Kyle Korver: Can He Return to Form in 2016?
By John Buhler
Kyle Korver is coming of his best year as a professional in 2014-15. He made his first All-Star Game and helped get the Atlanta Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals. But after a severe ankle injury suffered in Game 2 of the ECF, can Kyle Korver bounce back and not miss a beat in 2015-16 with the Hawks?
The Atlanta Hawks are one of the best teams in the NBA going into 2015-16. Though they may have many great players, their deadliest weapon is sharpshooter extraordinaire Shooting Guard Kyle Korver shooting over 45% from the outside. While Golden State’s Stephen Curry is a fantastic high-volume three-point maestro, Korver’s efficiency from three is the best in the business.
-= Atlanta Hawks: Slightly Lowered Expectations in 2015-16? =-
Boston Celtics Head Coach Brad Stevens has said previously, “you have to treat him like he averages 30 PPG or else it could be 30.” That’s one incredible compliment from one of the best young coaches in the NBA. While Korver nearly had a historic 50-50-90 shooting year in 2014-15, his 3-point percentage dipped slightly below that threshold at the regular season’s culmination.
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But once the Playoffs were under way, opposing team’s narrowed their focus to shut down Kyle Korver on the outside. Brooklyn as a team minimized damage from Kyle in Round 1, Bradley Beal played Korver better than any individual defender did all season in Round 2, and a mid-court dive by Cleveland’s Matthew Dellavedova abruptly ended Kyle Korver’s magical year in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. After two offseason surgeries, can Korver come back and play at an All-Star level for the Atlanta Hawks this year?
Honestly, I don’t think he has to. Would we all like to see Kyle Korver get back to this year’s All-Star game in Toronto? Sure, but I don’t see Korver as the lone three-point threat for the Atlanta Hawks this season. We saw that in two years under Head Coach Mike Budenholzer’s watch that DeMarre Carroll now with the Toronto Raptors developed into a 40% outside shooter. Other players on the Atlanta Hawks have shown that they can shoot above 30% from distance in Bud’s offense.
Do players like Jeff Teague, Dennis Schroder, Thabo Sefolosha, or Kent Bazemore become that next 40% 3-point shooter for the Atlanta Hawks? Or could newcomers like Justin Holiday or Tim Hardaway Jr. effectively replace Carroll’s shooting while Kyle Korver gets back to full speed? And I’m not even accounting for strong stretch four/five play coming from Paul Millsap, Al Horford, Mike Muscala, and Mike Scott if his legal issues don’t keep him off the court.
-= Mike Scott Arrested on Felony Drug Charges =-
I see Kyle Korver needing about the first month of the season to get re-acclimated to insanely high competition after undergoing two offseason surgeries. That month of adjustment will prevent Korver from making his second consecutive All-Star Game.
Plus, we know that Toronto will stuff the ballot box and get both Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan into the East’s starting lineup, leaving just four guard spots available on the East’s roster. Commissioner Silver, please expand the All-Star Games roster to allow 15-20 guys on each team. If the NFL, MLB, and NHL can have expanded rosters for glorified exhibitions, why can’t the Association?
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I like Kyle Korver to still provide strong help defense, using his great length at 6’7” to alter the trajectory of wings’ jumpers on the outside. Expect Korver to bounce back in December and shoot at a 40-40-90 clip this upcoming season.
However, for Kyle Korver to prove that last season wasn’t a career year for him, he will again have to sniff the 50-50-90 shooting percentage benchmark as the Atlanta Hawks fight with the East’s favorites the Cleveland Cavaliers for pole position in the 2015-16 Eastern Conference hierarchy. It could happen but lower the expectations on Kyle Korver just slightly to not end up falling to pieces when he comes back a little slower than normal to start the 2015-16 NBA Campaign. Until next time, Let’s Go Hawks!
Next: Justin Holiday: Impact Player in 2016?
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