2020-21 goal #1 for Sexton for the Cleveland Cavaliers: Averaging 4.0 assists per game
A realistic goal for Sexton for next season would be to average 4.0 assists per game. With the scoring aspect down, Sexton can focus the entire offseason on continued ball handling improvement and in having better decision-making when he attacks the basket.
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With teams knowing Sexton wants to get to the basket and score, it would benefit him to work on figuring out how to find the open man when the defense closes in on him more consistently.
Anticipating that Dylan Windler makes a full recovery from complications involving a stress reaction in his left leg, he would be a good fit alongside Sexton in minutes on the floor. His shooting ability from the outside would make teams pay for doubling Sexton.
Watching more and more film with the Cavs’ coaching staff, such as with head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and assistant Lindsay Gottlieb, will be another quality way for Sexton to see he had other options on a particular play other than trying to force a shot in traffic.
We saw some progress in that regard leading into the hiatus in him hitting shooters such as Kevin Love and Cedi Osman, but there’s still room to get better in that area for Sexton.
Sexton did get better as a finisher last season, and he hit 44.6 percent of his shots from 10-16 feet out, most often via pull-ups, which was great to see. Sexton also shot 57.3 percent on fast break chances, per Synergy Sports, and he definitely solidified himself as one of Cleveland’s best transition options last season.
What this means is that Sexton is a threat to score when he is in the open court, so if teams focus on him in transition defense, he will have to work on making the right pass to get a teammate an open look.
This would surely get his assist numbers up next season, and overall for next season, Sexton, who had 3.0 assists per outing last year, would be trending in the right direction if he had 4.0 assists per outing and displayed better vision, in turn.
The second goal for Sexton for 2020-21 relates to the defensive end.