NBA Wrap: Dante Exum responds to Utah Jazz teammates’ criticism, Patty Mills stars for Spurs

TEAMMATES of Jazz guard Dante Exum wanted more aggression from the Aussie rookie. Today he answered their calls. It’s all in the NBA Wrap.

TEAMMATES of Jazz guard Dante Exum wanted more aggression from the Aussie rookie. Today he answered their calls. It’s all in the NBA Wrap.

After being labelled “passive”, Exum broke a drought of 16 straight games without hitting double-digit figures by scoring 14 points in a 95-88 win agains the Brooklyn Nets.

Exum’s outing included four three-pointers from four attempts. It was his second highest scoring effort this season, since his 15-point performance against the Bucks in January.

Really clever jab step by Dante Exum to freeze Joe Johnson. Exum's now 4-of-4 from three... https://t.co/a08m5AOMz0

— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) March 8, 2015

The 19-year-old’s first year in the NBA naturally had its highs and lows. He replaced Trey Burke, who earned 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie first team honours, in the starting lineup shortly before the All-Star break.

Exum also competed in the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star weekend.

However, he entered the weekend’s games shooting 34.6 percent from the floor and 30.3 percent from 3-point range while averaging 4.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.5 steals.

Those aren’t exactly impressive numbers.

The organisation knew Exum would be a project when he was drafted No. 5 overall.

It’s been a steep learning curve for Dante Exum.

The 1.98m, 86kg teen didn’t play any college ball and is the fifth youngest player in the league. Yet his length and athleticism make him a strong defender. That’s how he moved into the starting lineup, allowing Burke to come in as a sixth-man scorer.

Nearly every night is a challenge as the point guard position has become, arguably, the deepest, most talented spot in the NBA.

Exum’s length on defence, along with the addition of Rudy Gobert into the starting lineup, helped the Jazz become the league’s best scoring defence in the month of February.

Exum’s offence, though, has been nearly non-existent.

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“He seems a little passive,” Jazz forward Gordon Hayward said. “That’s pretty normal as a rookie. You’re just out there playing not to mess up.

“So when he stops thinking and really starts attacking the basket, he’s athletic, explosive, he’s long and can really make plays around the rim for himself and others. When he does that, he’ll be really good.”

Coach Quin Snyder doesn’t want Exum to hesitate when he has a good, open shot. He also wants him to drive into the lane and get others involved. That’s not an easy task, but the Jazz didn’t draft him with the No. 5 overall pick, at the same position as Burke, to be an average player.

Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried and Exum tussle for the loose ball.

Exum realised that and acknowledged it with a smile.

“Constantly working on the shooting,” Exum said. “Finishing around the basket. Trying to get stronger.

“Yeah, definitely (I was overwhelmed) just coming in straight away. Playing against some of these guys. ... I think I’ve adjusted well to the type of players I’m playing against and the abilities they have. You learn game by game playing them.”

Forward Derrick Favors and Burke said they both went through the same thing as rookies.

Dante Exum's defense is amazing for a 19 year old. Lateral quickness and recovery

— David Locke (@Lockedonsports) March 8, 2015

Deron Williams, Tony Parker, Mike Conley Dante Exum by and large has shut all three of those guys down in the last month

— Tony Jones (@Tjonessltrib) March 9, 2015

Favors came in as a 19-year-old into a new environment, trying to learn a new style of play. He said the process can’t be rushed and pointed to the first offseason as the time to make significant growths as a player.

The mental subtleties of the game are just as important. Exum has a habit of disappearing at times on the offensive side of the floor and looks unsure. That leads to late decisions and turnovers.

“You can see the difference of when he’s aggressive and when he’s not and how big the difference,” fellow Australian Joe Ingles said.

“We’ve just got to keep him playing aggressive and confident. When he does, he’s great for us. It’s when he kind of goes into his shell that he hurts himself.

Exum drives around Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“He knows it’s a long trip for him being 19, but he’s handling it well. He’s never played against men before. Last year he was playing against kids half his size.”

The offseason likely will be spent bulking up and working on the jump shot. So much more of the floor and the game will open up if defenders can’t sag off Exum. That will help his drive-and-kick in addition to his overall poise. Exum already finishes practices with a shooting contest against Ingles, who insists Exum has won just once since they arrived.

“I think in the next year or two we’re going to look at him and go, ‘Wow, he’s really grown physically,’” Snyder said. “I think the same is true about his ability to get in the paint and create and use his tools in a game situation when the game goes faster.”

