Indiana Pacers: Schedule lends itself to quick start
By Fox Doucette
Cleveland Cavaliers (Oct. 26, Nov. 1)
These are not LeBron James‘ Cleveland Cavaliers. These are Collin Sexton‘s Cleveland Cadavers.
To say Sexton stunk as a rookie is putting it mildly. Sexton’s rookie year smelled worse than a durian, a corpse flower, and a wino who hasn’t showered since George W. Bush was still president combined.
Since the stat came into being with the NBA’s starting to count individual turnovers in 1977-78, Sexton’s minus-2.1 VORP is tied for third-worst in history.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t even the worst VORP last season — that dishonor belongs to the Knicks’ Kevin Knox and his cover-your-eyes minus-2.2 — but only Michael Olowokandi (minus-2.6 in 1999-2000) had a worse value before last year.
An argument could be made that Sexton is due to make a leap, but De’Aaron Fox, who was about as bad as a rookie can get in the league, managed a minus-1.2 VORP before making his Year 2 leap.
What does this have to do with the Indiana Pacers?
Well, it underscores what a cupcake the 19-wins-in-2018-19 Cavs will be for two games. There is no reason whatsoever why the Pacers can’t win both of these games, at home and on the road.