The Cleveland Cavaliers fell short of their goals last season. They were one of the biggest surprise packages throughout the regular season, which led to lofty expectations for the Cavs. In the end, they didn’t even make it to the playoffs — a fact that still weighs heavily on Cavs star Darius Garland.
In a recent podcast appearance, Garland spoke openly about how he feels Cleveland will bounce back in 2022-23. According to the 22-year-old, he expects a much better campaign for his team this coming season (h/t Jonathan Sherman of Cavaliers Nation):
“I think we can get even better,” he said. “I think we can make it to the Eastern Conference Finals next year for sure. We’re coming back with a chip on our shoulder. … We’re a young team. Like you said, we battled through a lot of adversity this season. So, it was cool just being there, but we not satisfied. We all in. We all ready to rock and roll.”
That’s quite a bold prediction from Garland, especially considering how the Cavs haven’t even made it to the playoffs ever since LeBron James left in 2018. There’s a new era in Cleveland, though, and Darius Garland, who himself just signed a massive five-year, $193 million extension to remain with the team through 2028, is determined to lead the charge for his squad. The Cavs have gone all-in on the former Vanderbilt standout and he now hopes to repay their faith in him.
Injuries were a major issue for the Cavs last season, so as long as they are able to stay healthy, Cleveland could be a very dangerous team not only this coming season but for many years to come.