Alec Burks' 3 Pt. Shooting

[Saint Cy of JFC]

If you all can't see how Burks was from the very beginning a guy that was going to either thrill jazzfanz or send it spiraling into a pit of its own shame, then you don't know this place and/or you don't know basketball.

So what is his current status? Or does that only begin after his sophomore year, when the rookie potential card is almost used up?

 

[NAOS]

So what is his current status? Or does that only begin after his sophomore year, when the rookie potential card is almost used up?

IMO, to anybody who isn't a hypersensitive d****e, he's a very exciting player. There is obviously so much he can do that we haven't seen, and he's already shown that he can be effective.

For me, his confidence and attack-mode are nothing but good signs. If he adds a consistent set shot (which he certainly CAN DO), and learns to attack what is GIVEN BY THE DEFENSE instead of just ATTACK IN GENERAL, then he could easily be 18-22ppg. The latter skill will probably take into his third year... so people need to be patient. The former skill should start improving immediately.

And, as for the "chucker" label: he's already demonstrated passing skills that go beyond that characterization.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

IMO, to anybody who isn't a hypersensitive d****e, he's a very exciting player. There is obviously so much he can do that we haven't seen, and he's already shown that he can be effective.

For me, his confidence and attack-mode are nothing but good signs. If he adds a consistent set shot (which he certainly CAN DO), and learns to attack what is GIVEN BY THE DEFENSE instead of just ATTACK IN GENERAL, then he could easily be 18-22ppg. The latter skill will probably take into his third year... so people need to be patient. The former skill should start improving immediately.

And, as for the "chucker" label: he's already demonstrated passing skills that go beyond that characterization.

I think he has a lot CJ to him, but I was always a fairly pro-CJ person. I always though CJ was a pretty good passer when he chose to do so, just like Burks. He was also best in transition, just like Burks. Burks does have the 6th sense at drawing contact and finish layups that CJ had a bit of, but Burks has it on an unique level. I just hope he limits the dribble pull-up jumpers from 20 feet with a man in his face.

I still think he needs a lot of work on shooting off the dribble. He always looks off balance to me compared to his set shots, which look pretty nice. I think his natural arc to his shot will put a limit on how good of a shooter he can be, but he can at least be a respectable shooter.

I hope next year we either get a starting caliber SF, or we try to run Burks/Hayward as starters and see how it works out.

 

[NAOS]

I think he has a lot CJ to him, but I was always a fairly pro-CJ person. I always though CJ was a pretty good passer when he chose to do so, just like Burks. He was also best in transition, just like Burks. Burks does have the 6th sense at drawing contact and finish layups that CJ had a bit of, but Burks has it on an unique level. I just hope he limits the dribble pull-up jumpers from 20 feet with a man in his face.

I still think he needs a lot of work on shooting off the dribble. He always looks off balance to me compared to his set shots, which look pretty nice. I think his natural arc to his shot will put a limit on how good of a shooter he can be, but he can at least be a respectable shooter.

I hope next year we either get a starting caliber SF, or we try to run Burks/Hayward as starters and see how it works out.

I see what you are saying, but I think Burks has shown athleticism well beyond anything I ever saw from CJ. Better handles, better body control, better instincts. But, if he doesn't develop the two skills that I mentioned in my previous post, I think he'll get called "a CJ" by a lot of people.

His shot is flat, but that is the result of habit, not something terribly wrong with his mechanics. I'll probably get blasted for this, but Burks' shot reminds me a bit of my own shot (mechanically), and as somebody that was lucky enough to have 2 hour-long shooting lessons from Hornacek, I can tell you that Horny can really help improve his arc and rotation.

(I'm not saying I was ever in the same athletic universe as Burks'... which is laughable).

 

[enchilada_style]

Burks plays with an edge and doesn't appear to be scared. CJ is a joke in the 4th quarter when it is crunch time, he's mentally weak. From what I can tell Burks is mentally stronger than CJ, I think that will be the big difference between the two.

 

[bigmike]

Burks plays with an edge and doesn't appear to be scared. CJ is a joke in the 4th quarter when it is crunch time, he's mentally weak. From what I can tell Burks is mentally stronger than CJ, I think that will be the big difference between the two.

I agree. Burks has an edge to his game that I really like. I'm really looking forward to seeing his swagger bleed into his game/the rest of the team's mentality when he has the chance to be on the court consistently during end of game situations.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I see what you are saying, but I think Burks has shown athleticism well beyond anything I ever saw from CJ. Better handles, better body control, better instincts. But, if he doesn't develop the two skills that I mentioned in my previous post, I think he'll get called "a CJ" by a lot of people.

His shot is flat, but that is the result of habit, not something terribly wrong with his mechanics. I'll probably get blasted for this, but Burks' shot reminds me a bit of my own shot (mechanically), and as somebody that was lucky enough to have 2 hour-long shooting lessons from Hornacek, I can tell you that Horny can really help improve his arc and rotation.

(I'm not saying I was ever in the same athletic universe as Burks'... which is laughable).

How did this come about?

I wish I could have someone work on me with my shot. Last year one of my friends who is a really good shooter spent a couple of days teaching me things about my form and what not, and it helped a ton, but I'm still a relatively poor shooter from anywhere past 15 feet.

 

[Growlor]

I am just excited, and a bit hopeful, to see what a full off-season of work and a traditional pre-season of coached practicing with a full team can do for some of our young guys. Playing a season with no chemistry to start with, and very few practice days during the entire season has to have a negative impact. Next fall should be better.

Whose contracts are up this summer? Will KOC try to bring them back? Will KOC attempt to trade for the key piece this summer or wait for another year? All things that will also impact the team next fall.
Hopefully KOC does SOMETHING! I would hate to sit pat another year until some of these contracts are up next year. By then we will be winding down Favors and Haywards contracts...

 

[NAOS]

How did this come about?

I wish I could have someone work on me with my shot. Last year one of my friends who is a really good shooter spent a couple of days teaching me things about my form and what not, and it helped a ton, but I'm still a relatively poor shooter from anywhere past 15 feet.

The short story goes like this. I used to be, by most peoples' accounts, a good bball player. A construction dude that was a supporter of our team became affiliated with the Hornacek family when they were moving into and renovating a house. This guy was of the opinion that my game strongly resembled Horny's (I played SG and made my living shooting threes and getting into the defense then shooting floaters), and through the course of their friendship, he convinced Jeff to give me a couple of hours. I was really grateful--obviously--and my shot definitely got better after I was able to practice his tips regularly outside of the pressures of a game which tend to reproduce your old habits. Without training camp and regular practice, Burks has had very little of this kind of time. I expect him to get better.

 

[candrew]

You can spend time with the best shooting teachers in the world - they can only bring you to a certain point. That's because jump shooting is an art form. There is an inherent quality to it - either you have it or you don't.

 

[NUMBERICA]

I can definitely see a resemblance in HOW Hornacek and Burks shoot. It's something I've found interesting, actually, how not-quite-picture-perfect Hornacek's form appears and the results he got and the reputation he earned.

 

[vegas]

Burks plays with an edge and doesn't appear to be scared. CJ is a joke in the 4th quarter when it is crunch time, he's mentally weak. From what I can tell Burks is mentally stronger than CJ, I think that will be the big difference between the two.

This is the whole reason CJ is CJ and Burks will never be.