Utah Jazz: Why It’s Time to Let Trey Burke Play Like A Scoring Point Guard

There are only a few items that are more beneficial to a basketball player than a chair. For many people who haven’t played organized basketball or haven’t had basketball workouts, the chair is used for a variety of different drills on the court including dribbling, footwork and defense but it serves an even greater purpose when used as an offensive helper.

All that’s needed in the gymnasium is a chair, two people, and a basketball. For players who have developed their offensive game with the use of chairs, they understand it’s importance. The reason why having chairs present while working out is a bit of a necessity is because they get used as a screen and it gives offensive players a bit of a miniature simulation.

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However no matter how many chairs a person may need, everyone develops at their game at their own pace. One of the players who’s starting to develop their game is the Utah Jazz second-year starting point guard from Columbus, Ohio, Trey Burke.

The sophomore point guard has been playing well of late since the basketball is in his hands more, and is starting to play more like a shooting guard than a traditional point guard. 

When he played against the Oklahoma City Thunder inside of Chesapeake Energy Arena, Burke played like the guard everyone was used to seeing when he was a Michigan Wolverine. He gashed the Thunder for 20 points, five rebounds and five assists, shooting 8-for-15 from the floor and 2-for-4 from the three-point line.

It didn’t matter who came up to guard him, they were going to get cooked. Whether it was all-star point guard Russell Westbrook, or backup point guard Reggie Jackson who attempted to stop him, he was extremely confidence and no matter who was in front of him he did what he wanted. Burke looked like he was a 6’1″, 185 pound shooting guard.

Is it time that we change our perception for the type of guard that we want Burke to become, and start loving the type of guard he already is? Should the Jazz start allowing small forward Gordon Hayward and backup point guard Dante Exum, initiate the offense more and let Burke play off the ball as a scoring point guard? Why not?

He’s Gotten That Much Better
To say that Trey Burke started off the season slow is an understatement. In the first month of the season Burke played wildly inconsistent, having 11 games where he shot less than 42 percent from the floor, including seven games where he failed to shoot above 30 percent from the floor.

In addition in the month of November, Burke only had five games where he had six assists or more in a game.

The good news is every month he’s gotten better.

In the month of December Burke increased his averages in points, rebounds, field goal percentage and three-point percentage. Burke averaged 13.1 points and shot 37 percent from the floor and 34 percent from the three-point line, and then along came January.

In a season where a lot of people get physically cold, on the basketball court Burke has started to heat up.

He’s maintained his trend of getting better and in the month of January he’s looked very impressive. Burke is averaging 18.2 points per game, 4.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and nearly shooting 43 percent from the floor in the first month of the new year.

Even though he had a great game against the Thunder, his best game of the month came against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Burke scored 28 points and shot 10-for-16 from the floor, and 4-for-6 from the three-point line, he grabbed six rebounds, dished out six assists, only had one turnover, and recorded a steal in 29 minutes.

With Young PGs It’s Still a Process
Sure Burke hasn’t started off the season as strong as we thought he would. But even though we want to rush the process at times, we need to remain patient with Burke’s development as a player. When he’s having a month like he’s having in January then there is much reason to have hope.

With the season ending shoulder injury to shooting guard Alec Burks, we might have seen the law firm of Burke and Burks come to an abrupt close, but more importantly we’ve also seen a much more aggressive Burke. The reason why Burke’s looks like a different player isn’t because of the confidence he might, or might not have, it’s because offensively he’s being asked to do more.

Burke has the basketball a lot more in his hands and his usage rate has increased because of it. The Jazz need a third scoring option in their lineup especially due to the fact they are facing injuries within their starting lineup to Burks and center Enes Kanter.

Hopefully Burke can keep this trend up and give them his team exactly what they need.

In the meantime he needs to improve on getting his shooting percentage decent again, and that’s why chairs were created.

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