Cavs: Grading Collin Sexton’s play at just past halfway point

Sexton’s defensive play so far

Perhaps the biggest improvement Sexton has had this year, is some of the growth Sexton has had this year compared to his rookie year defensively.

As a rookie one of the reasons Sexton had a hard time was he physically couldn’t match up with a lot of guards. He would have a hard time when teams ran him through screens or put him through pick-and-rolls defensively.

Sexton came into training camp stronger physically and does a better job compared to his rookie year fighting through screens.

This year, Sexton is averaging 0.9 steals per game this year, which is a little higher than his 0.5 average per game last year.  Last year according to NBA.com, the Cavs had a defensive rating of 118.1 with Sexton, while this year it’s improved a bit to a defensive rating of 116.9, as shown by NBA.com.

That may not sound like much, but all things considered, the Cleveland Cavaliers and head coach John Beilein should be very happy with the way Sexton has improved this year on defense.

The Darius Garland-Sexton backcourt has limitations on defense with their size, but the Cavs desperately need plus wings there around them and still don’t have much shot blocking as they rank dead-last in blocks again at 3.3 per game, according to NBA.com.

That would really help Sexton even more on the defensive end.

Defensive grade at this point: C

That being said, Sexton is still very young and young guards often struggle on the defensive end, still, though, but Sexton has shown he has improved defensively from his rookie year and down the line has the ability to be a really good on-ball defender.

You’d still like to see Sexton’s defensive play as a team defender and rotator get better, such as how Cedi Osman‘s has, anyhow, which would help out Garland and others, like Tristan Thompson.

Still too often throughout games Sexton seems to be out of position, off the ball, in particular, and has unfortunately played right into the Cavs’ big struggles in defensive transition and with miscommunications throughout this season.