LivingLegend wrote:toooskies wrote:LivingLegend wrote:
Which is why, the path of least resistance to forming a competitive team is by making Sexton a 6th man. You have to nail a whole lotta other stuff and reconstruct your roster if your hellbent on the whole 'Sexland' thing. Its doing nothing but creating a lot of unnecessary hoops to jump through during a rebuild.
The model the Cavs are copying (Blazers) just got beat again in the 1st round of the playoffs and is about to be broken apart. Really hope the Cavs FO is taking notes on roster construction.
If there are any Sexland supporters out there (Stillwater) please tell me a Pros/Cons list of them being on the court together.
Pros: More dynamic in small ball lineups
Cons: The Cavs still lose, Garland gets to play make far less, the halfcourt offense is slow as molasses, defense is abused on the wings, the perimeter defense is horrible, it makes the defense terrible, people are forced to play out of position to compensate, guarding the other team is impossible with two undersized guards sharing the floor for big mins. and LASTLY-- it makes the defense atrocious.
The only way for 'Sexland' to work is 1) If both players average 26+ppg 2) The Cavs finish top 5 in shot attempts per game and 3) They hire Mike Dantoni
Two things are facts:
- Garland and Sexton are short for NBA shooting guards
- The Cavs play bad 3-pt defense
From those facts you say it's impossible for two short guys to play good 3pt defense, and maybe it does hurt a little bit. But luckily, we can look at other teams to see how other short guys do on defense together! All 6'1" of Donovan Mitchell and all 6'1" of Mike Conley led the Jazz to 2nd in the league in 3pt defense.
It's definitely within the realm of outcomes that Garland and Sexton never play good defense together, but it's not just because of their combined height and you really need to stop thinking it's impossible to play two small guards together and win.
I think where I deviate from a lot of people is areas that can be improved in a players game and areas that cant.
I (personally) believe that defense is something a player has or doesnt. Sure its possible to get slightly better to work your way up from bad to being average but I firmly believe its nearly impossible for a player to go from being horrible (where DG/Sexton are now) to good. Call me a pessimist but neither of those 2 are ever going to be plus defenders in their careers.
I also (personally) believe that playmaking is another trait that you have or you dont. Ive never seen a player for as long as I watched the NBA that all of a sudden had great IQ, court vision and passing skills in 1-2 offseasons. It just doesnt happen.
Im not saying it will never work, but forcing Sexton/Garland to become a 'thing' just because a whopping 3 teams in the NBA have had success with it is stupid and a uphill battle the Cavs will be fighting until they cut the cord. I just hope they dont waste too many more seasons before they get to that point.
Even some of the dumbest player can learn an offensive and defensive system in a couple of years. In other words players don't have to do everything with raw talent.
The Cavs #1 problem is we never stick with anything long enough and build a foundation.