Dante Exum's fighting through fatigue, and more notes from Jazz shootaround


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SALT LAKE CITY — Notes from Monday morning's shootaround before the Jazz face the Los Angeles Clippers at 7 p.m at Vivint Arena.

Dante Exum playing through fatigue

This is the first opportunity Dante Exum has had to watch film of himself against other NBA opponents in 18 months. What's the biggest thing he's noticed about his game?

"I need how to learn how to play when I'm tired. That's the biggest thing," Exum said. "Whether it's getting open on a cut, or just getting into the right position, that's the biggest thing for me."

Jazz coach Quin Snyder agreed. "He's got to play through fatigue. Because we're not entirely healthy, he's being thrust into situations and his minutes get extended."

So how does Snyder deal with a tired Exum?

"Maybe he gets a short breather and then comes back, maybe he gets a little wakeup call where I get into him, like "Hey, come on," and he catches himself. It's not his habit yet to play every possession, and that's his youth.

By the way, Exum finished with 18 points last Wednesday against Phoenix, his career high in a non-summer league game. That doesn't mean much to Exum, who knows the preseason doesn't count much. But what is a good game for Exum?

"A good game for me is when I'm a good defender, whether I'm shifting or helping my teammates," Exum said. "Obviously, getting assists, and not just extra pass assists. I want to get into the paint and get people open. This year, a huge focus for me is getting to the free-throw line, so that's how I'm going to judge it."

That's a good call: Exum's not a good enough shooter or finisher right now to score efficiently in any other way besides getting to the line. But if he's able to stay consistently solid defensively, find open teammates and get to the line, he'll be able to help the Jazz a lot, even if it's in an unorthodox manner.

Trey Lyles' guard skills

I've talked a lot about Trey Lyles' guard skills this preseason, because he's doing a tremendous job of showing them off. Not many big men have his ability to shoot, move, and dribble, so I asked Lyles where he got that.

"Working with my dad, ever since a young age," Lyles said. "Coach Wat (Jeff Watkinson) has been working with me on different guard move skills like that."

And the situations are starting to come to Lyles more frequently too. "Coach has been starting to run a little bit more 4-5 pick and roll, which gives me more of an opportunity to show that." Last week, Snyder said that he felt the majority of Lyles' touches will continue to come through spacing opportunities, i.e., not necessarily plays called for the sophomore.

But he, too, is impressed with Lyles' skills. "I think he's got just an innate feel, and I think he's worked at it.

Rudy Gobert's body

Rudy Gobert knows that one big key to his success is developing his body. So he's been working on it this summer, spending "three or four weeks" at P3, the sports performance facility in Santa Barbara. And he's working every day on his strength and agility work with Jazz coaches Mark McKown and Isaiah Wright.

He's even done some unconventional things in the offseason, like working on boxing or going to yoga classes. Unlike teammate Joe Johnson, though, he's not going to do hot yoga. "I'm 5 percent body fat. It's not a good idea."

Gordon Hayward's workouts

Jazz wing Gordon Hayward still isn't touching a ball with his injured left hand, the hand he broke a ring finger on during practice nearly two weeks ago. But he is running through drills after shootaround, going full strength at curling around screens and then shooting, all without a ball in his hand.

"He's making everything," Snyder quipped.

The goal, Snyder said, is to keep as much of Hayward's timing and movement up to speed as possible while his finger heals. That way, once he can hold a ball, he'll be able to return to action more quickly.

Hayward and teammates Rodney Hood, Derrick Favors, and Alec Burks are all again out for Monday night's game. All four of them worked in individual drills after practice. Hood did quick shooting drills with his ring finger taped to his pinky on his sprained left hand, and was shooting well. His absence is the most precautionary of the four.

Meanwhile, Favors ran on a treadmill, then worked on roll moves with Jazz coaches. Burks, too, worked on drills, then participated in some shooting competitions with George Hill and Joe Ingles.

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