Head coach John Beilein’s offensive system is a big reason why he’s leading this young Cavs team. The organization hopes the veteran coach can help Collin Sexton and Darius Garland reach their full potential.
The young duo has plenty of talent, but it doesn’t mean people around the NBA don’t have their doubts about the Cavs’ plan.
Building around two 6’2” guards who aren’t considered elite defenders is a bold strategy. The Cavaliers hope 20-year-old Sexton and 19-year-old Garland can become the next great 1-2 combo in the NBA. They envision a Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum dynamic.
It’s easy to see how things could work on offense. Sexton is a slasher, who has the ability to his a spot up 3-pointer. Garland is more of a playmaker that can knock down a shot anywhere on the court.
But what happens on defense? Will the undersized backcourt be able to be competent or will that be a weakness like it was last season?
“Guys are gritty and they can play through a lot of situations,” Beilein said. “When they try to expose any lack of height that we may have there, they better do it quickly and they better be efficient because we’ll know when those situations are and try to give them help.”
Sexton mentioned defense multiple times on media day. He knows he needed to improve on that end of the floor. He’s more prepared, stronger and ready to be a better defender.
He studied Lillard and McCollum, but also watched Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet. The Raptors duo was one of the best defensive backcourts in the NBA last season.
Defense was one of the biggest reasons Beilein brought J.B. Bickerstaff to Cleveland. He knows the Cavs need to be much better on that end of the floor if they’re going to have success.
“J.B. is a great head coach. I’m so fortunate to have him as an associate head coach,” Beilein said. “His teams in Memphis last year were very good defensively and he’s got to bring that mindset. I love his demeanor and I think the players pick up on it right away. They have great respect for him.”
Garland missed Tuesday’s practice with a sore right foot. The team isn’t worried about the injury and held him out as a precaution. They also think he’s ahead of schedule after reporting to camp 10 days early and working at the team facility last week.
“Darius got a real head start,” Beilein said. “He had a great week last week.”
Grit is a word the first-year head coach mentioned multiple times after Tuesday’s practice. He knows Sexton and Garland are going to have to work extremely hard on the defensive end to have success.
Garland is young, but he thinks they’ll be able to have success on defense.
Work ethic is something that has stood out over the past two days.
“We’re always going to play hard,” Garland said. “Some guys take some nights off, but we’re going to play hard for 82 games and that’s what will get us through everything.”