The Preseason Thread

[dautjazz]

That's as good a game as I've seen Exum play since he entered the league, hopefully it's a sign of good things to come.

Three's accounted for half his field goals his rookie year, and in that game he didn't make one - in fact, he only had 1 jumper at all, that little mid-range one. He's made great progress in terms of being aggressive and utlizing his tools, and while he's got a while to go to show that will be consistent, I don't think I've really seen the flashes as well as I have that game. His handle looks better too.

I'll admit, I was worried that Exum was going to underwhelm - he was just so raw coming out. I'm starting to see the sort of potential that can really turn him in to a pivotal player though.

My thoughts exactly. As you say, he was raw and struggled in his first year. Had one of the worst +- that year of any guard, but he always had a knack for defense. And he was young so in that sense we always had hope. Not his fault having been drafted out of high school and not in the American system either (which is much more rigorous). Did cross my mind though, did we make a mistake taking this green kid at #5. Nothing but raw potential. But it was an incredibly week draft so we had that to fall back on. It was a total crap shoot, one that now in retrospect looks ready to pay off with a long and prosperous run.

Don't think it was a weak draft, still value after Exum but he will defintiely be top 10 in this draft.
1. Wiggins
2. Parker
3. Embiid
4. Gordon
5. Exum
6. Smart
7. Randle
13. LaVine
16. Nurkic
19. Harris
25. Capela
41. Jokic
45. Powell
46. Clarkson

You forgot Hood? I would say he's currently the second or third best player of the bunch. With Wiggins currently leading the pack, then it's Parker or Hood. Obviously Embiid should be in the mix if he stays healthy.

[JazzMan_OS]

Hood is no. 1 by win shares from that draft.

Looking back at that draft, we killed it. Nabbed the 2nd best player in the draft (by the end of the year, he could be #1 ) and we got one of the biggest upsides in that draft in Exum, who looks very, very promising right now on both ends.

Best draft we could have hoped for.

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[zimpy27]

My thoughts exactly. As you say, he was raw and struggled in his first year. Had one of the worst +- that year of any guard, but he always had a knack for defense. And he was young so in that sense we always had hope. Not his fault having been drafted out of high school and not in the American system either (which is much more rigorous). Did cross my mind though, did we make a mistake taking this green kid at #5. Nothing but raw potential. But it was an incredibly week draft so we had that to fall back on. It was a total crap shoot, one that now in retrospect looks ready to pay off with a long and prosperous run.

Don't think it was a weak draft, still value after Exum but he will defintiely be top 10 in this draft.
1. Wiggins
2. Parker
3. Embiid
4. Gordon
5. Exum
6. Smart
7. Randle
13. LaVine
16. Nurkic
19. Harris
25. Capela
41. Jokic
45. Powell
46. Clarkson

You forgot Hood? I would say he's currently the second or third best player of the bunch. With Wiggins currently leading the pack, then it's Parker or Hood. Obviously Embiid should be in the mix if he stays healthy.

I didn't include him because he was Jazz and was more making example of who after Exum was value that could've been chosen instead and to date have been better than him.

But yeah Hood would be there too though I rate Jokic the best from this draft. Jokic, Nurkic, Embiid, Wiggins, Parker I'd probably take over Hood right now.

[Inigo Montoya]

I watched the first half and saw the Jazz destroy the Suns and thought the game was over. Now I find out we managed to lose after leading by around 30? Can someone explain what the hell happened?

A few takeaways:
1. Love the new court--the color scheme is real nice.
2. Love Exum's drives, it is nice to see him attack and getting good results.
3. I thought the Suns were horrible and they'll have a tough season. How in Hades did they win this?
4. Not all teams will foul like the Suns, but it's good to see Gobert hitting FT's. Hopefully it will carry on throughout the season.
5. The improved passing by guys like Diaw, Exum and Hill will help Gobert and Favors get some easy points, finally.
6. The lingering issue of getting scored on with very little time on the clock persists from last season. Even in the first half, the Suns managed to score on us with 3 seconds to go, after inbounding from under their own basket after Jazz free throws. Super frustrating to see we still have this issue.

[stitches]

I watched the first half and saw the Jazz destroy the Suns and thought the game was over. Now I find out we managed to lose after leading by around 30? Can someone explain what the hell happened?

A few takeaways:
1. Love the new court--the color scheme is real nice.

Same! New court is sweet! The only thing is - the white outline kind of merge with the lighter inside color. Which is not a huge deal, but I wonder if refs will have harder time noticing people stepping out of bounds.

2. Love Exum's drives, it is nice to see him attack and getting good results.

This was all I wanted from Exum when I had my rant after game 1. I wanted him to just try it. The thing with him is - he's FAST! Even if he's not a great finisher the fact that he's fast and long will mean that he will get fouled a ton by people trying to catch up with him. I loved it. And he even had some sweet in and out dribbles. Blew past Booker numerous times, Bledsoe, the Brazilian blur. And he even scored on some of those drives. Even dropped a pullup jumper... AND A FLOATER! This game was pretty much how I envision him playing. He showed everything I think will make him a successful player.

