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Cleveland Cavaliers: Is a Sexton-Garland backcourt combo the future?

By Brendan Purdue

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 19: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts to shooting for three points during the fourth quarter of the NBA game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on April 19, 2021 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. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 19: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts to shooting for three points during the fourth quarter of the NBA game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on April 19, 2021 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. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /
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Are Collin Sexton, Darius Garland the future for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the backcourt?

Thursday night marked the first NBA game I had been to in over a year. Due to the pandemic, in-person basketball has just recently become a thing again even though it’s been reduced capacity. I find myself in Cleveland, Ohio for almost 10 days getting treatment at Cleveland Clinic so I figured why not go catch a game and check out the experience.

Now I’m an Indiana Pacers fan so that is who I normally watch, but this game would mark my third game watching the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. My favorite game was Game 1 of the 2018 playoffs (Pacers won that one), but last night’s game easily was the second-best game I’ve seen.

The Cavs the most complete game I’ve seen from them all year essentially dominating the Chicago Bulls right from tip-off. Darius Garland and Collin Sexton both put together a masterpiece. Both players combined for a grand total of 55 points. This goes to show how much they dominated the backcourt of Chicago (minus Zach LaVine). The Bulls had no answer for either guard and Sexton and Garland pretty much got whatever they wanted.

Thinking back over that game, the Cavaliers showed potentially what they could be. If that had been the first time I had watched the Cavs all year and you told me that team wasn’t in the playoff hunt, I would be in absolute shock. The Cavs last night didn’t look like a team that is most likely picking in the top 5 yet again, but a team that I believe could be in the playoff hunt.

Can Darius Garland and Collin Sexton be the future cornerstones of the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Let’s start with Sexton. Sexton in his third year is already a major problem for opposing teams. This is the second season for Sexton that he has averaged north of twenty points per game while posting a true shooting percentage of above 56 percent (24.4 points per game this season).

Sexton also adds in 4.1 assists and 3 rebounds a game and brings top-notch defense every night. There is a reason his nickname is “Young Bull” and all you have to do is watch him on the court to see why he earned that nickname. There have been people who worry about his size as he is a 6-foot-1 combo guard. I think his athleticism, strength, and sheer heart he plays with makeup for his lack of height. I have no doubt he will one day be an All-Star and even an All-NBA caliber player.

Garland is an interesting case for me. I haven’t seen too many games of his but last night I was very impressed with his play. I kept seeing flashes of Kyrie Irving in his style of play but he isn’t quite on that level yet. Granted it’s his second year and it does take time for a point guard in the NBA to develop and blossom but Garland has easily taken a step up from his rookie year.

Garland is averaging 17.4 points, six assists, and 2.4 rebounds all while posting a true shooting percentage of 54 percent. Turnovers are something that Garland still has to improve on going forward as he averages more turnovers( 3 per game) than assists.

Going into the future can these two be the backbone of this Cavalier team? I believe that they can be with due time and development. Last night showcased the potential those two have as a backcourt of the future. Their success will rely on if they can figure out how to dominate the opposition’s backcourt night in and night out.

Thursday against the Bulls was a glimpse of what they can be. The biggest thing moving forward is can they reach that level of consistency. It may take another year or two for them to get to that point, but I believe that these two talented, young guards can do it.

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