Dante Exum 2014 vs Dante Exum early 2016, comparison

[stitches]

SSS theater but..

The difference between his free throw rate in his rookie year and this season is staggering - he shot 0.6FTA per 36 minutes as a rookie and he's going to the line 4 times per 36 minutes this season. Here's some more confirmation that he's MUCH more aggressive this year in attacking the rim:

55% of all his shots are at the rim this year, and 30% of his shots are from 3. Compare this to his rookie year - 12.5% of his shots at the rim and 63.5% from 3. Worth noting that his % at the rim has not dropped, even though he's taking much more tough shots there(not everything is transition or wide open dunks like in his rookie year). If you asked me to guess without looking at the numbers what % he shoots at the rim, I would have never guessed it's this high, because by the eye test he doesn't really have a great touch IMO.

Another piece of evidence:

In his rookie year he was getting only 2.2 drives per game in 22 mpg and his FG on drives was horrible 33%. And he was looking to pass on those drives most of the time(52%, which is very high, only Joe Ingles had higher pass% on his drives).

This year he's at 4.0 drives per game in 17.8 mpg. He's doubled his drives in less playing time. And he's shooting 71% on his drives.

Anyways, I'm very happy with how he's playing offensively. When Hayward comes back I kind of want to see him running the point more.

 

[Stoked]

Good growth! Still plenty of room to improve but it's a start.

 

[tleikheen]

Every game this year he's played in he has a positive contribution and it's not in just one area .

 

[Deleted member 848]

He's been good, and he'll continue to improve. Next step (other than working on that shot) is buildign some semblance of a mid-range game. He's better than a 3-and-D.

 

[Cappy_Smurf]

Dante had 4 blocks in 14 minutes the other night, and I thought I heard he's the only guard to have ever done that in the NBA.

Anyone else catch that?

I have to admit, I was concerned how well he'd come back from injury, and so far I'd say he's been better than I could have hoped for.

 

[Game6Conley]

Dante Exum is already a very good player, like I said preseason he'd be a good player for any team in the league! He's extremely quick for someone with that build. To me he's looked like the quickest player on the floor in most of his minutes thus far..

Nothing in the first few games would make me second guess that, the injury didn't delay his progress as much as many expected..

 

[Game6Conley]

Dante had 4 blocks in 14 minutes the other night, and I thought I heard he's the only guard to have ever done that in the NBA.

Anyone else catch that?

I have to admit, I was concerned how well he'd come back from injury, and so far I'd say he's been better than I could have hoped for.

It's true, the Mavs announcers were talking about it last game..

 

[Boris]

SSS theater but..

The difference between his free throw rate in his rookie year and this season is staggering - he shot 0.6FTA per 36 minutes as a rookie and he's going to the line 4 times per 36 minutes this season. Here's some more confirmation that he's MUCH more aggressive this year in attacking the rim:

55% of all his shots are at the rim this year, and 30% of his shots are from 3. Compare this to his rookie year - 12.5% of his shots at the rim and 63.5% from 3. Worth noting that his % at the rim has not dropped, even though he's taking much more tough shots there(not everything is transition or wide open dunks like in his rookie year). If you asked me to guess without looking at the numbers what % he shoots at the rim, I would have never guessed it's this high, because by the eye test he doesn't really have a great touch IMO.

Another piece of evidence:

In his rookie year he was getting only 2.2 drives per game in 22 mpg and his FG on drives was horrible 33%. And he was looking to pass on those drives most of the time(52%, which is very high, only Joe Ingles had higher pass% on his drives).

This year he's at 4.0 drives per game in 17.8 mpg. He's doubled his drives in less playing time. And he's shooting 71% on his drives.

Anyways, I'm very happy with how he's playing offensively. When Hayward comes back I kind of want to see him running the point more.

Rookie year he played against starters. This year he plays against backups. Can you give splits rookie year so we can compare apples to applesauce?

 

[tleikheen]

Rookie year he played against starters. This year he plays against backups.

And he's also playing next to a ballhog in Shelvin Mack and backups himself,playing with the starters I think his numbers go up even moreso

 

[fishonjazz]

Good thread.
So far im encouraged by what i have seen. He still looks like a tired, awkward, ***** too often but at least he has shown improvement.

For now im content with his play.

 

[stitches]

Rookie year he played against starters. This year he plays against backups. Can you give splits rookie year so we can compare apples to applesauce?

I don't know how to filter out the games he came off the bench.
The closest I came up with is taking his pre-all-star break numbers when he was mostly coming off the bench:
FTAs: 0.95 per 36

drives: 1.9 drives in 20.7 mpg, 39% shooting on drives, 48% passing on drives.

Still pretty big difference between those numbers and this year's numbers. The biggest problem with this year's numbers is really the small sample I think, rather than the fact he's playing against second units.

 

[Boris]

I don't know how to filter out the games he came off the bench.
The closest I came up with is taking his pre-all-star break numbers when he was mostly coming off the bench:
FTAs: 0.95 per 36

drives: 1.9 drives in 20.7 mpg, 39% shooting on drives, 48% passing on drives.

Still pretty big difference between those numbers and this year's numbers. The biggest problem with this year's numbers is really the small sample I think, rather than the fact he's playing against second units.

It is visibly noticeable I do not really need the stats to back it up but it is nice to have them. He still looks kinda timid but when he gets a step he is taking it now. Mack does the same FYI. Jazz offense seems to be less point guard assisting.