Alec Burks over Kawhi Leonard

[Rauxcee]

Alec Burks is a stud and he'll confirm that by shocking the league with his play and winning Most Improved Player honors in 2013-14. That is all.

Doesn't he need playing time to do that? Are the Jazz getting a new head coach?!

[Joel Embust]

Unrestricted free agents and an injured Marvin Williams are forcing Ty to play Burks. It will be one of those familiar stories we'll read in the newspapers, about how he had to wait for his opportunity, with guys leaving and getting injured blabla, he stepped up to the plate and never looked back.

I can see in the future. I see an article and a photograph of Burks holding a MIP award. It's a beautiful sight fellas, wish you could see it too.

[MalonesElbows]

Burks is going to stun people next year. He was practically benched the first half of the year and you can't draw anything from those erratic 6 minute games he got. Starting in march he finally got consistent minutes and put up great numbers, even though he was playing out of position. There is a place for advanced stats in some conditions, not here, would not trade Burks for Leonard.

[Reckless]

I hope other teams GM's thought the same way so we could package him with the #14 pick and land a top draft pick. If Burks goes on and becomes a star I will admit I was wrong but I see that as very unlikely. He has to spend a lot of time in the gym on his shot.

[reapaman]

Burks won't stun anyone. I mean the thing people label as his biggest strength is getting to the line yet in februrary for example. he averaged 27 mpg but only got 2.2 fpg. Anybody that watches him know he's not that good at finishing on drives which is why he has trouble drawing fouls. It doesn't help that he is also turnover prone, makes alot of bad decisions and is predictable. You can attack the basket as aggressively as you want to but if you don't have the proper skills to get the most out of your aggression then your not doing your team good at all (and in burks case he often kills us). Give him all the minutes you want, he's just not good at drawing fouls yet. Leonard is also by far the better shooter and defender, not even close.

This comparison is and always will be lopsided. Just accept it, be glad KOC didn't draft one of the morris twins then hope Lindsey does better. Leonard probably is gonna be monsterous in the finals and we have to sit there and watch like with George.

[erudite23]

I disagree. I think his ability to force a play at the hoop is at an elite level. Guy gets to the stripe. I think other things come with minutes. I don't see any fear in burks.

I hope you are right about his game coming along with more minutes. I was shocked when I compared Burks and Leonard's shooting numbers. You'd think Burks would have the better outside shot, but Burks doesn't even shoot as well as Leonard from the line. Leonard 82% on FT and Burks is a paltry 71% which is unacceptable for Burks. It's being generous to say that Burks is elite at forcing plays at the rim when he is just as good at getting his shot off from anywhere on the court with the same paltry results he gets from the stripe, but it's good to be generous to him. I hope more minutes fixes things on the court for him but practicing his shot will do him good too.

I agree 71% could be better, but idk that its paltry. I'll take 11-15 from the line if he gets the minutes. That's 11ppg on nothing but free throws. And several fouls on the opposing players.

I'm surprised. Shouldn't your response be something like "what is 71%? That doesn't explain how well he shoots from the FT line. What about the adrenaline pumping through his veins? What about the guy next to him talking trash in his ear? What about the sweat on the ball and thump of his heart in his chest? Leonard might shoot 11% better than Burks, but I will take him at the FT line any day of the week"?


I mean, afterall, that number can't quantify the human experience of shooting those FTs, right?

[countrybama24]

I'm surprised. Shouldn't your response be something like "what is 71%? That doesn't explain how well he shoots from the FT line. What about the adrenaline pumping through his veins? What about the guy next to him talking trash in his ear? What about the sweat on the ball and thump of his heart in his chest? Leonard might shoot 11% better than Burks, but I will take him at the FT line any day of the week"?


I mean, afterall, that number can't quantify the human experience of shooting those FTs, right?

I've got a better one. When you have inconsistent minutes, it's much harder to shoot a higher percentage from the line because you're constantly out of rhythm. How much do you want to bet he improves on his 71% FT mark a lot more than Leonard over the next two years?

