After losing a game that they once held a 15 point lead, The Cavs fans are coming down hard on Collin Sexton, right or wrong.
Collin Sexton isn’t a bad guy. He’s not even a selfish guy. This is the dude that nearly lead a comeback at Alabama when his entire team got ejected except for himself and two other teammates. Imagine making a comeback attempt with only two other players against a full accompaniment of players. Sexton can play. Just, maybe not in the system that he has.
The Cavs blew a 15 point lead and fell to the Detroit Pistons, 115-113 on Tuesday. A lot of fans are throwing their arms up in the air after the collapse because of the way the team lost. Sexton fell apart down the stretch, letting guys get open, missing shots, and worst yet, air balling a floater that lead to a shot clock violation. This just mere seconds after nearly stepping out of bounds and costing the team the game in a vastly different way. Sexton isn’t a bad player but his 20 points paled in the light of Kevin Love’s God Mode shooting night, going 12-15 from the field, and hitting 4-6 from three.
So the night’s disappointments are magnified even more by Love’s impressive performance. A close came didn’t stop The Cavs fans from coming down hard on Sexton, however.
Collin wyd?
— Jackson Flickinger (@Akron_Jackson) January 8, 2020
Such a Sexton night, 18 on 18 shots with 2 assists and 1 turnovers. Same player he was when he entered the league.
— Anthony Lima (@SportsBoyTony) January 8, 2020
Someone PLEASE tell Collin Sexton he is not at the park. Pass the damn ball kid! #nba #Cavs #cleveland
— Ohio Sports Guy (@OhioSportsGuy2) January 8, 2020
Man Collin Sexton should not be out there in crunch time
— Paul (@PaulB____) January 8, 2020
#Cavs late-game execution remains an issue. They didn't get the ball to Kevin Love enough down the stretch. That shouldn't have been Collin Sexton's possession. The one time they did get Love involved, Cedi Osman was able to drive in for a layup that missed.
— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) January 8, 2020
Imagine thinking that player development is letting your 6 foot guard keep chucking shots while your lone All Star has double the assists he had and was 12-15 from the field.
— Cavs:TheBlog (@CavsTheTweets) January 8, 2020
The leash is too damn long.
How can a floater... A FLOATER... be that FAR OFF?!
— tito (@HipsterTito) January 8, 2020
Sexton floater while the team’s lone All Star has 30 points on 15 shots. Makes sense.
— Cavs:TheBlog (@CavsTheTweets) January 8, 2020
I’m over Collin Sexton already, would love for #BeTheFight to trade him
— Patrick Glasser (@patrickglasser3) January 8, 2020
Not every fan is coming with the blade to Sexton’s neck, some came with the jokes.
Collin sexton pic.twitter.com/CyQ1avirot
— stoned browns fan (@stonedbrownsfan) January 8, 2020
Kevin Love is going to throw Collin Sexton off the team plane the second the seatbelt lights are off
— CLEology (@_CLEology) January 8, 2020
Some now understand why Love has frustrations with the team, and namely (allegedly) Sexton.
While some were even sympathetic to the young, second-year guard.
This loss was on the coach! Should’ve stayed with the hot hand but being that he didn’t Collin Sexton is thrown into the fire again
— jenn (@jenn554120301) January 8, 2020
The @cavs just played game 36 and all the fans still think Collin Sexton is looking to score without being asked to by the coach? I'm sure and would hope the Coach have enough say so that he would bench Sexton if he wasn't doing what he is told to do.
— Mr hardy (@_Teezy_216) January 8, 2020
You have to feel for everyone on the Cavs. This isn’t an effort issue, everyone is trying to win, but the Cavs don’t get to keep their first-round pick if they don’t have a top ten selection, so you play to lose in today’s modern NBA. That’s the task given upon the coaching staff.
There’s also a second reason, kids gotta learn how to win. It’s really easy to fall into sports cliches, but even LeBron James had to learn how to win a game after he got to the pros. Sexton taking the last shot in a lost season is exactly what he needs to be doing. This team is streaking to the playoffs. There is no mid-season trade for Chris Paul or Damian Lillard coming folks.
As much as Love should’ve taken that lost shot, at the end of the day it doesn’t matter. Especially if Sexton learns to win from it.