the court, something that simply hasn’t happened before in his career.

This doesn’t mean panic. There are still more than 50 games left. But it does help explain why the vibes aren’t great right now, especially after a loss to a Bulls team the Cavs normally handle.

Cleveland remains solid statistically. Top half of the league in offense, defense and net rating.

But this team is built on guard play, rhythm and pressure. And until Garland is closer to full strength, everything feels just a little harder than it should.