DALLAS -- Over the final 13 games of the season, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Larry Drew is focusing on one specific area when it comes to promising rookie Collin Sexton: His assist total.

To be more specific, the number of opportunities Sexton creates for his teammates.

“I see growth, but what I’m really looking for is the consistency of it,” Drew said prior to Saturday’s shootaround in Dallas. “Game after game after game where he’s continuing to make the right plays when he gets into that situation. That’s something that has to improve because that hasn’t happened on a consistent level yet.

The Cavs have seen flashes of it. More than two weeks ago against the New York Knicks, Sexton earned praise for driving into the paint and finding Jordan Clarkson open in the corner for a timely 3-pointer. Sexton could’ve attempted a shot over two defenders himself. Earlier in the year, his teammates believed he would have. That night, he didn’t and it was labeled the play of the game, leading to Cleveland’s win against the Knicks.

On Monday night against the Toronto Raptors, Drew spoke of Sexton playing his most complete game. It wasn’t about the team-high 28 points. Nor was it because of Sexton’s efficient 10-of-18 shooting night. It was about the rookie’s floor game, finishing with five assists against zero turnovers and outscoring Toronto by 11 points while on the floor.

But there are still lapses. Like on March 6 in Brooklyn when a few teammates chastised Sexton for making a handful of wrong plays.

At one point in the game, the Cavs were running their patented “Elbow Big” play, which typically involves Kevin Love. Sexton did his own thing instead, hearing all about it when he came to the bench and then again in the locker room. Players and coaches were trying to get him to recognize time and score -- what that particular situation demanded. After all, as the point guard it’s Sexton’s responsibility to make sure the offense gets into the right sets and functions properly. Sometimes that means Sexton being in attack mode, looking to score. Other times it means Sexton needs to lean on his teammates, especially now that Love is back as the offensive focal point.

On Sexton’s record-breaking 3-pointer in Miami, passing Kyrie Irving for the most 3s by a Cavaliers rookie, it was clear on video that Larry Nance Jr. didn’t quite agree with Sexton’s decision-making, dropping his head and slumping his shoulders as soon as the quick shot went in the air.

PULL UP, YOUNG BULL!@CollinSexton02 leads the squad with 15 points and 4 assists at the half.#BeTheFight pic.twitter.com/3fMZQqs9X3 — Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) March 9, 2019

Sometimes guys -- and Drew -- are hard on Sexton. But it’s because they see his talent and want him to develop good habits despite a losing season.

“I’m talking about putting strings of games together of making the right plays, making the right decisions,” Drew said. “That hasn’t happened yet. We will continue to keep on an eye on him and continue to show him on film, continue to monitor his growth in that area. Right now, teams play him to score. He gets into the paint, which he has a very easy time doing, and teams play him to score and challenge everything. Once he really understands and is able to make those plays night in and night out I really believe it takes his game to another level.”

Sexton is averaging 2.9 assists. A big part of that number ties into his teammates’ ability to make shots.

Early in the second quarter against the Orlando Magic Thursday night, Sexton used an Ante Zizic screen and was able to weave in between a pair of defenders. When Khem Birch came over to contest the shot, Sexton dished to a rolling Zizic. The pass was a touch behind the big man, but Zizic gathered and flipped a layup that rolled off the rim.

Sexton made the right play. He didn’t get the assist. And the Cavs didn’t get the result. That’s why numbers can deceive.

“I look more for the opportunity because the assist will come on the make and it’s not about, I mean, we hope we make the shot, but the opportunity where there is a chance to get an assist, those are the plays we need to make,” Drew said. “Those are the plays I’m looking at. Missing a shot is a totally different thing. Making the right play when you’re in situations where it calls for making the right play. Me and my staff, when we talk about breaking film down and we talk about looking at game after game, those are the things we are looking for.”

On the season, Sexton has 808 assist opportunities. He has 200 total assists.

Of course, numerous variables lead to that gap. Maybe Sexton’s pass was off target, making for a more difficult attempt. Maybe some of those dishes came late in the shot clock, setting up low-percentage looks. Perhaps Sexton made the correct play, only to have his teammate miss the shot. Given the early-season supporting cast, that’s logical. Those things happen throughout the course of a game and during a long season.

Labeled a score-first point guard by Drew recently, it’s clear the Cavs are pushing Sexton to explore other areas of his game. But to put his assist-opportunity number in context, Los Angeles rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 704 assist opportunities. Atlanta rookie Trae Young has 1,376. Dallas’ Rookie of the Year favorite Luka Doncic, who Sexton will face for the second time this season on Saturday, has created 1,098 chances.

“He’s good. Really good,” Drew said of Doncic. “Heard good things about him, but he’s better than I thought he was and heard he was. His ability to make shots and when he passes the basketball, he has a good feel for the game. He plays with a lot of confidence. When he came into our building, he certainly put on a show. He’s a terrific player and the city should be very proud and excited to have a talent like him.”

Last season, Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox, one of the players Sexton is often compared to, finished with 1,020 assist opportunities.

Every player’s situation is different. It’s tough to compare. It’s not about Sexton versus his peers. It’s about Sexton vs. himself. The Cavs are simply looking for progress. Have his numbers steadily increased? Is he creating more opportunities in March than he did in November?

Sexton has 20 assists over his last five games. He has created 66 opportunities, which averages out to 13.2 per game. That’s growth.

“I try to get as many assists as I can. It can be kind of tough because we have a lot of guys who put the ball on the floor,” Sexton said. “I know I’m making the right plays. I know I’m trying to make the right plays for my teammates.”