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Things have been pretty easy so far for Dante Exum and Rodney Hood—at least in terms of the rookie hazing that takes place every year around the NBA.

They've had to sing Happy Birthday to teammate Jeremy Evans and now-departed camp invitee Brock Motum (the latter received an Australian rendition from his countrymen, Exum, adding the customary "hip, hip, hooray" to the end of the tune). They've had to get up a little early, carry some bags and pick up some meals.

"It's not really bad," Hood says. "You kind of get excited about it. This is something you're gonna remember for the rest of your yours."

Besides, the two rookies say, they haven't even had to wear the tiny, pink backpacks that have become tradition for Jazz newbies, nor have they had to make stops for shootaround doughnuts.

Not yet anyway.

"They said as the season starts, it's going to get worse," Exum says.

As the season tips off tonight, some of these same ideas hold true for the Jazz as a whole. While training camp has felt long for some (the Jazz gathered unofficially about a month earlier than most teams), they've been rewarded by cruising through some preseason games and finishing up the exhibitions with a 5-3 record.

Now comes the hard part.

That two rookies figure prominently into new coach Quin Snyder's rotation might be as good an indication as any of where the Jazz stand right now. But that's just the reality the team has to face.

"We've kind of known it for awhile," Snyder said this week. "So I don't think [I feel] one way or another. They've got to get better and play well. We've got a lot of guys doing the same thing at the same time, which can present some challenges."

Both Hood and Exum saw significant action in the preseason. Exum, the fifth overall pick in this year's draft, averaged 20 minutes a game, scoring 6 points and handing out 2.62 assists in that time. Hood, the No. 23 pick out of Duke, averaged 7.3 points a game while shooting 40 percent from 3-point territory.

"I like what they've done," Snyder said. "Both of them have been kind of through ups and downs like rookies will be. There are certain things they're only going to learn by playing. They're going to struggle at times. Whether it's foul trouble, or a turnover, a missed shot, fatigue, youth. But it's a long haul.

"It's two steps forward, one step back. Look at the Dow Jones. Hopefully they're blue chips."

And they might just be.

Hood, voted recently as the draft's biggest steal, has a stroke that provides a much-needed deep threat for the Jazz.

"He's a great shooter," Exum said. "When I'm on the floor with him it's always trying to get in the paint and try to find him in the corner."

Exum, standing 6-foot-6, is as quick as just about anyone on the court.

"He gets better and better every single game," Hood said of the point guard. "He gets more aggressive and he shows a lot of flashes. Me and him both, we've got to lean on each other. It's going to be an up down year. Well, I hope it's not. But for rookies, it's tougher."

But as they prepared this week for their NBA debuts, both Hood and Exum tried to exude the confidence of much more seasoned players.

"I've worked for this," the Aussie said. "It's just going to be another game."

On the court, said Hood, "I'm not treating myself as a rookie, [I'm] playing like I belong."

Off the court, they'll probably be stopping for doughnuts.

• Tonight's game is also a milestone for Snyder, who makes his NBA head coaching debut. At shootaround Wednesday, Snyder was surprised by a guest, his high school coach, Ed Pepple. The two shared a big hug and then Snyder tried on Pepple's maroon Mercer Island High School blazer to pose for a photograph.

"It's a special opportunity," Snyder said of the night. "It's one you step back and I'm just grateful to have a chance to do it. There are so many people, including Coach Pepple, who have helped me along the way. It's remarkable when you look back at the assistance iv'e had and the support and loyalty. It just makes you really appreciative and you hope you do a good job."

• After missing the preseason finale and a practice with a sore knee, Derrick Favors went through shootaround Wednesday and will play tonight. Point guard Trey Burke, who sat out Tuesday with patella tendinitis, also went through shootaround and says he's good to go for the opener.

• For Burke, tonight is also a first.

"I'm playing tonight," he said when asked about the difference between this year's opener and last year's. Burke broke his index finger in last year's preseason and missed about a month of action. "This is actually like my first opening night in the NBA. I'm excited."

• The Houston Rockets are on the second half of a back-to-back, having played Tuesday night in Los Angeles. But in a blowout win over the Lakers, no Rockets starter played more than 31 minutes. Center Dwight Howard played just 20 minutes.

• The Jazz showed some defensive muscle in the preseason. Now things get serious as they take on last year's fourth-best offense. On Tuesday against the Lakers, Rockets guard James Harden dropped 32 points on 17 shots. As a team, Houston shot 12-of-29 from 3-point.

"They shoot the ball well," Burke said. "We have to first and foremost stop Harden and control Dwight Howard on the boards."

• Tonight's game tips at 7 p.m.

Although, Snyder might like to push it back some.

"There have been times in the preseason I've been pleased," he said. "There are times, like today, when you kind of wish you had another month. But it's here. And they'd probably go crazy if they had to listen to me for another month. Very few teams like back-to-backs. Our team, that means no practice, no me."

— Aaron Falk