Collin Sexton takes surprising leadership step after Ricky Rubio blames Cavs loss

[ad_1]

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost a 123-112 game to the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, giving the Cavs their second straight loss to start the season.

Turnovers were a huge issue for the Cavs throughout the game, with the team committing 18 in total.

Veteran point guard Ricky Rubio was responsible for six of them, and after the game he took full responsibility.

“It was all up to me,” Rubio said after the loss. “It was bad times. There is nothing wrong with them. It was all on me and I take this blame and I take this loss. It’s something that as a veteran I have to lead the way and know that if there’s one or two turnovers, the next game you can’t really rush it. I pushed him too hard. Something that I will learn and that will not happen again.

Despite the turnovers, Rubio’s night was not that bad. He finished with 15 points and 10 assists. However, it is clear that he was not happy with the way he played.

Cavs youngster Collin Sexton had Rubio’s back after the game. The 22-year-old explained that “it’s not just Ricky”, adding that “it’s all of us as a team”.

“Not at all,” Sexton said when he learned Rubio was responsible for the loss. “At the end of the day, we have to support him. He could return the ball, I could return the ball, whoever returns that ball just has to keep coming back and we have to help that person and stop him. It’s not just about Ricky. It’s all of us as a team, as a group. I know he’s probably very hard on himself, but I know he will be better tomorrow.

Sexton had a great night against Charlotte. The former first-round pick had 33 points on 13-for-21 shots from the field and 2-for-7 from depth.

Moreover, by having Rubio’s back after the game, Sexton made it clear that he was ready to become the leader of this team. An anonymous scout recently scammed Sexton for allegedly having a bad relationship with his teammates, but Sexton seems to prove that scout is wrong.

The Cavs will be back in action on Saturday for a meeting with the Atlanta Hawks. Cleveland are looking to secure their first win of the season.

[ad_2]