Cavs: 2 promising signs from Collin Sexton early on

#1: Sexton’s continued playmaking growth for the Cavs

Last season, Sexton did show signs as a playmaker, at least in the secondary/combo guard variety, with 4.4 assists per outing. In relation to combo guards, Sexton placed in the 67th percentile in assist rate, too, per Cleaning The Glass. Per them, his assist rate was 21.8 percent.

There were some flashes in Year 2 from him as a better passer, but per Cleaning The Glass, his assist rate in Year 2 was in just the sixth percentile. The passing willingness/strides were not seen from him then as compared to last season, anyhow; he was generating productive ball-swings far more consistently last season, and hitting more dump-offs/transition cutters.

And despite the lack of assist totals early this season as compared to Year 3, he’s appeared to have that passing growth carried that forward.

Throughout games, while the Cavaliers not been able to hit nearly the same as far as perimeter looks from his passes, and some cutters/dump-off threats have either fumbled passes or missed interior looks, Sexton is seeing those often and delivering them. This dish to Evan Mobley in Cleveland’s win over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday displayed growth regarding his decision-making in the lane, for example.

He’s finding mismatches more regularly as a passer, too, which has been a key positive after ball-swings to him or him initiating or reseting in mid-clock situations; I’d imagine that Ricky Rubio has helped in that regard, as a side note.

Instead of maybe taking a tough floater on a different occasion against Atlanta, he made an awesome dish to Markkanen, who had possession for a layup, and that was further evidence that Sexton is improving as a passer to bigs. And with Darius Garland missing the past two outings due to a left ankle sprain, this sort of development, also with Sexton finding more kickouts along the baseline for corner threes, is nice to see.

Again, and if other Cavs such as Markkanen, whose hit only 27.8 percent early from three, and perhaps Mobley, when open, knock down more deep balls after Sexton extra passes/kickouts, it’ll help bring the assist totals up for Collin as well.

Overall, when watching games, it’s apparent that, while he is much more so a 2 and/or combo guard, Sexton’s passing growth, continuing on from last season, has been there. It’s shocking he’s had only 2.3 assists per game thus far, given all the quality looks he’s helped create.

Secondly, another promising development from him has been regarding the fourth-year guard’s finishing.