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Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 keys to reaching the NBA Playoffs next season

By Tony Pesta

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 09: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers moves the ball up court against the Detroit Pistons in the first half of an NBA game at Little Caesars Arena on January 9, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Cleveland defeated Detroit 115-112 in OT. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 09: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers moves the ball up court against the Detroit Pistons in the first half of an NBA game at Little Caesars Arena on January 9, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Cleveland defeated Detroit 115-112 in OT. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Cavaliers (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Cleveland Cavaliers (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

2. Youth development

The only way Cleveland manages to make the playoffs next season is if multiple members of their youth make the leap to becoming quality contributors. Their upcoming draft pick will be vital – but we will get to that later. For now, let’s only look at the current young core.

Collin Sexton should be the first name on most people’s minds. He finished the year on a blazing hot streak from the field and silenced just about every criticism you could have of him – on the offensive end, at least.

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Sexton finished his sophomore season averaging 20.8 points and 3.0 assists per game on near 50/40/85 shooting splits. He began to tame his wild playstyle and control his speed – transforming into a more reliable playmaker and efficient scorer. His success rate in the paint rivaled that of Russell Westbrook and Damian Lillard while his true shooting percentage was only 1.7 percent lower than LeBron James’.

There are obvious questions surrounding Sexton’s fit alongside the rest of the team and whether or not he would be better coming off of the bench. Regardless, Sexton showed he can score in bunches and taking another step forward as a scorer would put the Cavaliers in a solid position.

As for his running mate, Darius Garland, we need to see some major growth. Garland left much to be desired in his rookie season and will be asked to improve mightly in his sophomore stint. The No. 5 pick of last year’s NBA Draft failed to make either All-Rookie Team as his season was plagued by streaky shooting and hesitant decision making.

Nonetheless, the eye test is very favorable to Garland. His game is as smooth as it gets – leaving us to believe that it’s only a matter of time before he catches a rhythm. He showed indication of heating up before the break, posting averages of 12.9 points and 5.3 assists on 36.5 percent 3-point shooting in his final 12 games.

Speaking of smooth, Kevin Porter Jr. exceeded expectations with his slick shot-creating ability and athleticism. Porter gave us brief glimpses of a potentially elite two-way player throughout his rookie season. The next step in his progression is proving he can handle more responsibility and earning a slot in the starting lineup as a tertiary ball-handler.

Last but not least, Dylan Windler is a player that can have a big impact on the Cavaliers next season. The 3-point specialist from Belmont did not appear in an NBA game last season but could be everything the Cavs need to address their shooting woes. Cleveland ranked 21st in 3-pointers last season while Windler shot above 40 percent on 100 makes as a senior in college.

Seeing significant growth from at least a few of these players will be crucial to the Cavaliers’ playoff hopes.