The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Cavs looking for quick start in home opener
Sexton showing improvement, confidence driving to the hoop
The best way for the Cavaliers to not expend all their energy mounting a comeback is to make the other team do the chasing late, Coach Tyronn Lue has concluded two games into the 201819 season.
The Cavs open their home schedule at 6 p.m. Oct. 21 against the 0-2 Atlanta Hawks. The Cavs made a run at the Toronto Raptors in the opener and another against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 19, but they came up short both times.
“We have to get back in transition,” Lue said. “Against teams like Toronto and Minnesota, who are very good teams, you can’t dig yourself a hole like that and try to come back. It takes too much.
“We talked about it after the game. Let’s start that way. Let’s not dig a hole and then start playing harder and harder once we get behind.”
The Hawks could be just what the doctor ordered to get the Cavaliers on a wining track. After facing two tough opponents on the road to start the season in the post-LeBron James era, the Cavs return to Quicken Loans Arena for the first of two home games with Atlanta in a span of 10 days.
The Brooklyn Nets, another team that missed the playoffs last season, visit The Q on Oct. 24. After a road game in Detroit Oct. 25, the Cavs finish off their October schedule with home games against Indiana on Oct. 27 and the Hawks again Oct. 30.
“We talked about it after the game. Let’s start that way. Let’s not dig a hole and then start playing harder and harder once we get behind.”
— Cavs coach Tyronn Lue
George Hill started at point guard the first two games and will likely have the same assignment against the Hawks, but his backup, rookie Collin Sexton, showed improvement from the first game to the second and was rewarded with more playing time. He played 17 minutes in the opener and 23 minutes against the Timberwolves.
Sexton, the eighth pick in the 2018 draft, will get the chance to continue that growth against the Hawks. He showed confidence driving to the hoop.
Jordan Clarkson, one of the players acquired at the trading deadline last season, expects to have a bigger role as this season progresses. He and Sexton helped the Cavaliers outscore the T-Wolves, 69-60, in the second half. Minnesota led, 71-74 at halftime. The Cavs trimmed the deficit to 121-117 but could get no closer and lost, 131-123.
Clarkson said the transition game Lue wants the Cavs to play has to start at the defensive end.
“It’s real fixable,” Clarkson said. “Just get back, basically.
“We have guys that are going to crash the glass – Tristan (Thompson) and Kevin (Love), Big Z (Ante Zizic), guys like that. Us guards have to get back. The style we want to play, we have to get stops and bring it right back. We’re definitely going to turn it around fast.”
The Cavaliers also want to improve their three-point shooting. They were 8-for23 on 3s against Minnesota. They were 7-of-19 on 3s in the 116-104 loss to Toronto on Oct. 19.
“Us guards have to get back. The style we want to play, we have to get stops and bring it right back. We’re definitely going to turn it around fast.”
— Jordan Clarkson