Burks fully committed to the Jazz and getting better

[Watcher]

Anybody listen to DL recently when he was saying something about how they are really working with Burks and people are going to be impressed with his improvement next year? I think it was when DL was sitting with Boler and Harp during the broadcast in a game a week or so ago.

 

[Stoked]

We can hope that Alec will fit the system next year, but there is so far no direct evidence to think it is a great fit. So why not trade him for a better fit, a 3 and D guy? Build around your great strength = Rudy and Favors defense.

If they did trade Burks for a 3 adn D guy do you have anyone in mind? Also I wonder how that would affect the Jazz free agency plans. Back up C and PG would be the next biggest needs right?

Anybody listen to DL recently when he was saying something about how they are really working with Burks and people are going to be impressed with his improvement next year? I think it was when DL was sitting with Boler and Harp during the broadcast in a game a week or so ago.

I hope so. I am really looking forward to next season with the improved Jazz all season and see what they can do.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I think the injury really affected Burks this year. Last year in the paint he shot 57.5%... this year 41.2%. Add in his improvement from 3 this year (although he needs to take more) and I think he will be good in this system. I think having a year to watch the system (and he is clearly involved and watching) and an offseason of good health and I think he will be back and better than ever next year.

He is maturing, he loves the game, he clearly likes his team, and he is engaged. Physically he has the tools. We might be a fringe playoff team next year with just getting him back and our internal improvement. It would be nice if the league realigned the playoff system (I don't think it will happen though because I think you need like a two-thirds vote and half the teams are in the east).

 

[Revolution 9]

This is a great sign for Burks. Would Kanter have done this?

 

[seattlejazzfan]

Bum shoulder, he shot 38% threes this year with increased attempts. It's certainly not far fetched to think a healthy AB could get to the 40-42% range next season.

 

[Stifle Tower]

Bum shoulder, he shot 38% threes this year with increased attempts. It's certainly not far fetched to think a healthy AB could get to the 40-42% range next season.

Even 38% would be great. Aren't we wanting Exum to penetrate and take it to the rim? Guess what, we have that player in Alec. He's also a pretty good ballhandler. Jazz experimented a bit with him at PG in the past. Seems like he'd be a great fit in the backcourt with Dante. Obviously both of them need to improve on their 3's. Exum can take the tougher assignment on defense; Alec lessens the need for Utah to have Exum drive.

And I do think his much lower percentage of finishing at the rim was due to his shoulder injury. Also think he can work on becoming a better passer. He'll have two excellent bigs to pass to underneath. Heck, even if he tosses up a wild shot near the basket, Rudy would have a great chance at getting a put-back dunk.

I'm excited to see what he can do next year. And yes, it does say a lot about his character that he's with the team, studying film, etc. Some guys would be back home resting until they were cleared for actual workouts.

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

We can hope that Alec will fit the system next year, but there is so far no direct evidence to think it is a great fit. So why not trade him for a better fit, a 3 and D guy? Build around your great strength = Rudy and Favors defense.

He does fit the system. His playing style is very similar to Hayward. Skill sets are pretty close. Hayward is a better passer. That's about it. I have high hopes for Burks and think he fits exactly what coach Q is trying to do

Bum shoulder, he shot 38% threes this year with increased attempts. It's certainly not far fetched to think a healthy AB could get to the 40-42% range next season.

I think that's asking too much. I think 38 is the best we can expect from burks and 38% is pretty good

 

[fishonjazz]

And yes, it does say a lot about his character that he's with the team, studying film, etc. Some guys would be back home resting until they were cleared for actual workouts.

His character/work ethic/personality has always been one of the things I like about him.
Confident but not cocky or flashy, always adding to his game each year, never heard him complain through the ty Corbin years, seems to be happy in utah, always at p3 and worked hard and took summer league seriously each year he attended

 

[Thee Jazz Fan]

I'm excited to see what Quin can do with Burks with more court time and what Burks has picked up during film study and watching from the bench. Burks had already started to change his game some before he was sidelined. He was driving less taking more threes and mid shots as well and was starting to become a very good rebounder before the injury. I'm excited to see him next year

 

[Stifle Tower]

He does fit the system. His playing style is very similar to Hayward. Skill sets are pretty close. Hayward is a better passer. That's about it. I have high hopes for Burks and think he fits exactly what coach Q is trying to do

I think that's asking too much. I think 38 is the best we can expect from burks and 38% is pretty good

I agree with you. He DOES fit the system. I like the rotation Quin was starting to adopt. He'd bring Alec out early, then have him be the playmaker to start the 2nd quarter when Gordon sat down. Dynamics have changed with the swap at PG, but I certainly think it COULD be a good starting group. If I were QS, I'd have Alec work on his strength and his 3PT shooting this summer. Don't worry about driving yet; Alec can do that. Exum can still fade to the 3PT line for another season. Just need to rein in Trey if/when he plays with Alec. Burks is better finishing at the rim. We'd need Trey and Hood? to be the 3PT threats.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

I think Burks can improve his 3 pt shooting and get in that 40% territory. His shot isn't broken by any means. A few small tweaks and a ton of repetition and he could be there. Also familiarity and, more important, comfort with the system will increase his percentages. When he knows where he's supposed to be you can think and analyze less and just shoot.

