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NBA Playoffs: 6 young stars ready to make the Ja Morant leap

By Corey Rausch

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MAY 26: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies in action in Game Two of the Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on May 26, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MAY 26: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies in action in Game Two of the Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on May 26, 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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NBA playoffs (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
NBA playoffs (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

Young superstars ready for the NBA playoffs: SexLand

Collin Sexton and Darius Garland have been nominated as the backcourt of the future for the Cleveland Cavaliers and through the first half of the season, they looked poised to push the Cavs back to the postseason. Sexton is a go-to scorer (averaging 24.3 points per game this season) and showed the Brooklyn Nets on multiple occasions this season that he is not afraid of the moment.

Garland took a major step forward in his second season, jumping up to a line of 17.4 points, 6.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game on shooting splits of .451/.395/.848. He is the efficient partner that a gunner like Sexton needs to take the league by storm.

Neither of these guards pays much attention to the other end of the court, which is currently the undoing of the Cavaliers as a playoff contender. Early in the season, Cleveland was a top defensive unit on the back of rookie Isaac Okoro and Larry Nance Jr. As important as the offensive exploits of the two young guards are, they will need to at least become competent on both sides of the court to get back to the playoffs and show exactly what they are capable of.