[Inigo Montoya]

How much do you want to bet he improves on his 71% FT mark a lot more than Leonard over the next two years?

in all fairness, since leonard is shooting about 11% better from the line at 82%, his margin for improvement is smaller. how many players hover around the 90% mark?

overall though, i'm with king everything when it comes to burks. it is unfair to judge him when for two years he doesn't get consistent minutes, get buried on the bench, played out of position and isn't allowed to play his game - the same game that got him drafted at 12 in the first place.

[idajazz]

Leonard looks pretty dang good in these playoffs, To bad we haven't had a chance to really see what Burks can do. Our coach is a moron.
If I had to choose one it would be Leonard.

[king everything]

Lol, how'd I miss this gem of a response? Leonard shoots better free throws. 1 more outta every ten. The difference between 71 and 82 percent sounds huge- but when you stop and realize it's one ft per ten better... Well, big freaking deal. Would I rather have the better number be our guy? Of course- but am I ready to bounce our man to the d league and stuck Leonard in the hof over a free throw? Nah. So much made over that percentage...

[king everything]

I disagree. I think his ability to force a play at the hoop is at an elite level. Guy gets to the stripe. I think other things come with minutes. I don't see any fear in burks.

I hope you are right about his game coming along with more minutes. I was shocked when I compared Burks and Leonard's shooting numbers. You'd think Burks would have the better outside shot, but Burks doesn't even shoot as well as Leonard from the line. Leonard 82% on FT and Burks is a paltry 71% which is unacceptable for Burks. It's being generous to say that Burks is elite at forcing plays at the rim when he is just as good at getting his shot off from anywhere on the court with the same paltry results he gets from the stripe, but it's good to be generous to him. I hope more minutes fixes things on the court for him but practicing his shot will do him good too.

I agree 71% could be better, but idk that its paltry. I'll take 11-15 from the line if he gets the minutes. That's 11ppg on nothing but free throws. And several fouls on the opposing players.

I'm surprised. Shouldn't your response be something like "what is 71%? That doesn't explain how well he shoots from the FT line. What about the adrenaline pumping through his veins? What about the guy next to him talking trash in his ear? What about the sweat on the ball and thump of his heart in his chest? Leonard might shoot 11% better than Burks, but I will take him at the FT line any day of the week"?


I mean, afterall, that number can't quantify the human experience of shooting those FTs, right?

Also, ft% isn't an advanced metric. It's a simple percentage. Much more manageable of a stat than 'but Leonard shoots .165482 as a total percentage on Tuesday nights if he napped between 1 and 2 pm the previous Thursday and stole a piece of bubble gum when he was 6. Burks is only .165481.'

See, I can be condescending too, or have you forgotten over the last few years?

[countrybama24]

in all fairness, since leonard is shooting about 11% better from the line at 82%, his margin for improvement is smaller. how many players hover around the 90% mark?

Either way it proves my point that it's stupid to compare their FT% at this point in time. Especially when Burks is shooting 10% below his college FT% and Kawhi is shooting 5% above it. If anything it should give us more confidence that with more minutes, Burks can really improve his long-range shooting.

I'm not saying he's better than Kawhi, but I don't understand how people can be giving up on Burks this early. Kawhi was a great pick, but he's only one of many prospects the Jazz missed out on (along with every other team in the NBA).

[Inigo Montoya]

in all fairness, since leonard is shooting about 11% better from the line at 82%, his margin for improvement is smaller. how many players hover around the 90% mark?

Either way it proves my point that it's stupid to compare their FT% at this point in time. Especially when Burks is shooting 10% below his college FT% and Kawhi is shooting 5% above it. If anything it should give us more confidence that with more minutes, Burks can really improve his long-range shooting.

I'm not saying he's better than Kawhi, but I don't understand how people can be giving up on Burks this early. Kawhi was a great pick, but he's only one of many prospects the Jazz missed out on (along with every other team in the NBA).

i agree with you and king everything 100%. i was just making a point about that specific "bet" on who will improve their FT percentages more. you're both preaching to the choir.