I have been wondering for several days something about Exum. I think the reason a lot of people are really down on him is because most people don't see defensive impact as much as they do offensive impact, especially with rookies. According to most people who watch him regularly, he's already flashed elite defensive potential and is already impacting the game in defense more than a lot of other rookies. On the other hand his offensive game has been series of struggles and very little to be optimistic about.
This is what bothers me the most in here. This is so ridiculous, it isn't even funny.
Elite defensive potential for me (for guards) wouldn't be the man-on-man defendings or the hustling to catch his guy in the rotation. If a guard does this (and more), this would be at best a "good" defensive player, never ever elite.
I don't understand you people. You had Stockton in your uniforms. Stockton. It is an insult to this person to call Exum's defensive abilities as elite. Why?
Because what makes you elite (as a guard, in defense) is your capability to make steals and to rebound. Yes, steals and rebounding. From elite guards I expect at least one of those things. This makes a guard elite, in addition to his defensive plays. But Exum doesn't have this, not one a bit of it. So at best, he is a good in defense, never ever elite. But homers overhype and overrate him so much and see "flashes of elite potential". Yeah, in million years.
I wonder if the perception of Exum would have been the same if the defensive and offensive impact he has on games were switched - what if he was playing offense at the level he's playing defense right now, but his defense was as clueless and horrible as his offensive game is right now? I feel like people would have been much happier and optimistic with him. Or am I completely wrong about that one?
No, I agree with you. I would be much happier if his offensive game would be the better one. Why? Because he is a guard, not a center. From guards I expect FIRST ASSISTING. Secondly SHOOTING and then the rest.
A guard who can't shoot or make assists(plays) is nothing worth due he is being a guard. No matter what, this is the most important things for a guard. JJ Barea is for example a liability in defensive game because of this shape(size). But he gets in NBA paid because he can make plays and shoot. He is not elite of course, but you can rely on him as a backup guard easily.
Whereas Exum has nothing to offer yet. Maybe he will develop some skills in the future. Maybe.
In todays basketball everything in offensive side goes through guards. They determine the game. Jazz plays always like 4 vs 5 in the offensive end. And his defensive impact is not by far worth it because he isn't elite or something as I tried to describe.