Burks: 6th Man or Starter?

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Because it's about to get real boring around here and we need topics.

Do you see Burks as a starter alongside Hayward, or as a 6th man scoring spark, leading the 2nd unit and finishing games?

I vote 6th man. Look at OKC and SA, I think there is a lot to having one of your best players coming off the bench. It gives your team such an advantage having a starting caliber player play against bench players for a substantial portion of the game. Obviously Burks isn't on the level of Harden and Ginobili as players, but I think he could be a pretty potent scorer.

 

[Dr. Jones]

For now, 6th man. I'm not confident yet we know his strengths and weaknesses. I'd like to see him being a scoring punch off the bench and see where this next year goes.

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

I say let him embrace the Harden type of roll on the team. He has similar type skills. I think he could develop a lot like Harden if he pushes himself and has a good attitude about it like Harden.

 

[candrew]

One point although I don't know if it would be a deciding factor.

Burks has that innate ability to draw contact in the act of shooting. He can be a great asset as a starter in terms of drawing fouls against the opposing team's starting SG/SF which in turn can knock them out of their defensive comfort zone early in the game. We've all seen D-Wade and Durant do this a million times.

On this basis alone I'd like to see Burks get 60 or 70 starts. Of course before that can happen he's going have to learn how to maintain his defensive focus and not get burned off the dribble 80% of the time the player he's defending puts the ball on the floor.

 

[spycam1]

Agree with everything said so far.

I would add that it also depends on what other pieces we add to our core.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Agree with everything said so far.

I would add that it also depends on what other pieces we add to our core.

I really don't see us adding any good SF's anytime soon, so it will probably be much of the same in terms of wing players. It's either Carroll or Burks.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Of Carroll and Burks, I think Burks looks more like a spark-6th.

 

[Harambe]

Because it's about to get real boring around here and we need topics.

Do you see Burks as a starter alongside Hayward, or as a 6th man scoring spark, leading the 2nd unit and finishing games?

I vote 6th man. Look at OKC and SA, I think there is a lot to having one of your best players coming off the bench. It gives your team such an advantage having a starting caliber player play against bench players for a substantial portion of the game. Obviously Burks isn't on the level of Harden and Ginobili as players, but I think he could be a pretty potent scorer.

This. His talent for scoring would be wasted as a #5 scoring option, and he's not yet strong enough to be a higher option than Harris, Hayward, Millsap, or Jefferson.

 

[orangello]

Because it's about to get real boring around here and we need topics.

Do you see Burks as a starter alongside Hayward, or as a 6th man scoring spark, leading the 2nd unit and finishing games?

I vote 6th man. Look at OKC and SA, I think there is a lot to having one of your best players coming off the bench. It gives your team such an advantage having a starting caliber player play against bench players for a substantial portion of the game. Obviously Burks isn't on the level of Harden and Ginobili as players, but I think he could be a pretty potent scorer.

TBD. I like Burks and I saw flashes but this is still undecided.

 

[spycam1]

I really don't see us adding any good SF's anytime soon, so it will probably be much of the same in terms of wing players. It's either Carroll or Burks.

Fair enough. If that's the case, then yeah, I'd probably start Hayward and Carroll, letting Burks come off the bench in a James Harden role.

 

[green]

6th man. He is too raw to start. He would be great off the bench, getting steals, blocks and rebounds, leading fast breaks, and getting to the FT line. He could carry that second unit. He could develop a good chemistry with the P&R with Kanter. If he is playing well, he finishes the game. It allows him to build his confidence, learn the offense, develop chemistry with future starters and still finish games.

It is really a no brainer.

 

[NAOS]

Right now I'd prefer to see him as a sixth man. I want to see him lead the second unit and be amazingly focused and productive in ~25-27 minutes a night. Once he's been shown he can do this night-in and night-out, then he should be moved to the starting unit.

TRADE AL.

 

[nightmare3983]

I would like to see Burks be an instant offense off the bench kind of player. He could really become more like Harden by working on his ball handling, since he's already a very good passer.

 

[billyshelby]

Burks just had a substantially better 1st season than Hayward. On the basis of that logic, he's ready to start. That said, as presently constructed we'll be perilously thin on the bench if he isn't back there. And he's not as versatile since he can't play 3.

I'd bring him off the bench, but he'll be a better player than Hayward in the long run. And they will eventually play together. So it's just a question of when.

 

[northeast]

Wasn't Hayward showing good games against guys like Kobe, and shooting 40% from 3 at the end of his first season?

 

[bjunior]

Right now I'd prefer to see him as a sixth man. I want to see him lead the second unit and be amazingly focused and productive in ~25-27 minutes a night. Once he's been shown he can do this night-in and night-out, then he should be moved to the starting unit.

TRADE AL.

this

 

[NAOS]

Basing this decision on comparisons with other Jazz players is a limited method. For me, the decision comes down to what situations do you want to emphasize in Burks' development? I'd rather he be the #1 or #2 option in an offensive scheme. That said, right now the best place for him is as 6th man.

If we TRADE AL, I would consider revising this decision since he would get more and better touches.

 

[billyshelby]

Wasn't Hayward showing good games against guys like Kobe, and shooting 40% from 3 at the end of his first season?

There's no comparison between Hayward's rookie season and Burks rookie season, even if you factor in the Kobe game or Hayward's last 12 games.

 

[zman1527]

Basing this decision on comparisons with other Jazz players is a limited method. For me, the decision comes down to what situations do you want to emphasize in Burks' development? I'd rather he be the #1 or #2 option in an offensive scheme. That said, right now the best place for him is as 6th man.

If we TRADE AL, I would consider revising this decision since he would get more and better touches.

Agreed. No point in having Burks out at Ol' Jer's wing position, with his feet nailed to the floor until he can make the entry pass and then watch Big Al go one on one, one on two, one on three, or one on four. Not much learning there.

I do wish though that the Jazz would take his training wheels off immediately. I am not as sold on his potential as a lot here but I would like to see what it might be. Lets find out Ty. We know what Bell and Howard can do, and it ain't enough.

 

[billyshelby]

Agreed. No point in having Burks out at Ol' Jer's wing position, with his feet nailed to the floor until he can make the entry pass and then watch Big Al go one on one, one on two, one on three, or one on four. Not much learning there.

I do wish though that the Jazz would take his training wheels off immediately. I am not as sold on his potential as a lot here but I would like to see what it might be. Lets find out Ty. We know what Bell and Howard can do, and it ain't enough.

Without changes to the scheme, Burks will be wasted. This is true. But I imagine Ty plans much larger changes with a full training camp that will involve the wings more. I pray I'm right about that.