Exum needs to play over Mack

[BTP]

He's also playing with better players. Makes a difference if the guy across from you is Hayward and not Ingles.

Exum started 4 consecutive losses vs Chicago, Houston, Memphis, Denver. Quality teams, the last 2 better than their record.

In 5 of the 6 games he started(wins vs Miami and Orlando the other 2) the team 3P% was between 20 and 30%. The lossn vs Houston was the lone exception with 44%.
A player reliant on attacking, coming back from an ACL tear in his 2nd year at age 21 is supposed to be efficient when the whole team has an off night from behind the arc and makes it easy for the opponent to pack the paint with bodies.
Not a big coincidence, that his +- takes a huge dive.
I'd still want to play my 21 year old developing player with good instincts and habits over a 26 yr old in his prime with shaky habits, who can barely achieve the same advanced stats against weaker competition, in almost any circumstance. I understand that Quin wants to instill some stuff, but please do it when our schedule actually allows Exum to put in extra effort into practice and make a case for himself to reenter the rotation.
Regardless I'm not that concerned, Exum's most likely not going to move the needle in this year's playoffs. It's about regaining trust in his knee, developing certain aspects. The time frame that's most crucial for him is going to be next offseason, where he'll have to add/solidify key skills and next season where it's showtime for his next contract and he'll have to break out.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Exum started 4 consecutive losses vs Chicago, Houston, Memphis, Denver. Quality teams, the last 2 better than their record.

In 5 of the 6 games he started(wins vs Miami and Orlando the other 2) the team 3P% was between 20 and 30%. The lossn vs Houston was the lone exception with 44%.
A player reliant on attacking, coming back from an ACL tear in his 2nd year at age 21 is supposed to be efficient when the whole team has an off night from behind the arc and makes it easy for the opponent to pack the paint with bodies.
Not a big coincidence, that his +- takes a huge dive.
I'd still want to play my 21 year old developing player with good instincts and habits over a 26 yr old in his prime with shaky habits, who can barely achieve the same advanced stats against weaker competition, in almost any circumstance. I understand that Quin wants to instill some stuff, but please do it when our schedule actually allows Exum to put in extra effort into practice and make a case for himself to reenter the rotation.
Regardless I'm not that concerned, Exum's most likely not going to move the needle in this year's playoffs. It's about regaining trust in his knee, developing certain aspects. The time frame that's most crucial for him is going to be next offseason, where he'll have to add/solidify key skills and next season where it's showtime for his next contract and he'll have to break out.

The game vs Houston starting Dante let James Harden basically fall asleep on defense without repercussion.

 

[franklin]

Why is Dante not playing?

https://www.ksl.com/?sid=42387123&nid=294

That was a great article until Andy Larson got into film. Slacking off Exum? Both those defensive plays are typical coverage in today's NBA. For example, look at Joe Johnson in the final video.

The search dribble is bad?

Exum had no chance to defend well on that last play, and switching had nothing to do with Exum's poor defense. Every team is running that double high pick threat now for a reason. I was planning on uploading Quin's version of it where they slaughtered Minnesota so stay tuned.

 

[BTP]

The game vs Houston starting Dante let James Harden basically fall asleep on defense without repercussion.

I hear you. But if you put an inconsistent shooter into a corner and don't run misdirection, how is he supposed to get open on cuts consistently?

 

[andylarsen]

That was a great article until Andy Larson got into film. Slacking off Exum? Both those defensive plays are typical coverage in today's NBA. For example, look at Joe Johnson in the final video.

The search dribble is bad?

Exum had no chance to defend well on that last play, and switching had nothing to do with Exum's poor defense. Every team is running that double high pick threat now for a reason. I was planning on uploading Quin's version of it where they slaughtered Minnesota so stay tuned.

Agreed helping from there is relatively typical, but there's a definite difference between where Johnson is and where Kemba is, all the way on the strong side.

The search dribble is fine! Throwing the ball off the top off the backboard isn't.

And yeah, that's a tough play to defend. Honestly, finding defensive clips of players is harder in a post-MySynergySports world. But I think there is some sense that Exum has done a less good job of sticking with his man than he did in his rookie season.

 

[Ron Mexico]

And yeah, that's a tough play to defend. Honestly, finding defensive clips of players is harder in a post-MySynergySports world. But I think there is some sense that Exum has done a less good job of sticking with his man than he did in his rookie season.

Is that for mental/effort reasons or just physically not up to speed yet? The latter requires consistent playing time in real speed. The first might be coaching and warrant benching for awhile.

 

[Ron Mexico]

I think Exum's minutes are in trouble for awhile. Mack had a good game and started playing more within himself and gelling with the second unit over the last couple games. Add to the fact that we are winning a lot and assuming we stay healthy should have a really good month of winning. I don't know the reasons for Snyder's decisions but sometimes you see players on the court when you win or lose and make judgments from that. Exum got the start during the stretch when we were bad and very injured. Mack started that stretch and played bad as well but Exum was a bigger part of that. Mack has been getting the backup minutes after we got Hill back and are playing well. Those might be a large factor for the coaching staff. I don't think Mack has been a factor in winning much but in the games we win Mack play much much better than in the games we lose. Where Exum is more even across games W or L. Statistically Mack helps us in wins and hurts us in losses. Which I think is a factor coaches see on the court but I dont think it matters much long term.