He is more engaged than any of the nuggets right now... It really says something about his desire to be great.

 

[stitches]

Bum shoulder, he shot 38% threes this year with increased attempts. It's certainly not far fetched to think a healthy AB could get to the 40-42% range next season.

The hardest part is actually making him take the wide open 3s. Especially from the corners where he shoots 47%(small sample size). His natural inclination is to attack the closeout and go baseline where his drives are actually much less successful. The flashiness of those drives is the fools gold that he needs to avoid. I'd much rather see him take the open 3s and hit them at 40%(1.2 ppp), than make flashy finishes at the rim at ~50%(1.0ppp).

I think Burks can improve his 3 pt shooting and get in that 40% territory. His shot isn't broken by any means. A few small tweaks and a ton of repetition and he could be there. Also familiarity and, more important, comfort with the system will increase his percentages. When he knows where he's supposed to be you can think and analyze less and just shoot.

He is more engaged than any of the nuggets right now... It really says something about his desire to be great.

He has a weird leg kick on his shots. I don't know if it hinders his shooting in any way, but in general unnecessary movements disturbs the balance on a shot and are to be avoided. I wonder if his shot would improve if he eliminates his leg kick...

 

[NAOS]

The hardest part is actually making him take the wide open 3s. Especially from the corners where he shoots 47%(small sample size). His natural inclination is to attack the closeout and go baseline where his drives are actually much less successful. The flashiness of those drives is the fools gold that he needs to avoid. I'd much rather see him take the open 3s and hit them at 40%(1.2 ppp), than make flashy finishes at the rim at ~50%(1.0ppp).




He has a weird leg kick on his shots. I don't know if it hinders his shooting in any way, but in general unnecessary movements disturbs the balance on a shot and are to be avoided. I wonder if his shot would improve if he eliminates his leg kick...

There will have to be a balance. I think you want to encourage Alec to be a driver in many situations. It'll take time.

It'll also be interesting to see if we add a FA guard/wing, and how that impacts where Alec plays his minutes. Lots up in the air.

 

[Jazz4ever]

Bum shoulder, he shot 38% threes this year with increased attempts. It's certainly not far fetched to think a healthy AB could get to the 40-42% range next season.

It's pretty far fetched, at least with any volume, as that percentage would put him in the top 20 three point shooters in the league.

 

[Zulu]

We can hope that Alec will fit the system next year, but there is so far no direct evidence to think it is a great fit. So why not trade him for a better fit, a 3 and D guy? Build around your great strength = Rudy and Favors defense.

I'd rather have burks than a 3 and D guy. It is painfully obvious that our offense has suffered shipping of Kanter. We need another scorer. We have 4 guys who's defense is well above average (Gobert, Favors, Exum and Milsap). We just need some offense to go with this amazing defense.

 

[Zulu]

His character/work ethic/personality has always been one of the things I like about him.
Confident but not cocky or flashy, always adding to his game each year, never heard him complain through the ty Corbin years, seems to be happy in utah, always at p3 and worked hard and took summer league seriously each year he attended

I never thought of this, especially since he played behind very inferior talent.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

It's pretty far fetched, at least with any volume, as that percentage would put him in the top 20 three point shooters in the league.

Lol. It would be a 2% improvement for a young improving player in an offense designed to get him more good looks than he's ever had. It's laughable you think he can't go from 38 to 40%.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

It's pretty far fetched, at least with any volume, as that percentage would put him in the top 20 three point shooters in the league.

It's not far fetched at all... Maybe somewhat unlikely. He improved 3.2% year over year... He could improve another 1.8% with work or without shoulder issues. I'd like to see him shoot one more per game regardless.

 

[Jazz4ever]

Lol. It would be a 2% improvement for a young improving player in an offense designed to get him more good looks than he's ever had. It's laughable you think he can't go from 38 to 40%.

Well he was around 35% for previous two years. Now on a fairly tiny sample size of 68 attempts this year he got up to 38%. I think 40% would be an incredible leap. Only 17 players are better than 40% this year, is Alec Burks that good of a jump shooter?

 

[Stifle Tower]

It's pretty far fetched, at least with any volume, as that percentage would put him in the top 20 three point shooters in the league.

Nice observation. I didn't believe it myself, but if you only take players who have more than 100 attempts, you are correct. Drop down to 60+ attempts and that only adds in another 5-6 at 40% or above. Such notables as Matthews and DMC are below 40%. Middleton is at 41%.

What to take from this? Alec was a pretty good shooter even at 38%!