Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 reasons to rally behind Collin Sexton

Why the Cleveland Cavaliers should rally behind Sexton: 3. He is a gifted slasher

Collin Sexton’s greatest gift is his incredible foot speed. There are few players in the league that can run in a straight line faster than Young Bull.

In the past, this raw talent got him into quite a bit of trouble. It was easy for Sexton to get into the paint — but it was not so effortless for him to finish over taller defenders. Without proper instincts or feel for the game as a rookie, Sexton was blocked more than anyone in the league — developing a reputation as a ball hog that he still has not been able to shake to this day.

However, Sexton has made astronomical leaps in his ability to score in the paint. He learned the important skill of changing speeds rather than going full pedal to the mettle on every drive. Sexton was able to knife into the land and deaccelerate for floaters over taller defenders.

And, he bulked up over the course of his second and third seasons. Sexton now weighs 190 pounds after entering the league at just 181. This added muscle has helped him absorb contact on his way to the rim and finish through defenders.

Sexton scored the seventh most total points in the paint (127) for non-frontcourt players last season. He also shot above 60 percent on his attempts down low. As for drives to the hoop, Sexton ranked eighth in total points (584) ahead of names like Zion Williamson, Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum and even Giannis Anteokounmpo.

Keep in mind, Sexton did this while playing on the second-worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA. The Cavaliers’ utter lack of spacing made it all the more difficult for a 6’1″ guard to score in the paint — yet Sexton did it at one of the best rates in the league.