I'm pretty sure that's on Exum. Nobody told him to hide in the corner. And he has gotten plenty of opportunities.
Woj: Celtics working to land both Gordon Hayward and Paul George
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I'm pretty sure that's on Exum. Nobody told him to hide in the corner. And he has gotten plenty of opportunities.
MDAV28
Well-Known Member
Oh I am absolutely positive somebody told him to hide in the corner. Jazz were very deliberate with their half court sets.
Ya, pretty sure that didn't happen, since it's counterproductive and irrational. He could've taken the ball to the hole had he been more assertive.
MDAV28
Well-Known Member
Taken the ball out of Hayward, Gobert, Johnson, Hill's hands? We were trying to win games. Exum's PNR and even just on-ball opportunity was slim. Watch that one OKC game he went off in and tell me that's the same opportunity he was presented throughout the season.
But actually, you know what, an NBA player being scared of the ball makes more sense you're right.
Robyn Hayward posted this on Instagram. It's letters from a junior high class writing to Gordon Hayward asking him to stay:
Sent from my iPhone using JazzFanz mobile app
Sent from my iPhone using JazzFanz mobile app
I think that is reasonable.
I think if we can get Hill back for a good deal we should. If Exum outplays him in the future we can always trade players, especially ones that are solid.
But I think Hill will sign for more than we are willing to pay.
Assuming Hill is gone I think we need a solid PG and not just rely on Exum. I would prefer that to be a player that can stay on the team and also be a backup if Exum steps up. I do think Exum will be improved and if given a chance will be solid but he will still have ups and downs and I would like to have a player that can be a little more reliable. Maybe Teodosic can be that or Beverly.
More importantly is how Hayward views the PG spot. I have no idea what he would prefer. If he wants Hill back as a contingent of his return then we overpay Hill. If he wants another solid PG to be signed before he comes then we should go for it.
JimLes
Well-Known Member
See, this is why it has always bothered me how players approach these things rationally. Making more money, winning more rings, all that jazz. Yet the whole reason they have these awesome jobs is people's irrationality. Being a fan is highly illogical to begin with. From the idea of following the fortunes of some team itself, to why the hell you would follow a team that never wins.
I just wish players would recognize this more.
Exum was parked in the corner because of his uselessness on the offensive end. Specially his inability to drive looking to score (he only looked to pass), which killed the offense. Had he been more assertive, he would have had a bigger role. Obviously.
He did get benched for not taking open threes. That is different but I have no idea what the staff asked him to do. When they gave him the chance to be the ball handler in the second half of the season he did good things for the most part. Its kind of hard for him to do much more when he is playing out of position off ball and not be guarded that close and expected to shoot when he catches it and open. I suppose he could have stood there(which is usually what the Jazz sets call for off ball) and when he caught the ball drove every time but when players sag off and he is not getting screens set up for him he isnt going to do much. That is why it was encouraging to see him hit his open shots at a decent rate post all-star and see him be reasonably successful as the ball handler. Especially in the playoffs.
Please don't leave Robyn...Robyn Hayward posted this on Instagram. It's letters from a junior high class writing to Gordon Hayward asking him to stay:
Sent from my iPhone using JazzFanz mobile app
MDAV28
Well-Known Member
This isn't pick up ball. Exum most certainly didn't have a green light and isn't free to take any shot he wishes. He had a role on the offense when he played and unfortunately for him, that was off ball most of the time.
I'm not saying the coaching staff are idiots and holding this amazing talent back by sticking him in the corner. I'm saying that since we were in the business of actually winning games, we couldn't afford to let Exum use possessions, as we did in the OKC game I brought up. Seriously watch that game and then watch Exum in like game 4 of the Clippers series and tell me the opportunity is the same.
I understand Exum is not a great offensive threat, that is why his role is what it is on a winning team. He is not a strong finisher and is not a refined enough ball handler. But I think it's important to not blame him for the role he was put in. I'm confident we would at least have a better understanding of Exum if we were a lottery team and let him use more possessions.