The Cleveland Cavaliers will meet the league’s worst squad, the Phoenix Suns, on Thursday night as NBA play resumes. It could be a big night for Cleveland’s rookie, Collin Sexton.
It hasn’t been the smoothest of transitions from college to the NBA for Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Collin Sexton. Sexton, the eighth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, has faced his fair share of struggles since entering the pro ranks. And of course, what struggles aren’t magnified by a heavy amount of critics?
Sometimes his critics have even resided in his own locker room.
But despite all of the chatter about his lack of a perimeter shot, his aggressive but fundamentally-lacking defense, and much else, the 20-year-old has kept his head down and blocked out the noise.
Sexton understands that there is a lot of pressure on him. He’s the first draft pick of the post-LeBron era and is expected to be an integral building block for the franchise.
That’s why he answers everything with a grasp of the situation, knowing that he must do and say the right things at such a young age.
There isn’t another choice for him besides grinding at the workplace and trying to find the solutions to the many questions presented about his game.
He was known for being a “Young Bull” when he was drafted out of Alabama, his determination to win basketball games the ultimate reason why. That energy is appearing to be channeled out of Sexton once again with all of the snubs he’s faced this year.
There hasn’t been a Rookie Of The Month for the Wine and Gold’s rookie to boast about. ESPN isn’t sprinting to the Quicken Loans Arena to watch the 12-46 Cavaliers take on whoever is in their building.
Heck, Sexton wasn’t even thought highly enough to get an invitation to play in the Rising Stars Challenge during last week’s All-Star Weekend.
But the fuel is starting to drive Sexton. In four of his last five games, he’s posted twenty or more points with two games including five-plus assists.
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He’s hitting 44.4 percent of his shots (44-for-99) from the floor (per NBA.com) and is looking the most comfortable he’s been on the court for the Cavaliers. It’s all starting to come together.
With a game against the fellow basement-dwellers in the Suns, Sexton could be due for another big game.
Sexton’s career-high for points in a game is currently 29, which he earned against both Houston and Washington in contests this season. But Phoenix gives him an opportunity to top that.
The Suns’ biggest issue is the lack of a playmaker to set up Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. Both are talented young players but they need someone to help ease the offensive possession into their hands.
Phoenix has done a drastically bad job at getting some backcourt help for Booker, who is one of the bright up-and-coming stars in the league.
That hole at the one-spot could serve as a field day for Sexton.
Phoenix did reportedly trade for Tyler Johnson at the NBA Trade Deadline but it isn’t a move to make one “ooh” or “aah”. Johnson is a grossly overpaid point guard who didn’t start much during his tenure with the Miami Heat.
He fits right in with the lackluster rotation consisting of De’Anthony Melton and Elie Okobo.
Combined, the group is averaging 5.6 points per game this season.
As a result, expect Sexton to have yet another twenty-point showing on the offensive end. Prepare for his defense to look promising, even if it’s against a less-than-stellar depth chart.
In general, look for more good things from Sexton on Thursday and in the near future.