3. I thought the Suns were horrible and they'll have a tough season. How in Hades did they win this?

Marcus Paige, Henry Sims, Quincy Ford and Eric Dawson. Also, tons of fouls.

4. Not all teams will foul like the Suns, but it's good to see Gobert hitting FT's. Hopefully it will carry on throughout the season.

I'm still not sure this is a long-term improvement, but there is hope.

5. The improved passing by guys like Diaw, Exum and Hill will help Gobert and Favors get some easy points, finally.

Hope so. Rudy already benefiting from better passing.

6. The lingering issue of getting scored on with very little time on the clock persists from last season. Even in the first half, the Suns managed to score on us with 3 seconds to go, after inbounding from under their own basket after Jazz free throws. Super frustrating to see we still have this issue.

[Daddy 801]

Marcus Paige was cut. Pretty much any talk of trading Mack or Neto I think can be put to rest.

[stitches]

Marcus Paige was cut. Pretty much any talk of trading Mack or Neto I think can be put to rest.

I don't think this cut has any major implications on whether or not Mack or Neto is traded. Paige was going to get cut either way. The whole reason we gave him this contract is so we can stash him in the D-League(I don't know what the exact procedure is, so if I'm wrong, someone who knows it, please correct me). I don't think anybody had any illusions that he will make the team at this point.

About the pending cuts ... I don't know how you guys feel about this, but I feel for Chris Johnson. This guy has done everything right and has played his ass off for the team and I will be sad to see him go, but I hope he finds a place somewhere in the league.

[KqWIN]

It was a nice thing for the Jazz to give those guys some PT before they got cut.

[JazzMan_OS]

Marcus Paige was cut. Pretty much any talk of trading Mack or Neto I think can be put to rest.

I don't think this cut has any major implications on whether or not Mack or Neto is traded. Paige was going to get cut either way. The whole reason we gave him this contract is so we can stash him in the D-League(I don't know what the exact procedure is, so if I'm wrong, someone who knows it, please correct me). I don't think anybody had any illusions that he will make the team at this point.

About the pending cuts ... I don't know how you guys feel about this, but I feel for Chris Johnson. This guy has done everything right and has played his ass off for the team and I will be sad to see him go, but I hope he finds a place somewhere in the league.

I'd love to see Johnson go to Brooklyn or Philly where he'll have an opportunity to play a lot of minutes.

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[stitches]

Seems like Quincy Ford and Eric Dawson were cut, too...

[stitches]

It was a nice thing for the Jazz to give those guys some PT before they got cut.

They probably didn't do themselves any favors with their PT.

[stitches]

Don't know if this is the right place, but oh well...

Read on Twitter

Multiple sources: NBA expansion to Seattle is on the table https://t.co/qRlrolQGbj
— Kevin Nesgoda (@KDN4) October 13, 2016

I think it's a great idea. Seattle deserves its own team. If this happens... who do you protect on the Jazz?

Hill, Exum, Hood, Hayward, Favors, Lyles, Gobert... who's the last player you protect? Burks? Or Joe Johnson? I think I'd protect Burks.

[bleu]

Wouldn't be too surprised to see the NBA expand to 32, but probably not much beyond that. Wonder where else they would go?

[KqWIN]

It was a nice thing for the Jazz to give those guys some PT before they got cut.

They probably didn't do themselves any favors with their PT.

Not the greatest showing by the SLC Stars...

[stitches]

Wouldn't be too surprised to see the NBA expand to 32, but probably not much beyond that. Wonder where else they would go?

Yeah, 32 seems like such a perfect number for a league like that...

[Inigo Montoya]

I think the league is watered down enough as it is.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

team. If this happens... who do you protect on the Jazz?

Hill, Exum, Hood, Hayward, Favors, Lyles, Gobert... who's the last player you protect? Burks? Or Joe Johnson? I think I'd protect Burks.

Call me crazy, but I would probably protect Neto as the last one.

[stitches]

team. If this happens... who do you protect on the Jazz?

Hill, Exum, Hood, Hayward, Favors, Lyles, Gobert... who's the last player you protect? Burks? Or Joe Johnson? I think I'd protect Burks.

Call me crazy, but I would probably protect Neto as the last one.

You are crazy

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

team. If this happens... who do you protect on the Jazz?

Hill, Exum, Hood, Hayward, Favors, Lyles, Gobert... who's the last player you protect? Burks? Or Joe Johnson? I think I'd protect Burks.

Call me crazy, but I would probably protect Neto as the last one.

You are crazy

Probably. I just think that with his age, skill and cheap contract he'd be worth keeping a hold of.

Burks still needs to prove he can stay healthy before I would be willing to let Neto go in his place. I love Burks, just need to see the health first. Plus, you're going to lose some of those guys in the near future anyways with how much money each of them will be demanding (if they're all healthy). Neto's cheap contract helps you maintain more talent for longer.

But ya, I'm probably crazy.

[KqWIN]

Watch on YouTube

Something I've noticed about Exum's game is that he is now ambidextrous around the hoop. If you watch Exum's u19 footage, he's very right hand dominant around the rim. He never finished with his left. Now he's finishing with both hands on either side of the rim and even off the wrong foot if the situation calls for it. Nice skill development there.