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Dante Exum 20-5-5 Full highlights

What's not fair is the stat line says he took 11 shots, but the eleventh shot was the shot he was fouled on and he didn't get to shoot his FT's. Had he not gotten hurt, he would have had 20-22 points on 10 shots. Pretty amazing.

Like I said, last year was his red shirt year. This year is his rookie year. He won't be an all star...yet, but we definitely won't have the worst PG play in the NBA again. Woohoo!

Favors will be an all star this year playing off Exum. It begins...
 
I posted yesterday that I did not think he would make a big leap this year. Looks likely I will be wrong. Sweet.
 
He had a great first SL game last year then totally dropped off. Let's not get too excited. But his play last night was very encouraging.
 
Dude was aggressive last night... It was a physical game. I was happy to see him fight through it and he kind of dominated when he was in. He has definitely put on weight... by the looks of it though I'm not sure it was all good weight or muscle like he claimed. It did not seem to slow him down any though and that stuff will come off during the season. At very least we know he can add weight unlike AK and some of the other skinny doods.
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
Dude was aggressive last night... It was a physical game. I was happy to see him fight through it and he kind of dominated when he was in. He has definitely put on weight... by the looks of it though I'm not sure it was all good weight or muscle like he claimed. It did not seem to slow him down any though and that stuff will come off during the season. At very least we know he can add weight unlike AK and some of the other skinny doods.
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His first play where he moved Smart on the base-line then did the faux no-look pass really showed his added strength.
 
Cy said:
His first play where he moved Smart on the base-line then did the faux no-look pass really showed his added strength.
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He used it well and that play was pretty impressive... He's definitely stronger... just saying that extra 15 lbs ain't all muscle. The little extra padding didn't seem to hurt his quickness, so maybe that is how he fills out and its fine.
 
Kid looks good. He seems to have surpassed the mental issues he was having on the court. I think the game has slowed down for him. Continued success!
 
VINYLONE said:
Kid looks good. He seems to have surpassed the mental issues he was having on the court. I think the game has slowed down for him. Continued success!
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I don't know if it was a mental issue last year... He knew he was not the best creator on the court and deferred to much in an effort to maximize our chances to win. He needed to pick his spots, but wasn't far enough along to recognize when those spots were (I guess that is kind of a mental issue). I guess I mean I don't think he was a scarty cat... just wanted to give us the best chance to win.

I think he knew he was one of the best players on the floor last night and he acted like it. Really improved my confidence in him... can the season just start know.
 
Last year, posters complained to High Heaven (not to be confused with Highland Homie or Heaven Harris) because he wouldn't drive and he was allergic to contact. I still think that he's going to take a few years of physical development (hanging out with Rudy and Gordon in the offseason can't hurt) before we really see what his true potential is. IF he continues to physically develop and show the kind athleticism and aggression that he did last night, he's going to be a flat out stud. His vision is so good and he's unselfish. He finally started looking for his own scoring opportunities and was playing within the offense. I could see him being a double-double / triple-double machine. With his length, passing and rebounds will come once he gets a better feel for the game. Favors AND Gobert are both going to see their game elevated if this is how he's going to play in the future.
 
BabyPeterzz said:
He had a great first SL game last year then totally dropped off. Let's not get too excited. But his play last night was very encouraging.
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To be fair to Exum, he was being defended by Smart, who is a very good NBA defender. Most PG's Exum all face this season aren't as physically imposing defensively as Smart is.

He will be much better this year. He will lack consistency but will have flashes of greatness.
 
Ellis269 said:
Last year, posters complained to High Heaven (not to be confused with Highland Homie or Heaven Harris) because he wouldn't drive and he was allergic to contact. I still think that he's going to take a few years of physical development (hanging out with Rudy and Gordon in the offseason can't hurt) before we really see what his true potential is. IF he continues to physically develop and show the kind athleticism and aggression that he did last night, he's going to be a flat out stud. His vision is so good and he's unselfish. He finally started looking for his own scoring opportunities and was playing within the offense. I could see him being a double-double / triple-double machine. With his length, passing and rebounds will come once he gets a better feel for the game. Favors AND Gobert are both going to see their game elevated if this is how he's going to play in the future.
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His passing has already "come". He has been a great passer all along, just had fewer ops from parking out at the 3 pt line. He has a real gift for passing.
 
Smart didn't expect the physicality on the first play... otherwise he would have flopped.

Really nice to see people bouncing off Dante, rather than the other way around. I hope that ankle sprain doesn't deter him from being aggressive in the future :)
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
I don't know if it was a mental issue last year... He knew he was not the best creator on the court and deferred to much in an effort to maximize our chances to win. He needed to pick his spots, but wasn't far enough along to recognize when those spots were (I guess that is kind of a mental issue). I guess I mean I don't think he was a scarty cat... just wanted to give us the best chance to win.

I think he knew he was one of the best players on the floor last night and he acted like it. Really improved my confidence in him... can the season just start know.
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In one of the interviews with Snyder earlier this month, he talked about Exum's mental approach to the game.
 
You could tell, I was at the game btw, that Exum was a little nervous and tentative in the 1st quarter. Once he got just a little confidence he took over. Its going to be a head game with this kid. As he gets older, stronger, and more confident I have little doubt he will dominate, but it's up to him. He has the tools....
 
BabyPeterzz said:
You could tell, I was at the game btw, that Exum was a little nervous and tentative in the 1st quarter. Once he got just a little confidence he took over. Its going to be a head game with this kid. As he gets older, stronger, and more confident I have little doubt he will dominate, but it's up to him. He has the tools....
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This makes me think of CJ (unfortunately) and Hayward in his early years (fortunately). Both of them went the way of their waxing and waning confidence. Kid just needs to grab that sucker by the balls and make it his bitch!!
 
LogGrad98 said:
This makes me think of CJ (unfortunately) and Hayward in his early years (fortunately). Both of them went the way of their waxing and waning confidence. Kid just needs to grab that sucker by the balls and make it his bitch!!
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Hayward's a daddy now, he should give him a role model pep talk.
 
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