The Corbin Effect - Okur's recent success

[Duiz]

Okur benefiting from training

Utah Jazz: Okur benefiting from training
By Steve Luhm
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 03/11/2008 10:13:44 AM MDT

After continuing one the of best shooting streaks of his career during a 27-point performance Saturday against Denver, Memo Okur credited assistant coach Tyrone Corbin with a big assist.
Specifically, Corbin has helped Okur improve his versatility on offense. Instead of taking the majority of his shots from a spot-up position at the three-point line, Okur now tries to get to the basket more often for higher percentage shots.
Corbin "does such a great job with me," Okur said. "He just keeps telling me, 'Start the ballgame getting to the free-throw line, or getting an easy basket.' So he's really helping me right now. It feels good."
True to his nature, Corbin deflects the credit, saying all the Jazz coaches have worked with Okur. But he likes the results.
"Memo is doing great," Corbin said. ". . . In the last few ballgames, he's giving teams different looks - mixing his stuff up. He's not just sitting out there on his jump shot."
Head coach Jerry Sloan agrees.
"Memo has worked on it a lot," he said. ". . . Any player in this game, if you stay one-dimensional, people are going to learn to take that away. He's recognized that - and Ty's worked with him - and it's shown up. It's obviously helped him."
In the last two games, Okur has scored 52 points on 18-for-29 shooting.
He's 10-for-13 from the three-point line, 8-for-16 on two-point shots and 6-for-7 from the free-throw line.
"Before, I was thinking more like, 'Just stay on the perimeter and wait for somebody to pass to me and, if I'm open, take the shot,' " Okur said. ". . . That is what I've focused on. Now, I put the ball on the floor more and more and it helped me get my confidence back."
As Okur continues to become more adept at maneuvering to the basket, he will be more difficult to defend.
"If they don't close up on me, I have more time to shoot my jump shot," he said. "If they close up very fast, I can pass by them and create an open shot for myself or my teammates."
Said Carlos Boozer: "Him being that versatile has really helped our team."

http://www.sltrib.com/jazz/ci_8530481

[Rive]

You better watch out Sheik, Duiz looks like he is taking your spot as the poster who breaks all the big stories from the papers....

Anyways...

I think what Memo has done here is quite impressive for a veteran player -- he has changed his game. Many props to the coaching staff and especially to Memo for realizing that standing on the perimeter and just jacking threes isn't good for the offense. The more versatile Memo is, the easier it makes it for everyone else. Now more guys have to switch on us when Memo drives. Deron's pick and roll with Memo (the High C play) gets more dangerous. Other teams won't be able to double Boozer in the post anymore -- because he isnt the only inside threat any longer. The perimeter opens up more for Korver and Deron and the other shooters. Anyways, you get the point.... Memo opening up his inside game makes us a lot more of a contender and makes us that much harder to defend.

Very impressive.

[bleu]

Ty Corbin is an amazing coach, if/when Jerry quits, I hope that Ty takes over.

[DelaneyRudd]

I hope Jerry and Phil(who is older than Jerry) say when they will retire as soon as they decide so the job can be promised to Ty, even if he has to wait a few seasons. I think Ty would wait to get this job over taking a job with a team like Chicago or Indiana as the Jazz don't fire coaches or GMs.

[de2nd]

Ty Corbin is an amazing coach, if/when Jerry quits, I hope that Ty takes over.

That's what's going to happen. LHM has said they are making the next coach an in-house guy. It'll be Corbin or Hornacek.

[bleu]

I doubt that it would be Hornacek unless Ty dosen't want the job.

[Duiz]

I don't think that Hornacek has the cojones to stand up against his players. He seems too much of a nice guy, and I don't know if he necessary has the character for it. I think Corbin does, but I really hope Phil Johnson goes for it. I swear he should leave Sloan and go coach the Bobcats or Hawks and he would get them over .500 in the first year. Awarded as best assistant coach years back, and has been with the Jazz for almost as long as Jerry, if not longer.

[idajazz]

I'm thinking the next coach is going to be Horny.
Just a gut feeling.

[de2nd]

I don't think that Hornacek has the cojones to stand up against his players. He seems too much of a nice guy, and I don't know if he necessary has the character for it. I think Corbin does, but I really hope Phil Johnson goes for it. I swear he should leave Sloan and go coach the Bobcats or Hawks and he would get them over .500 in the first year. Awarded as best assistant coach years back, and has been with the Jazz for almost as long as Jerry, if not longer.

I doubt the Jazz go with Phil only because of his age (he's older than Sloan) and they'd likely go with someone they can have longterm. I'd bet Phil would even hang around as an assistant for a couple years under Ty or Jeff to help them out.

Hornacek might not have the tough as nails demeanor as Jerry Sloan, but give me available coaches these days that do. Plus, a more players type of coach could have its rewards. Jeff isn't dumb though. If the players aren't performing or are doing something wrong, he'll let them know if it. He's not Mr. Rogers for crying out loud.

The next coach will by Corbin or Hornacek. Corbin interviewed for the Sonics job last summer, and he'll have more interviews come his way. the question is how much longer Sloan will stick around.

[Duiz]

I wonder if Gordon Chiesa will ever come back if Sloan leaves.

[Pappyman]

right now, i would give it to tyrone corbin. he has the experience to be the jazz's head coach. i would also expect that after corbin becomes the head coach, jeff hornacek and scott layden would be his top two assistants.

[Ming Kong!]

Okur has been magnificent. I'd say he's been better than last year during that streak that Boozer was out.

20.3ppg 11.8rpg while shooting .511 from the field and .429 from behind the arc in his last 10! All this with Boozer healthy, Millsap a year better, and extra offense from Korver and the rest of the gang which just makes it that much more impressive. Still we're 7-3 in the last 10 due to poor play on the road, but I see a trend of us getting a little better on the road.

[Duiz]

Okur becomes hot when Boozer becomes heavily unfocused and his top of the key jumpshot is lacking callibration. Sad Okur couldn't have stayed top of the line last year. I think that if he wouldn't have wimped out, we could have beaten the Spurs and win the championship, serious.