I mean, is that who we want to give a max too? Even Fedor commented that he has struggled before his injury in training camp, regressing to some of his bad habits...giving a max to someone like Eric Gordon could derail the rebuild. I’m admittedly not a big sexton fan but a lot of his issues outside of shooting have not improved drastically like it needs too for him to be a plus player on a future playoff team.
The article didnt say he struggled due to him not improving it said it was because he was forcing shots at camp mostly due to rust. You took a part of the article and twisted into something that was not true.
Concern for Sexton?
Sources say Sexton has been struggling in training camp, forcing things quite a bit -- even before spraining his ankle. That carried over into Friday night, Sexton’s first game in more than nine months.
He scored six points on 2-of-11 shooting and 0-of-2 from beyond the arc in 21 minutes.
“I just didn’t have a rhythm,” Sexton admitted. “Haven’t practiced basically, practiced a little bit yesterday but it wasn’t much. Certain shots, certain layups and stuff that I know I’m going to make when the season comes, certain plays I’m gonna make. I really wasn’t too pressed about it. Nine months has been a long time. It’s been a very long time. And just to be out there with the guys, knock the cobwebs off, and just get up and down, it was pretty cool.”
Bickerstaff said Sexton seemed energized during the team’s early shootaround. Maybe a bit too much. But Bickerstaff liked that Sexton displayed his usual burst getting to the basket, fought over screens and made a few plays for his teammates. Sexton finished with a team-high four assists, building on the playmaking strides he made in March. It could have been more. He also committed three turnovers, a sign of rust.
“He just needs to get more of those reps, but I think Collin will be fine,” Bickerstaff said.
Sexton’s evolution will be a storyline. Where does he go after a marvelous finish to the 2019-20 season, emerging as an elite scorer in the Eastern Conference following Jordan Clarkson’s trade? Can Sexton, an undersized shooting guard with a score-first mentality, once again break through the ceiling that outsiders have placed on him? What is his best long-term role?
Those answers will come eventually. In the meantime, his job isn’t expected to change. Not after two quality seasons, averaging 18.5 points on 45% shooting and 39.2% from 3-point range to go with 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. That can’t be overlooked.
“He finished on an extremely high note and I think it’s our responsibility to get him back there,” Bickerstaff said. “The numbers may look different because there’s more options on the floor with him, but our expectation is for him to be aggressive on the offensive end and make the right reads.
“If you look at a guy who’s able to roll out of bed in the NBA, and get you 20 points a night consistently, I think that’s earned. Training camp is hard when you’re injured. It may take us some time to work him back to his normal minutes, things of that nature, just because of injury. I think his performance last year, and at the end of last season, was above and beyond. I think he’s one of those guys that earns the opportunity to play extended minutes.”
Keep an eye on Sexton running the offense from time to time this season. He was used in that role Friday with Exum out. It’s an opportunity to stagger Garland-Sexton minutes.
J.B. Bickerstaff asked his players to make his lineup decisions complicated. Cedi Osman has done his part.
www.cleveland.com
Three of those assists came after the game was over.. but yes Garland is just as bad at assists AND, can't score nor defend.. Gatlsnd is stronger than last year, but he makes no effort to defend and chooses his own shot rather than finding someone else open..
The game was over in the first five minutes of the game but those assists still count. I mean,it was his first preseason game. You act like you were expecting Sexton to ball out when everyone was the struggling too.