CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Shortly after the NBA All-Star reserves were announced, the complaints about snubs followed on cue.
But not from Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton, who too was left off this year's list.
“Not at all,” Sexton said when asked if he was disappointed. “I wasn’t too disappointed. Just the simple fact that I know what I’ve got to do. I know I gotta get better. I know I have to improve and lead my team and help my team win games.”
Sexton entered Tuesday night’s game with the Atlanta Hawks averaging career highs in points (22.9), assists (4.2) and field goal percentage (48.5%).
His 28-point effort Tuesday night helped the Cavs end a 10-gme losing streak with a 112-111 win over the Hawks.
Although he pulled them within 1 with just over a minute to play with a floater, his biggest play came in the closing seconds when he found Lamar Stevens cutting to the basket for an easy dunk with 4.1 left on the clock.
If Sexton, who finished 10th among guards in fan voting, is able to consistently play like he did against Atlanta, he'll get an invitation soon.
“It just showed me like, ‘All right, we’ve still got work to do, we’re not there yet,’” Sexton said. “I’m going to just roll with the punches and keep getting better every day. I can’t sulk, I can’t be upset about it. Things happen and things happen for a reason. That’s why it’s here in Cleveland next year.”
James Harden, Julius Randle, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Zach LaVine, Ben Simmons and Nikola Vucevic were named reserves for the Eastern Conference while Chris Paul, Paul George, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Zion Williamson and Anthony Davis made the West squad.
Keeping their heads up – Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has had to work hard to keep his players remaining in a positive frame of mind throughout their 10-game losing streak.
“It’s always difficult to fight losing and what that breeds,” Bickerstaff said before Tuesday night’s game. “It breeds doubt. It breeds questions. So, it’s been difficult for us as a staff, but I think again it’s a test of our guys and their character in the locker room and through the frustrations and through the emotions that come with winning and losing, and obviously mostly losing through this stretch, our guys have stuck with it. Every day we show up to practice. We don’t have to pull teeth to get guys to do what we ask them to do so I would give them a ton of the credit for showing up, understanding the moment and preparing themselves to go out and compete at their highest level.”
Cleveland entered play Tuesday having dropped their previous 10 by an average of 20.9 points and they were allowing 124.2 points per game to fall from seventh to 14th in the Eastern Conference.
“Obviously we all want to win but I think it’s important that we all understand perspective as well,” Bickerstaff said. “And again, are we doing the job that is necessary to lead and teach our guys? That’s where my focus is and that’s where our focus is as a staff. We can’t get caught up in the results. We have to be better, there’s no doubt about it, we have to improve. What our job is, is to show up every day and provide that leadership and that teaching so we can get better and you live with the results but that’s what we sign up for when we take these jobs.”
Still no Love – Kevin Love doesn’t appear to be getting any closer to returning.
Love, who practiced partially last week, is back to working individually as he recovers from a severe calf strain suffered during the preseason and that he reaggravated Dec. 27 after appearing in two games.
“He’s on the court working,” Bickerstaff said. “He’s not with the team drills and stuff like that but he is on the court doing individual work.
“Still progressing.”
Lineup change – Seldom used Dean Wade made his first start for the Cavs Tuesday night making the 24-year-old the oldest starter in the lineup.
Wade, who replaced Cedi Osman in the starting five, had been averaging 2.1 Points and 1.3 rebounds per game this season. He finished with 5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocked shots in 20 minutes.
Injury report – Kevin Love (calf strain). Matthew Dellavedova (concussion/appendectomy), Larry Nance Jr. (left hand surgery), Taurean Prince (ankle) remain out and did not play.
