Question: When Kyle Korver came to the Jazz last year, he shot lights-out and helped them win. Now, his minutes have diminished and he has little freedom to shoot those three-pointers. What happened? Did he get too much publicity? He is an exciting player to watch. He is a team player and always cheers on his teammates. Why isn't he playing more? The Jazz need his energy. It seems like he gets passed over when the Jazz need a starter. His three-pointers electrify the crowd. We want him to stay in Utah. Can't the Jazz find a way to use his talents again?
--Joan Answer: I disagree with some of your observations, which might be perceptions but are not reality.
You say Korver's minutes have diminished, and they have, but only fractionally. In his 50 games with the Jazz last season, he averaged 21.5 minutes. This season, he averages 21.3 minutes. That's hardly a massive drop-off.
You say Korver has "little freedom" to shoot three-pointers. Actually, he averaged 3.8 three-point attempts last season. He is averaging 2.6 three-point attempts this season. But I think the drop in three-point attempts is more a result of opponents focusing on Korver than any directive from coach Jerry Sloan to stop taking three-point shots.
Remember, the Jazz have gone long stretches without injured stars Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams. You can throw Memo Okur in there, too. Without those players, it's much easier to defend Utah's other main options, including Korver from the three-point line.
Another factor?
Korver has not said one word about it -- at least as far as I know -- but he's been playing most of the season with a sore wrist, and I think that has slightly impacted his shooting.
You also ask if Korver got too much publicity last season. It sounds like you are suggesting Korver might have developed some kind of attitude problem. But I can tell you from the year I've spent helping cover him, Korver is one of the most down-to-earth, clear-thinking players in the NBA. Obviously he wants to play and produce. But you said it yourself: He is a good teammate. I do not believe he has an ego. I believe he wants to win Basketball games.
As far as not starting when the Jazz have needed to shuffle their lineup because of injuries, you can blame Sloan for that one.
When a starter is injured, Sloan's philosophy has always been to keep the primary bench players in their established roles and let someone further down in the rotation get a chance.
For example, when Boozer was hurt, a lot of coaches would have moved Andrei Kirilenko into the starting lineup. But Sloan went with Paul Millsap and kept Kirilenko in his role as Utah's extremely productive sixth man. That move has paid huge dividends, for Kirilenko, Millsap and the Jazz.
This week, C.J. Miles missed two games because of a sprained ankle. Sloan could have started Korver, but instead he went with Ronnie Price. Again, this allowed Korver to continue to come off the bench and strengthen the Jazz's second unit. It also allowed Price a chance to play some meaningful minutes, which undoubtedly help his confidence and made him feel like his coaches haven't forgotten him.
As far as Korver playing in Utah beyond this season, I think the Jazz want him back and I know for a fact that he wants to be back because I asked him a couple of weeks ago. He likes Salt Lake City, he likes his teammates, he likes the organization and he likes Sloan's system.
In the wake of the December uproar Boozer caused by talking about opting out of his contract at the end of the season, Korver didn't want to say too much about his situation. But I think he's going to end up playing in Utah for a long time.
