Exum "Most teams looking at me are trying to look at a two point guard set-up"

[CFAN38]

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-pm-the-2014-drafts-mystery-man/


This article as some quotes from Exum. The most telling one for me the in my title. Sounds like most teams are pitching Exum a duel point guard lineup like that of the suns. This could be in the cards for the celtics.

[hwangjini_1]

Maybe, but maybe not. (ha, how was that for a useless comment??)

The problem with exum at pg is that it would take the ball out of rondos hands. That would dramatically decrease rondos value to the team, I believe. Rondo can pass and attack the basket, but he is not a reliable shooter away from the paint.

If rondo doesn't have the ball in his hands he would have to provide more offense/value by serving more as a shooting guard. See the problem? Rondos value is not as a SG, so putting him in the position reduces his usefulness and allows team to sag off of him defensively, or double team exum.

I think exum is going to,be an outstanding nba player, but I do wonder whether he pairs up well with rondo. But maybe I am wrong and Danny sees what you see.

[CFAN38]

Maybe, but maybe not. (ha, how was that for a useless comment??)

The problem with exum at pg is that it would take the ball out of rondos hands. That would dramatically decrease rondos value to the team, I believe. Rondo can pass and attack the basket, but he is not a reliable shooter away from the paint.

If he doesn't have the ball he would have to provide more offense/value by serving more as a shooting guard. See the problem? Rondos value is not as a SG, so putting him in the position reduces his usefulness and allows team to sag off of him defensively, or double team exum.

I think exum is going to,be an outstanding nba player, but I do wonder whether he pairs up well with rondo. But maybe I am wrong and Danny sees what you see.

I think the dual PG set up would still leave Rondo bringing the ball up 85% of the time. Exum would bring it up in fast break / push up the court situations. Creating a more running team. Rondo and Exum are not an ideal pairing but I think it would work for the Cs in a long term building plan. If they thrive together keep both, if they are an imperfect match and Exum shows promise then Rondo has till trade deadline to show he is healthy.

[hwangjini_1]

Maybe, but maybe not. (ha, how was that for a useless comment??)

The problem with exum at pg is that it would take the ball out of rondos hands. That would dramatically decrease rondos value to the team, I believe. Rondo can pass and attack the basket, but he is not a reliable shooter away from the paint.

If he doesn't have the ball he would have to provide more offense/value by serving more as a shooting guard. See the problem? Rondos value is not as a SG, so putting him in the position reduces his usefulness and allows team to sag off of him defensively, or double team exum.

I think exum is going to,be an outstanding nba player, but I do wonder whether he pairs up well with rondo. But maybe I am wrong and Danny sees what you see.

I think the dual PG set up would still leave Rondo bringing the ball up 85% of the time. Exum would bring it up in fast break / push up the court situations. Creating a more running team. Rondo and Exum are not an ideal pairing but I think it would work for the Cs in a long term building plan. If they thrive together keep both, if they are an imperfect match and Exum shows promise then Rondo has till trade deadline to show he is healthy.

Good points and I agree. As you mention, bringing in exum would seem to indicate that rondo is probably on his way out and this would be a transition stage.

[saltlover]

If I remember correctly, Stevens utilized the two point-guard lineup a fair bit at butler, so this doesn't surprise me in the least.  Exum would be great for such a lineup, as a) he wouldn't be required to run an offense if on the floor with Rondo, which is good for a teenager, b) he has the size to defend opposing 2s, which is one of the occasional drawbacks of such an offense.  Also, Exum thinks of himself as a point guard.  If you convince him he's just a second point guard, you can perhaps mollify him about being on the same team as Rondo, as he's been vocal about not wanting to be forced into the 2 if the team he's drafted to already has a pg.

[BleedGreen1989]

If I remember correctly, Stevens utilized the two point-guard lineup a fair bit at butler, so this doesn't surprise me in the least.  Exum would be great for such a lineup, as a) he wouldn't be required to run an offense if on the floor with Rondo, which is good for a teenager, b) he has the size to defend opposing 2s, which is one of the occasional drawbacks of such an offense.  Also, Exum thinks of himself as a point guard.  If you convince him he's just a second point guard, you can perhaps mollify him about being on the same team as Rondo, as he's been vocal about not wanting to be forced into the 2 if the team he's drafted to already has a pg.

You remember correctly.

Stevens said earlier this year (can't find the quote), that some of his favorite line ups at Butler implemented 2 PG's in the back court.

[D.o.s.]

Two point guard lineups are fantastic if you like the pick and roll a lot.

[PhoSita]

Two point guard lineups are fantastic if you like the pick and roll a lot.

I love the pick and roll, so sign me up.

[D.o.s.]

Two point guard lineups are fantastic if you like the pick and roll a lot.

I love the pick and roll, so sign me up.

I really like the passing and ball movement that can come out of two-point guard lineups, too.

[bdm860]

Two point guard lineups are fantastic if you like the pick and roll a lot.

And if you like to play up tempo too.

I've always been intrigued by the 2 pg lineup, and since I drafted one for a fantasy teams here once, here's some of the research/write up I did on it (of course I had Jason Kidd and Gary Payton sharing the backcourt, so it focuses on them).