AUSSIES IN ACTION

While Dante Exum was lighting it up for the Jazz, countryman Joe Ingles had more of a supportive role with three assists, three rebounds and two points. However he would rather forget his three turnovers.

San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan, right, laughs with guard Patty Mills.

Patty Mills was sensational for San Antonio against the Bulls. In a brief 16 minutes off the bench, Mills netted 15 points, including three-from-four in three-pointers.

Mills’ Spurs teammate Aron Baynes wasn’t able to match that though, contributing just two points, three rebounds and a steal in 18 minutes on court.

In that same game, Chicago’s Aussie Cam Bairstow was once again left unactivated.

Golden State starter Andrew Bogut had a quiet night against the Clippers, scoring two points, four rebounds, a steal and a block.

Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut guards Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan.

WARRIORS 106 — CLIPPERS 98

Draymond Green had 23 points and six assists as the Golden State Warriors beat the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA 106-98 on Sunday for their sixth straight home victory.

Klay Thompson added 21 points on 9-for-13 shooting.

Shaun Livingston gave Golden State another nice lift off the bench with a season-best 21 points and eight rebounds in 28 minutes to help the supporting cast take some pressure off do-everything point guard Stephen Curry. Curry didn’t score his first field goal until 5:16 before halftime and finished with 12 points and four assists. Austin Rivers had 22 points for Los Angeles.

SPURS 116 — BULLS 105

Tony Parker had a season-high 32 points as San Antonio beat Chicago for its fifth straight victory.

Tim Duncan failed to make a basket for the first time in his career, ending his NBA-record streak at 1,310 games. He was 0 for 8 while and finished with three points.

Kawhi Leonard added 20 points, Patty Mills had 15 points and Manu Ginobili 14 for the Spurs.

Pau Gasol had 23 points and Aaron Brooks added 22 for Chicago.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook loses the ball in front of the Toronto Raptors.

THUNDER 108 — RAPTORS 104

Russell Westbrook posted his fifth triple-double in six games to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Toronto Raptors 108-104 on Sunday night.

Westbrook, the NBA’s leading scorer, had 30 points, matched a career high with 17 assists and grabbed 11 rebounds for his seventh triple-double of the season and 15th of his career.

Enes Kanter had 21 points and 12 rebounds and Serge Ibaka had 21 points and five blocks for the Thunder, who remained alone in eighth place in the Western Conference standings.

The Thunder shot 51 percent from the field and outrebounded the Raptors 49-33.

DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points and Terrence Ross added 20 for the Raptors, who lost their third straight.

HORNETS 108 — PISTONS 101

Al Jefferson scored 24 points and streaking Charlotte beat Detroit in a matchup of Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls.

Mo Williams had 19 points and nine assists for the Hornets. They have won five straight to strengthen their bid for a postseason berth, while Detroit has dropped six in a row.

Reggie Jackson led the Pistons with 25 points.

Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris celebrates their 20 point first half come back.

MAGIC 103 — CELTICS 98

Tobias Harris and Maurice Harkless combined for 16 points in the fourth quarter Sunday night and the Orlando Magic beat the Boston Celtics, 103-98.

Victor Oladipo scored a game-high 22 points for the Magic, who trailed by 20 early before recovering to win their second straight. Harris finished with 21 points and rookie Elfrid Payton had 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Isaiah Thomas scored 21 points to lead the Celtics. Brandon Bass added 19 points and 16 rebounds, but the Celtics shot only 35 percent after the first quarter.

Dewayne Dedmon, starting in place of injured Magic center Nik Vucevic, had career highs of 11 points and 16 rebounds.

MAVERICKS 100 — LAKERS 93

Monta Ellis scored 18 of his 31 points in the third quarter, and the Dallas Mavericks closed with a 16-3 spurt in the final 6:36 to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 100-93 on Sunday night.

Dirk Nowitzki had 12 points for the Mavericks, who had lost four of five. They played without point guard Devin Harris for the second straight game because of an injured right hand, but Chandler Parsons returned to the lineup and finished with 11 points and six rebounds in 35 minutes after missing seven games with a sprained left ankle.

Carlos Boozer had 17 points and eight rebounds off the bench for the Lakers, who have lost five straight and 21 of 25.

Al-Farouq Aminu scored six points in a 1:36 span and Rajon Rondo added a 17-footer to give the Mavericks a 92-90 edge with 4:12 remaining after they trailed by six on Boozer’s reverse layup with 6:36 to play.

Originally published as NBA Wrap: Dante Exum responds to Utah Jazz teammates’ criticism, Patty Mills stars for Spurs