On Dec. 3, the Portland Trail Blazers take on the Utah Jazz on the road, a matchup between two Western powerhouses and a battle between two young guards, Sexton and Brogdon. Both are rookie of the season nominees, both have excellent scoring and playmaking skills, and are the centerpieces and leaders of the team.
After the game began, the two sides engaged in a tug-of-war, with the Trail Blazers leading the Jazz for a while with Brogdon's consistent play and Sharpe's efficient projection. The Jazz relied on Sexton's breakthrough and Collins' interior dominance to bite the score. In the fourth quarter, the two sides entered a white-hot confrontation, the score rose alternately, and at the last moment, the Trail Blazers led 113-111, and the Jazz made the last attack, Sexton broke through for a layup, but was covered by Kamara's key big hat, and the game went into overtime.
After the start of overtime, the Jazz went on a 9-0 offensive wave, and Yurt Severn played well on both ends, first grabbing key rebounds on the inside, and then hitting a three-pointer from the outside to help the Jazz pull the score away. The Trail Blazers didn't give up, but it was too late, and they eventually lost the game 118-123, suffering a two-game losing streak.
In this game, Sexton scored 25 points and 5 assists, Collins had 18 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks, George had 20 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, Yurt Severn had 9 points and 15 rebounds, and Markkanen was absent. For the Trail Blazers, Brogdon had 25 points and 6 assists, Sharpe had 25 points and 5 rebounds, Ayton had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Henderson had 17 points and 5 rebounds.
Statistically, both Sexton and Brogdon have performed well, both are the team's scoring and assist champions, and both are the team's offensive engine. So, which of the two of them is stronger?
Sexton is a guard with incredible speed and explosiveness, and his breakaway ability is among the best in the league, allowing him to easily get away from defense, draw fouls on opponents, or complete layups and dunks. His shooting ability is also improving, and he can hit a steady shot from mid-to-long range as well as shoot threes from the outside. He's also very good at organising, he can create chances for his teammates and he can also play singles on his own. He is also aggressive defensively, and he can use his speed and bounce to put pressure on opponents and even block their shots. He's an all-around defender with unlimited potential.
Brogdon is a skilled and intelligent defender who is one of the best in the league in ball handling, and he can stay calm and make the right decisions in any situation. His shooting ability is also excellent, he can shoot a consistent percentage from any position, and his three-point shooting is especially lethal, he can shoot quickly after receiving the ball, or he can suddenly pull up after dribbling and make the defense unguardable. He is also very good at playmaking, he can use his vision and passing, send accurate assists to his teammates, and can also use his change of direction and breakthrough to open up the opposition's defence. He is also solid defensively, he can use his physical strength and will, follow the opponent's movements, interfere with the opponent's shots, and can also use his steals and rebounds to bring conversions to the team. He's a well-rounded defender with a lot of experience.
Overall, both Sexton and Brogdon are very good defenders, each with their own strengths and characteristics, and it's hard to say who is the stronger. However, judging by the results of this game, Sexton led the Jazz to win the game, and perhaps it can be said that he has the upper hand. It's just one game, though, there's a lot more to come, and the two of them have a lot of opportunities to prove themselves, and maybe one day, they'll be one of the best defenders in the league.