Cleveland Cavaliers: Advanced stats misrepresent Collin Sexton
By Tony Pesta
Poor defensive team
Perhaps the number one thing skewing the numbers is the fact that Collin Sexton played all 82 games on a historically bad defensive team. Out of 82 games, the Cleveland Cavaliers held opposing teams below 100 points only nine times.
For reference, opponents scored 125 or more points in 17 games versus the Cavaliers this year.
Is this Sexton’s fault? Take a look at this record-breaking streak in which the Cavaliers allowed 115 or more points in four consecutive home games. Make sure to take note of how many points the opposing starting point guard scored in each game:
Four game stretch in January:
- Miami – 117 points (Justise Winslow – 10 Points)
- Utah – 117 points (Ricky Rubio – 15 Points)
- New Orleans – 133 points (Jrue Holiday – 22 Points)
- Indiana – 123 points (Darren Collison – 8 Points)
As you can see, Sexton was consistently holding his individual match up to a reasonable number. However, the Cavaliers were still thumped in each game, allowing nearly 500 points in just four games.
Of course, this isn’t to say that Collin is secretly a stud defensively. He has some serious issues on this end of the floor. As an undersized guard with little NBA experience, Sexton was relentlessly attacked and lacked the physical tools needed to make up for any of his frequent mistakes.
He isn’t a great defender, but he is nowhere near as detrimental as the advanced metrics paint him to be.
Sadly, it will be difficult for Young Bull to ever become a plus defender in the modern NBA. Opponents are always going to force Sexton into switching onto a bigger player and it will be nearly impossible to stop this from happening.
Still, we have seen teams find success with an undersized guard. The Golden State Warriors are phenomenal at hiding Stephen Curry and the Boston Celtics used to cover up Isaiah Thomas without much problem by having a roster filled with versatile wing defenders.
Though he may never be a positive influence on this end of the floor, the Cavaliers can certainly work around this issue with Sexton.