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The REAL burks v. Rush thread.

framer

framer

Well-Known Member
I refuse to post on that other thread and prefer to let it die the twisted and painful death it deserves. For those who want to discuss, with actual facts and logic, why a healthy Rush should start here is the opening salvo:

If your goal is to spread the floor and make it harder for your opponent to concentrate their defense on either the inside or on the opposite side of the floor are you going with this guy:
Shotchart_1375759718699_zps1bb3531a.png


Or this guy:
Shotchart_1375759840338_zps87cf546f.png


Just for the record, here is Hayward's shot chart.

Shotchart_1375760257875_zpsecb4bf36.png


Notice that both Burks and Hayward are far stronger on the right hand part of the floor and Rush can hit from the left.

If it comes down to Burks working on his three point shooting from the left as opposed to working on his free throws, I want him to spend his time on the free throws. That will help the team more without trying to force him into being a fourth or fifth option starter. I'm not even saying Rush is better than Burks overall. It is pretty obvious that he can hit that left court three which both Hayward and Burks both struggle at. That opens up the court for our bigs and takes pressure off of our rookie point to start the season.
 
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I like rush, but he's 5 years older than most of our core. He doesn't stick around, IMO.
 
Attachments won't open, framer, but I agree with your argument. Whether Rush is re-signed or not, I think DL recognizes the value of having a player like him mated up with a strong inside game. If Burks eventually develops into a 40% 3-PT shooter, then start him. Personally, I think there's more value bringing him off the bench and letting him use his driving ability, especially against the opposing subs, to score or get fouled. He can easily up his average to 14-16 pts (or maybe more?) in that role.
 
... and even if Rush wasn't to resign with Utah.. his ability to better spread the floor could be instrumental in the advancement of everyone else on the floor, literally.
 
To me its not just the floor spacing that needs to be discussed. But also the other aspects. 2 things that really stand out to me as reasons that Rush might be the one that needs to be starting (other than floor spacing)

1) DEFENSE. Rush is a proven defender that can guard the 2 and 3. He is much stronger than Burks and understands a lot of the little things that need to be done to be effective on defense. Burks has some good moments on defense in the passing lanes and guarding player that are weaker or smaller than him. But he still gets buried on screens and gets pushed around by stronger guards. With Rush and Hayward on the floor as starters they can switch and not loose anything.

2) Burks is a better player than Rush with the ball in his hands. He can get to the line and make things happen on offense. Against second team players he could be the only guy that can get points in the second unit. It gets more involved in the game and if he is playing really well can still close games.

And last I think that if Rush plays well this year the Jazz go hard after him as a FA. I think he was a target of Lindey's for a while now and that he really wanted him in that trade. Th only way I see Rush not getting resigned is if he really doesn't want to be here.
 
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Rush should start. Burke should have at least two reliable 3pt shooting outlets like at Michigan and I think things will go well.

Burke
Rush
Hayward
Kanter
Favors
 
I love Burks and even I think he should be on the bench this upcoming season. Though he should be getting very heavy minutes off the bench, unless his play demands less of them (and even with that in this season his leash should be very very long for that).
 
Starting Rush vs. Burks is a futile debate when Jefferson starts.
 
I know this isn't going to happen but I would start Burks at SG and then bring Rush off the bench. I would then slide Burks over to PG and play both of them with the second unit. Why? Because the Jazz are going to need scoring off the bench, Burks gets his minutes, and I do not want John Lucas III running the second unit. Unless Ian Clark proves he can be a PG then I would rather have Burks be the second team PG over Lucas.

I see the merit in the argument of having Rush play with Hayward due to his ability to shoot from the left side of the court. I also worry that Burks will get lost with all the options on the first unit. So it is probably better that Burks be the sixth man so he can have the ball in his hands.
 
I agree with Nate that I think Rush will be starting but want Burks to get heavy minutes. Granted that Rush comes back healthy.
 
framer said:
That opens up the court for our bigs and takes pressure off of our rookie point to start the season.
Click to expand...

Not in the least. That's not how basketball works. It's not as simple as plugging in a shooter and stretching the floor. If that were the case then Mo-Foye-Hayward would have made the Jazz the most efficient offense last season.

The corner three is not viable until you have a facilitator who can first collapse the defense into the paint (all of them) and then make the pass in traffic. That's why the Jazz didn't shoot them last season -- Al Jefferson couldn't make the simplest pass to a wide open Randy Foye or Gordon Hayward. Rush had Curry and Ellis. Rush now has no Curry and no Ellis. He's not shooting that high a percentage on volume until the Jazz have a facilitator.

And yeah, Alec Burk can stand in the corner with his thumb up his *** too. It's not the most difficult assignment in the NBA. Also, shooting 35% or 40% from there isn't going to be enough of a difference maker to force opposing coaches to adjust. It amounts to a whopping 0.75 more points per game on 5 shot attempts.
 
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