Collin Sexton reveals eye-opening area of focus to bring ‘energy’ to Lakers
Collin Sexton reveals eye-opening area of focus to bring ‘energy’ to Lakers appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t yet gotten to see how Collin Sexton fits in with the rotation as the nine-year veteran has been sidelined for the entirety of the team’s preseason schedule while recovering from a lower leg injury. But Sexton was a full participant during Lakers’ practice on Monday, trending in the right direction for him to potentially make his purple and gold debut on Wednesday night when the Lakers open the season at home against the Golden State Warriors.
The Lakers’ regular starting lineup has not yet been finalized, with only Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler as the certainties. But it’s possible that with Collin Sexton back from injury, that Quentin Grimes will move into the Lakers’ starting lineup with Sexton being able to anchor the bench as the ball-handler.
Turnovers had been an issue with the team during preseason, and head coach JJ Redick opted to go with Grimes off the bench in the preseason finale to try and cut down turnovers while providing the second unit with a capable ball-handler.
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While Sexton certainly will help in terms of ball-handling and scoring the ball, there is one particular area of focus where he feels he can make a major impact this season.
“I can see where I can fit in pretty easily. I think even just on the defensive side, bringing that energy, bringing that juice and trying to disrupt. Not always turning the ball over and getting someone to turn it over, but just disrupt and being the clock down,” Sexton said following Lakers’ practice on Monday. “And offensively, getting into the paint. I think that’s something that I have done really well in my career. And then spacing, making sure I’m spacing for the guys, Luka, AR, even when Walker gets it in the pocket, being ready to shoot on that backside. Just finding ways to help the team.”
Sexton bounced around last season, beginning the year with the Charlotte Hornets before being traded to the Chicago Bulls at the trade deadline. In total, he appeared in 68 games including 22 starts, at a little over 23 minutes per game. He averaged 15.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals with splits of 48.5 percent shooting from the field, 40.1 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 85.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
The former Alabama standout has always been a reliable scoring threat throughout his career, and a rather efficient one too with career averages of 47.2 percent shooting from the field and 38.9 percent shooting from the 3-point line. But he hasn’t always been known for his defensive acumen.
Perhaps a big reason for that was the fact that he’s been asked to be one of the team’s primary scoring options at his other stops. Here with the Lakers, he doesn’t have to do so much offensively. He can focus on defense and hone in on being a defensive ‘pest’ as he called it back during media day.
“I would say coming in with the right approach. Every day is not going to be perfect, but making sure that every day is a lesson. And I think just watching a lot of film on other guys and making sure that I know certain people’s tendencies,” Sexton said. “That’s something that me and JJ … we’ve been talking about. Know people’s tendencies, watch a lot of film and make sure when you’re out there you know what they like to do, what they don’t like to do and that’s gonna help you become a better defender.”
Related: Lakers cut former 1st round pick to finalize opening-night roster
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