I got on here to ask about Burks, then I read your comments.
While Burks is quite the enigma, I have been and continue to be puzzled by the way the Jazz use him and treat him. As a young recent draftee Burks sat and watched reportedly because of the mistakes he made while Hayward was given ample minutes to play through his mistakes. Burks played 300 minutes less in his rookie season compared to Hayward’s. And nearly 1000 minutes less in his second season. Hayward started, Burks sat. Hayward had plays designed for him, Burks got garbage time.
Then the injuries happened, and a 10 million dollar extension.
Now, Hayward is gone, but Burks is still sitting, still getting mostly garbage time while the Jazz force the ball through Rodney Hood, and let Hood play through his mistakes.
I’m not a coach, nor a stats geek, so I don’t understand why the jazz decided Hayward and Hood would be highlighted and allowed to play, while Burks gets inconsistent minutes and no clear role despite his performances.
Maybe most of all I wonder what might have been for Burks and the Jazz had Alec been the emphasis rather than a side note.