INDIANAPOLIS – Kevin Love’s seat on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ team plane is right next to rookie Darius Garland.

After watching the talented teenager cap the worst night of his young career by sitting on the bench for the final 8:52 of Cleveland’s 102-95 loss to the Indiana Pacers, Love -- one of the unquestioned team leaders -- was looking forward to heading home. He was eager to chat with Garland.

“Been there before. It’s on us to pick him back up,” Love said. “I will be able to talk to him a little bit. He has that quiet confidence about him where he will come out on Sunday and I know he will have a good showing at home.”

On Friday night, in his second matchup against the Pacers, Garland scored just two points on 0-of-10 from the field, including two misses from 3-point range.

He said the Pacers didn’t change their defensive approach from the first meeting, a game in which Garland poured in a career-high 12 points. He just “missed shots” Friday night. Aside from the home opener, a spirited evening in Cleveland, that’s been the early trend for Garland. The silky jumper that left the Cavs in awe during a pre-draft workout in June hasn’t been falling. Garland even missed a pair of free throws late in the third quarter Friday night, the distress plastered on his face.

In five games, Garland is averaging 8.0 points on 30.2 percent from the field, 30 percent from 3-point range and 50 percent from the free throw line. The Cavs didn’t draft him fifth last June because of his shooting prowess. They liked his underrated court vision, passing potential and point guard knack. But Garland’s scoring ability, long-distance accuracy -- off the catch and dribble -- and refined jumper have never been question marks. That makes this slow start a bit unexpected.

It’s not time to panic. No one in the organization is. Garland sure isn’t either. If he ever wonders how quick things can turn in the NBA, he just has to look toward his backcourt mate Collin Sexton, who rebounded from a sluggish first month-plus to become one of the league’s best rookies.

Garland admitted recently that he’s still shaking off rust. He went about a year between playing meaningful games and adjusting to NBA size, strength, athleticism and length isn’t easy. It’s something Garland noticed immediately -- even during training camp against his own teammates.

Although he once again downplayed his own struggles after Friday’s game, it was clearly a frustrating night. Garland was hounded by Indiana’s feisty guards and had a tough time finishing in the paint over two near-7-footers (Domantas Sabonis and Goga Bitazde) who combined for six blocks.

But the Cavs’ message throughout the game was the same one Love planned on reiterating during the flight back to Cleveland: Stay aggressive.

“I went to him tonight and he had missed a 3 in the second quarter so I said, ‘Listen, we want you to shoot that shot every single time,’" said Love. "‘Don’t worry about it. I don’t care if you go 0-for-100, we need you to shoot that shot. You’re too good of a player, too good of a shooter.

“We’re not going to think too much. The game is funny in that way. Have to have success and failures quickly because the games come at you so fast. That’s how it goes. Ups and downs in this league. Beautiful part about it is we will have lots to learn tomorrow from the film, some things in practice and then another game on Sunday.”

Beilein believes the film study after will be especially vital for Garland. One thing he hopes the rook can see: Long 2s over length aren’t ideal.

“That’s why not many people take them,” Beilein said. “He’s going to have to learn and he’s a really bright kid. He’ll pick it up and grow from it.”

The Cavs will be back on the court Saturday in Independence, scheduled to practice around noon. Had it been an off day, Garland likely would’ve gone there on his own.

“Just go back to the drawing board, go to the gym tomorrow and keep working on the same shots I took tonight,” Garland said following the loss. “Just keep playing my game really. Everybody has nights like this so just keep moving on.”

Garland said he hasn’t noticed a pattern from defenses yet. Each opponent has used a different plan. Some teams have been pulling up on the ballscreen. Others lay low. There have been traps, hedges and switches. It’s all about reading, reacting and trying to make the proper play.

But no matter the defensive strategy, taking a laid-back approach isn’t an option.

“Those are shots I make all the time,” Garland said. “They just didn’t fall tonight. Teammates told me to keep shooting. Coaching staff telling me to keep shooting. I’m going to keep shooting.”

Safe to say the Cavs’ message has gotten through. Now he just needs to start validating it.

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