I took a look at Exums stats to see if he is playing more or less in garbage time, different quarters or different point spread when he plays. He is really even statistically at all of those and performs about the same. He really struggled as a starter but so did Mack. I think Exum is playing decent coming off the bench. Coming off the bench most of Exums and Macks stats are really similar. A larger chunk of Exums minutes are as a starter than Macks though, which somewhat skews the stats in Macks favor.


Hopefully Exum can get back to being a lock down defender and that will get his minutes back I hope. The offense is coming around and he just needs minutes for that to get consistent. Although I think his defense needs time on the court as well to get back into shape and reading/reacting to the game in full speed. It took Exum time and minutes to get good at defense preinjury his rookie year. I think it will be the same this year.

I have a hard time thinking Snyder is short sighted enough to prefer the play of Mack over Exum when neither is effecting the W/L of games much if at all. It seems it is more boosting Macks trade value, teaching Exum some lesson or possibly making sure he is healthy and regulating his minutes that exceeded their plan for a stretch. Maybe I am way off though.

 

[franklin]

The search dribble is fine! Throwing the ball off the top off the backboard isn't.

That was a bad decision. I think overall he's played pretty well when he has driven. He's impressed me with how much improvement we're seeing, but I didn't expect much.

And yeah, that's a tough play to defend. Honestly, finding defensive clips of players is harder in a post-MySynergySports world. But I think there is some sense that Exum has done a less good job of sticking with his man than he did in his rookie season.

I thought he was a highly overrated defender his rookie season. He got a few flashy blocks and steals that started all the hype. He didn't end up with good steal numbers per 36 though.

Anyway, great article and I agree with your overall assessment. The team has looked better with Shelvin on the floor.

 

[gomretat]

I would like to see more of Exum and less of Mack. But I also completely trust that Quinn knows what he is doing from both a winning and a development standpoint.

 

[Ron Mexico]

I thought he was a highly overrated defender his rookie season. He got a few flashy blocks and steals that started all the hype. He didn't end up with good steal numbers per 36 though.

I think he was valued on defense by fans because he stayed in front of his man very well. The best in the league I believe was that main stat thrown around. He was also valued because that is the best stretch our team has played on defense ever. Even with Hill playing good defense we are not quite that good right now. Although I think we might be able to match that if we had a healthy Favors right now. But either way Exum was on Hills level at least defensively and better than anyone else we have had at that position (during his starting time his rookie year) in a long time, maybe since Stockton. Exum has regressed this year on defense but I think he needs more playing time and to get back to full strength. He is moving pretty well but still doesn't trust himself fully on stopping and cuts.

 

[FalseFlagg K]

That was a bad decision. I think overall he's played pretty well when he has driven. He's impressed me with how much improvement we're seeing, but I didn't expect much.



I thought he was a highly overrated defender his rookie season. He got a few flashy blocks and steals that started all the hype. He didn't end up with good steal numbers per 36 though.

Anyway, great article and I agree with your overall assessment. The team has looked better with Shelvin on the floor.

steal numbers aren't necessarily indicative of quality of defense. His rookie year he was sensational at staying in front of / slowing his man but doesn't seem to have had that initial movement and has needed to recover ..

Maybe he'd be better off going to the Stars for a few weeks and getting some decent playing time ?

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I think Exum's minutes are in trouble for awhile. Mack had a good game and started playing more within himself and gelling with the second unit over the last couple games. Add to the fact that we are winning a lot and assuming we stay healthy should have a really good month of winning. I don't know the reasons for Snyder's decisions but sometimes you see players on the court when you win or lose and make judgments from that. Exum got the start during the stretch when we were bad and very injured. Mack started that stretch and played bad as well but Exum was a bigger part of that. Mack has been getting the backup minutes after we got Hill back and are playing well. Those might be a large factor for the coaching staff. I don't think Mack has been a factor in winning much but in the games we win Mack play much much better than in the games we lose. Where Exum is more even across games W or L. Statistically Mack helps us in wins and hurts us in losses. Which I think is a factor coaches see on the court but I dont think it matters much long term.


I took a look at Exums stats to see if he is playing more or less in garbage time, different quarters or different point spread when he plays. He is really even statistically at all of those and performs about the same. He really struggled as a starter but so did Mack. I think Exum is playing decent coming off the bench. Coming off the bench most of Exums and Macks stats are really similar. A larger chunk of Exums minutes are as a starter than Macks though, which somewhat skews the stats in Macks favor.


Hopefully Exum can get back to being a lock down defender and that will get his minutes back I hope. The offense is coming around and he just needs minutes for that to get consistent. Although I think his defense needs time on the court as well to get back into shape and reading/reacting to the game in full speed. It took Exum time and minutes to get good at defense preinjury his rookie year. I think it will be the same this year.

I have a hard time thinking Snyder is short sighted enough to prefer the play of Mack over Exum when neither is effecting the W/L of games much if at all. It seems it is more boosting Macks trade value, teaching Exum some lesson or possibly making sure he is healthy and regulating his minutes that exceeded their plan for a stretch. Maybe I am way off though.

Hood is injured though, he is going to get minutes again.

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