ESPN now has Burks listed as a PG

[Batman]

https://espn.go.com/nba/team/roster/_/name/utah/utah-jazz

Personally, I think burks might prove to be a better PG than a SG. As of now, I am not sold on Alec Burks the SG, but I do see a future for him as a 6th man PG. I understand that he could make a nice jump next season though.

 

[zbone]

I wonder if any other Jazz player ever has been mind ****ed as Burks has been.

 

[The Midnight]

I think the point is he's a PG "for the Utah Jazz".

 

[Batman]

I think the point is he's a PG "for the Utah Jazz".

Actually, I am pretty sure they have NBA experts who decide on what his postion "really" is. Thus, Coaches and FO's don't have to even worry about coming to their own painstaking conclusion. However, I should note that this was only instituted after David Stern Pleaded to ESPN for it's inauguration. It is known as the What The Hell Is Tyrone Corbin Doing Act. ha. Yeah, i gotcha

 

[green]

Burks is a SG. Everything about him screams SG. Just because the Jazz are dumb enough to sign Mo, Watson and Tonsley forcing Burks to the #1 doesn't make him a pg.

Burks is a pg like Millsap is a SF.

 

[LunaticWolf]

Burks has been listed as a PG at ESPN all season long.

 

[Batman]

Burks has been listed as a PG at ESPN all season long.

Oh, did not know. that must be a mistake then, i would imagine, seeing that Burks played vitually no PG last season.

 

[theonlyone]

Corbin just said Burks is not a PG. He better call up ESPN.

 

[Hartsock]

If ESPN says it it must be so.

 

[A-Train (old)]

It also has Randy Foye and Travis Leslie as PG.

 

[illyasova]

It does not make any difference or change the reality. He's a SG who tries to play like a PG due to Corbin's poor coaching and lack of qualified PGs at the team.

 

[cctrackstar]

What would happen if the Jazz changed to not using a traditional point guard?

Quick quiz:
Who was Jordan's point guard?
How many assists did Derek Fisher get on average?
How important was Jason Kidd to the Mavericks when they got the championship?
Is Chauncey Billups even a point guard at all?

The point is that a 'pass first' point guard is a crutch for bad teams. Teams that win it all have multiple players at multiple positions who can run the offence, not one single 'pass first' point guard.

It doesn't matter whether Burks plays the 1 or the 2, if he's talented and the rest of the team can run an offence then they will excel.

(Mario Chalmers averages 3.6 assists per game. Who does he play for, anybody know without looking it up?)

Edit: oh, and LeBron averages 7 assists per game. So can Gordon and Burks maybe help run the offence?

 

[mfree]

I have been really impressed by Burks and Hayward are the guards together. Neither dominate the ball the way a pass first PG would, so the offense is more fluid and dynamic.

I believe Burks is a PG, just not the kind we are used to. Thinking outside of the box, is a good thing.

I would still like to see the Jazz find a better PG, but Burks backing up both guards would be a very effective change of pace, and likely cause some big time matchup problems for pother teams.

 

[Stifle Tower]

What would happen if the Jazz changed to not using a traditional point guard?

Quick quiz:
Who was Jordan's point guard?
How many assists did Derek Fisher get on average?
How important was Jason Kidd to the Mavericks when they got the championship?
Is Chauncey Billups even a point guard at all?

The point is that a 'pass first' point guard is a crutch for bad teams. Teams that win it all have multiple players at multiple positions who can run the offence, not one single 'pass first' point guard.

It doesn't matter whether Burks plays the 1 or the 2, if he's talented and the rest of the team can run an offence then they will excel.

(Mario Chalmers averages 3.6 assists per game. Who does he play for, anybody know without looking it up?)

Edit: oh, and LeBron averages 7 assists per game. So can Gordon and Burks maybe help run the offence?

All good observations. Outside of Rondo, are there are "pass-first" PG's any more?

 

[NAOS]

Kidd was a critical as a distributor for that Mavs team. No doubt about that.

 

[seattlejazzfan]

Burks is a SG. Everything about him screams SG. Just because the Jazz are dumb enough to sign Mo, Watson and Tonsley forcing Burks to the #1 doesn't make him a pg.

Burks is a pg like Millsap is a SF.

Amen. I don't have any advanced stats to back it up, but it sure seems like he plays his best basketball, by a fairly significant amount, when he's at SG.

 

[LunaticWolf]

All good observations. Outside of Rondo, are there are "pass-first" PG's any more?

And Rondo doesn't make his team that good. Celts were playing slightly above .500 ball this year even before he got injured. They haven't missed a whole lot without him.

 

[vslice02]

What would happen if the Jazz changed to not using a traditional point guard?

Quick quiz:
Who was Jordan's point guard?
How many assists did Derek Fisher get on average?
(Mario Chalmers averages 3.6 assists per game. Who does he play for, anybody know without looking it up?)
Edit: oh, and LeBron averages 7 assists per game.

If the Jazz could find a way to get multiple all-stars on their team including 1 of the 8 or so best wings to ever play the game like the Bulls, Lakers and Heat had then yes - I they could do just fine with a RonHarper/DerekFisher/MarioChalmers as their PG.

How important was Jason Kidd to the Mavericks when they got the championship?

Kidd averaged 8-assists in over 33mpg in the regular season, and averaged over 35mpg in the postseason for the Mavs during their title run.

The point is that a 'pass first' point guard is a crutch for bad teams. Teams that win it all have multiple players at multiple positions who can run the offence, not one single 'pass first' point guard.

It doesn't matter whether Burks plays the 1 or the 2, if he's talented and the rest of the team can run an offence then they will excel.

If the Jazz don't have a Jordan&Pippen/Kobe&Shaq/Kobe&Gasol/LeBron&Wade -caliber talent on their roster - they're not winning it all simply because they decide to make Alec Burks a point guard.
Alec Burks is a talented guard who is capable of playing PG but is clearly a natural 2. The fact that both he and Hayward can handle and pass gives Utah the flexibility of playing an unconventional backcourt in spurts - but both them and their teammates would be better off with them playing most of their minutes on the wing (where they can still handle&create) and a more natural playmaker - who can be a bigtime scorer (see Westbrook, Parker, Isiah) taking on the ball-handling responsibilites. On this year's Jazz team Burks is one of Utah's best options at PG - but if the Jazz plan on being the best team they can possibly be in the future he shouldn't be viewed as a full-time solution.

 

[cctrackstar]

(heh, forgot about Parker. he's interesting.)

I think what's really happening here is the fans are trying to find time for Burks and with Hayward playing starter minutes, Marvin having a player option and everyone wanting Carroll to get some time, AND Corbin's man crush on Foye; playing at the 1 is almost his only option for getting a solid set of time on the floor.