About Kidd and Payton as the starting backcourt for Team USA in '99 and '00:

Per Larry Brown about playing them together on Team USA:

Coach Larry Brown didn't waste time placing him in the starting lineup alongside Payton.
"They're not just two great players from Oakland," Brown said. "They're two of the best guards I've ever seen. They complement each other so well. I think it would be a crime in our league if they played together."

Here's an article that states how great the Payton/Kidd backcourt was working out for Team USA (but you need to pay to see the whole thing), but here's some key quotes from it:

But the unlikely backcourt duo of Payton and Kidd has set the tone and put these games out of reach practically before they have even started.

"You know, me and J, we grew up together [in Oakland, Calif.]," Payton said. "When we're both on the floor, it's just like . . . we're the same. Jason wants to do more; he wants to be the rebounder, the assist man, and he gets his points when he has to. But right now they have me in a position [off-guard] where they want me to score all the time, and when he or I get the ball, we know to go. And defensively, we're trying to cause havoc. We're trying to get steals, and we're trying to get easy baskets for our teammates. That's what we do."

Team USA coach Larry Brown has started Payton and Kidd together in the backcourt, which has resulted in a nightmarish experience for opponents. Each player has made his reputation in the NBA with tough defense and a propensity for finding the open man. And while they have been in San Juan, it has been no different.

"When I looked at what would give us the best chance of winning, it was a not a hard decision at all," Brown said. "I had to go with these two guys in the backcourt. They do so many things well, and they're sort of interchangeable. Their defense is so amazing, and they just cause all kind of problems for the opposition."

"Those guys are so fast, so good, so athletic and so skilled that it makes it hard for anyone [on the other team] to do their job," Nash said. "You're talking about two of the best at their position in the world. And when you go against both of them at the same time, it can be overwhelming."

Also Kidd started alongside Kevin Johnson, and also shared the court with Steve Nash in Phoenix.  Gary Payton started alongside Sam Cassell with the Bucks.  All were playoff teams too.

Just some real world examples of the 2 pg lineup working.

[Evantime34]

This would be a whole lot of fun, pushing the pace really suits both Exum and Rondo extremely well. That being said he's still 4th on my board.

[D.o.s.]

Two point guard lineups are fantastic if you like the pick and roll a lot.

And if you like to play up tempo too.

I've always been intrigued by the 2 pg lineup, and since I drafted one for a fantasy teams here once, here's some of the research/write up I did on it (of course I had Jason Kidd and Gary Payton sharing the backcourt, so it focuses on them).

About Kidd and Payton as the starting backcourt for Team USA in '99 and '00:

Per Larry Brown about playing them together on Team USA:

Coach Larry Brown didn't waste time placing him in the starting lineup alongside Payton.
"They're not just two great players from Oakland," Brown said. "They're two of the best guards I've ever seen. They complement each other so well. I think it would be a crime in our league if they played together."

Here's an article that states how great the Payton/Kidd backcourt was working out for Team USA (but you need to pay to see the whole thing), but here's some key quotes from it:

But the unlikely backcourt duo of Payton and Kidd has set the tone and put these games out of reach practically before they have even started.

"You know, me and J, we grew up together [in Oakland, Calif.]," Payton said. "When we're both on the floor, it's just like . . . we're the same. Jason wants to do more; he wants to be the rebounder, the assist man, and he gets his points when he has to. But right now they have me in a position [off-guard] where they want me to score all the time, and when he or I get the ball, we know to go. And defensively, we're trying to cause havoc. We're trying to get steals, and we're trying to get easy baskets for our teammates. That's what we do."

Team USA coach Larry Brown has started Payton and Kidd together in the backcourt, which has resulted in a nightmarish experience for opponents. Each player has made his reputation in the NBA with tough defense and a propensity for finding the open man. And while they have been in San Juan, it has been no different.

"When I looked at what would give us the best chance of winning, it was a not a hard decision at all," Brown said. "I had to go with these two guys in the backcourt. They do so many things well, and they're sort of interchangeable. Their defense is so amazing, and they just cause all kind of problems for the opposition."

"Those guys are so fast, so good, so athletic and so skilled that it makes it hard for anyone [on the other team] to do their job," Nash said. "You're talking about two of the best at their position in the world. And when you go against both of them at the same time, it can be overwhelming."

Also Kidd started alongside Kevin Johnson, and also shared the court with Steve Nash in Phoenix.  Gary Payton started alongside Sam Cassell with the Bucks.  All were playoff teams too.

Just some real world examples of the 2 pg lineup working.

Denver, Phoenix, and New York also did really well with the two point guard lineup (NY featuring Jason Kidd, interestingly).

[loco_91]

I like the idea of playing Exum next to rondo in the short term to aid his development. I'm less enthusiastic about it in the long run, as neither of them is a good enough shooter. Floor spacing will suffer and that will play against Exum ' s ability to dribble penetrate.

[rickyfan3.0...]

You can't have a 2 point guard lineup if NEITHER can shoot.

[AngryAndIrritable]

Seems like a great idea in theory... and would love to see a faster-paced Celtics attack...

But - longer term, one of them will need to considerably improve their jump shot, and that probably isn't going to be Rondo.