Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 positives from Collin Sexton
By Ryan Piers
The Cleveland Cavaliers have sputtered to a 2-12 record, worst in the NBA. Maybe more important than the lack of wins, however, is Collin Sexton beginning to flourish.
In any other season, a 119-95 shellacking to a struggling team is completely bad news. In what has clearly turned into a rebuilding year, the Cleveland Cavaliers must look deeper into their recent loss to the Washington Wizards, or any bad nights that will come this season, for the silver lining.
Holy crow it was ugly! Cleveland turned the ball over 23 times. The team managed just 95 points against a Wizards squad that’s allowed more than 120 on four separate occasions. The list goes on and on.
Still, in this case the silver lining may actually be brighter than the cloud is dark. Rookie Collin Sexton, that guy the Cleveland is betting its future on, scored a career-high 24 points and looked much improved compared to when the season began a month ago.
It was Sexton’s fourth start in a row and fourth straight 15-plus point game. It reflected what may be an improved player from even his college days.
The NBA Rookie of the Year ladder has played out mostly as expected. Deandre Ayton and Luka Doncic are dominating. Trae Young is taking advantage of opportunities with the Atlanta Hawks, and the other six members of the top-heavy draft are playing about the same.
But it’s been Sexton, at least in the last week, that appears to be progressing the quickest. He’s currently averaging 12.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Here is what has been most impressive about him lately.