Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 reasons to rally behind Collin Sexton
By Tony Pesta
Why the Cleveland Cavaliers should rally behind Sexton: 2. He is an efficient shooter
3-Point shooting was listed as one of the top concerns for Collin Sexton entering the NBA. Now, his efficiency as an all-around shooter is one of his strengths.
Sexton has shot above 37 percent from deep (above league average) and increased his volume each season of his career. While he still has room to shoot more — his willingness to take and make open shots is a plus.
More than half of Sexton’s 98 total 3-pointers came through catch-and-shoot opportunities. On these looks, Young Bull connected on over 40 percent of his attempts. This marked the third straight season Sexton achieved this efficiency.
In general, the Cavs were a poor 3-point shooting team. Even their best shooters rank near the bottom of the league in attempts per game. This rings true for Sexton, whose 4.4 attempts per game places him 129th in the NBA.
Solving this issue will require more than Sexton simply increasing his attempts. The Cavaliers need to place a greater emphasis on generating quality 3-point looks. In this case, Sexton’s strengths as a catch-and-shoot threat will truly shine.
However, Sexton is not just a 3-point shooter. He’s one of the best mid-range scorers in the league. He’s mastered the lost art of the mid-range but this shot will be useful for the undersized guard as getting to the rim is not always an option.
Continuing to be an efficient shooter from all areas of the floor will keep Sexton in All-Star discussions. And, it helps to have a player who can be trusted to get a bucket at any time.