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ROY Watch: Exum, Hood and other Rookies

Stifle Tower

Stifle Tower

Punch Bowl Re-Filler
Thought we could use one thread to post notable performances from the rookies and track averages to date as the season progresses.

A couple of rookies had nice performances last night:
A. Gordon: 5-8 FG's for 11 pts and 3 rebounds in 28 mins. (let the grumbling begin!)
E. Payton: only 2-8 shooting and 4 points, but did have 7 assists in 31 mins. He started for Orlando.

Really a shame about Randle. i was looking forward to watching him play, even though he's joined the Dark Side (through no fault of his own). Never like to see a player get hurt, no matter what team he plays for.
 
We're supposed to be grumbling about 11 points and 3 rebounds?


I think my expectations for Exum are higher than yours.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfCI-AcOx_o&list=UU-Ba10Rmz8pFivAVdQNeFyw

Here's Gordon from last night. Nothing too special, I liked the steal and coast-to-coast layup.
 
Aaron Gordon is impressive and pretty much is and will be what we thought he was. Which is a good to very good Nba player. MKG, Gerald Wallace type. Pobably better than MKG with a chance to get close to Wallace at his peak. Gordon is so long, plays hard, moves effortlessly, defends, is strong and has a respectable jumper. Orlando will be happy with AG.

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Bawse Dawg said:
We're supposed to be grumbling about 11 points and 3 rebounds?


I think my expectations for Exum are higher than yours.
Click to expand...
Well, the knock on him was his shooting and he went 5-8, including a 3 pt'er. Figured there would be some of the fanatics grumbling about Orlando taking him and leaving us with the huge project that is Dante Exum.

And yes, stitches, I know Ingles is also a rookie. If you'd like to "watch" him, go ahead. I'm mainly interested in the players we could have selected at #5 compared to what Exum gives us (although I realize Exum is rawer than just about anyone else - maybe Vonleh is close). Also, how Hood does compared to players selected in the 12-22 range as many had him as late lottery talent. Outside of the obvious choices, I think McDermott is going to have a big year. He's in the perfect situation for him in Chicago. Payton and Randle were the other two I saw as having pretty good numbers for their teams. Of the later picks, it's hard to see Hood not leading the way. He should get significant playing time and he definitely has an NBA-ready shot.
 
Tough call right now as to who will be better pro Exum vs Gordon.


They're both so young. They're both not great shooters... really tough to project. Gordon has his athleticism and defense, Exum has his speed and basketball IQ/passing ability. Tough call.
 
I liked how Payton played yesterday. He played precisely the way I wish Exum would play right now. He was aggressive, he drove in the paint, made some nice drive and kick, and drive and dish plays, he attacked the rim. Now he got blocked a ton and he shot poorly, but I loved his attitude. With time he will figure it out - what can and what cannot he do against this high level of competition. I wish Exum was as aggressive in his play right now...
 
stitches said:
I liked how Payton played yesterday. He played precisely the way I wish Exum would play right now. He was aggressive, he drove in the paint, made some nice drive and kick, and drive and dish plays, he attacked the rim. Now he got blocked a ton and he shot poorly, but I loved his attitude. With time he will figure it out - what can and what cannot he do against this high level of competition. I wish Exum was as aggressive in his play right now...
Click to expand...

Somehow I gotta believe that this board would bitch and moan about Paytons line last night if it were Exums. Those 5 TO's would have some screaming bust.
 
seattlejazzfan said:
Aaron Gordon is impressive and pretty much is and will be what we thought he was. Which is a good to very good Nba player. MKG, Gerald Wallace type. Pobably better than MKG with a chance to get close to Wallace at his peak. Gordon is so long, plays hard, moves effortlessly, defends, is strong and has a respectable jumper. Orlando will be happy with AG.

Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...


Gordon will have hard time in the NBA if he doesn't develop consistent jumper. They are trying to play him at SF. Even in a highlight video with his points you can see that his handle is not strong enough to to be a designated ballhandler for the team(it's good for a big man, but not as good for a wing, I think). His 3pt shot that went in was super weird and very high arcing and the very next shot he took(completely open) was an airball both to the left and long. If he develops a shot, he can be great... His defensive potential is awesome too.
 
Vermin said:
Somehow I gotta believe that this board would bitch and moan about Paytons line last night if it were Exums. Those 5 TO's would have some screaming bust.
Click to expand...

For me, right now with Exum it is not about the stat-line. I'd like to see how he plays, rather than the result of his plays. I would not mind him taking good shots even if he misses. I wouldn't mind him being aggressive and getting blocked at the rim, as long as he takes what the defense is giving him and is being aggressive. I think this is the main thing I want to see from him right now - be aggressive, try things out, see what works and what doesn't, get used to the level of the competition and the physicality. What I don't want to see is him deferring, giving up his dribble... beating his man and then stalling when he sees bigger bodies in the paint...

Also, I think Payton had only 2TOs, not 5... but he got blocked 5 times at the rim. I don't mind that, he was playing against two of the best rim protectors in the NBA at the same time.
 
They both looked pretty decent last night. Gordon had at least one very bad miss, but overall solid. Gotta work on his handle if he wants to play like that. I would be curious to see him in more of a face up 4 role.
 
Watched the Pelicans-Magic game yesterday. I liked both rookies of Magic.

I think Gordon will be better than "just a good player" though. He has the it factor in him. He plays determined.
 
Lot of rookies struggled tonight including Parker, Wiggins, Stauskas and Noel.
Smart and McBuckets look like they had solid games.

Stokes had a DNP.
 
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Exum is going to be able to shoot and pass over most defenders with his size and length. The other thing I really like about this play is that he made Dwight show on the pick-and-roll. So when Gobert slipped the screen, he had an open dunk. Exum's 3-way potential really made that play happen. Nice recognition and immediate lob by Exum. That's a high-IQ play that Stockton used to make.
 
stitches said:
What was most surprising to me is that he was playing some lockdown defense for 3-4 possessions in a row...
Click to expand...

That's mostly what I'm referring to. I was very encouraged. If he figures out defense, then we got an absolute steal.
 
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