Cavs: 2 key points of emphasis for Collin Sexton in second half

#1: Continuing to initiate contact on-ball for the Cavs

The first key point of emphasis for Sexton in the upcoming second half to me is him continuing to initiate contact on-ball, which he’s done for much of the season productively already.

Sexton’s averaged 5.9 free throw attempts per game thus far in Year 3, and in terms of his free throw rate, that’s been a career-high mark as well, at 32.9 percent, per Basketball Reference. And according to Basketball Reference, League average this season in that metric has been 24.9 percent, for what it’s worth.

This season, and particularly lately, Sexton has done a really nice job of initiating contact as a driver, both in settled offense and in transition, to get him to the free throw line, leading to easy looks for him to get more in-rhythm and/or to convert And-1 opportunities. Sexton’s had 7.4 free throw attempts in his past nine games, of which he’s hit 77.6 percent of (don’t read into that clip dropping slightly as compared to the season, though).

It’s been encouraging to see Sexton, who again put on muscle over the past offseason, as he did coming into Year 2, too, continue to embrace contact on-ball when going to the basket, as that’s not made a difference throughout games in making him even more difficult to defend.

He needs to keep punishing opposing defenders when he’s been in position to do so, as the more he does, the more trips to the line he’ll have. And that will cause hesitation from rim protectors, and only allow him to use his speed/quickness against opposing guards/wings more and more in their approach in defending him.

In addition to the driving element, as the season has progressed, Sexton’s approach when feeling defenders trailing him in the pick-and-roll has often led to him either being able to propel off leading to explosive pushes to the basket, leading to layups/short floaters.

And conversely, Sexton has been able to square/pull up and simply pump, then either have those trailing defenders go past him, or Sexton’s been able to get too in-n-outs and retreat more and use those defenders’ momentum against them for a more open look.

The feel for putting those trailing defenders and/or dropping bigs in pick-and-roll situations set by Jarrett Allen has been on display consistently from Collin lately, though, and him initiating that contact first has made the difference. I just want to see him continue to play at his pace in that regard the rest of this season, and not get sped up or trapped.

On occasion, there have been turnovers in those sort of situations with Sexton, but his feel in that realm/in those spots has gotten better, by and large. But the way Sexton has gotten his considerable share of free throws has been nice to see.

And he’s not done so in the Trae Young-type way of falling into opposing defenders, on the other end of the spectrum, which has been plaguing the league and/or can occasionally lead to offensive fouls. That sort of thing, if the call doesn’t come, can also lead to simply dead possessions, too.

From there, the second key point of emphasis to me for Sexton is a way for him to counter his on-ball threat, but sprayout threat as well, somewhat.