We are 20 weekdays away from the Jazz opening of training camp. Today is question 3 of 20 questions to Jazz camp. If you have a question please submit it to me at dlocke@utahjazz.com or via twitter @lockedonsports or facebook Locked on Sports
QUESTION 3 — Do you think Alec Burks makes a leap this year like Gordon Hayward did second half of last season?
Traditionally, players make a solid step from year 1 to year 2 and then the biggest jump from year 2 to year 3. What we saw in the second half of last year from Gordon Hayward is what I think will be his entire year jump in year 3.
From Burks standpoint, he could be a notch behind because of the shortened season last year and it could take until mid season for him to click in to his next step.
Burks played nearly 1,000 minutes last year, you would hope for your rookies to get 1,200 in their rookie year, 1,800 in the 2nd year and jump to 2,400 by the third year. Unless they are real stars then the jump is 1,800 to 2,400 to 3,200
The two best comparisons for Burks after his rookie year are the Pistons Rodney Stuckey and for NBAer Larry Hughes.
Rodney Stuckey was 21 years old as a rookie (2 years older than Alec) and played 1081 minutes, close to the exact same Alec would have played in 82 games.
In his second year, he jumped to 2,500 minutes and went from averaging 7.6 pts a game (same as Burks) to 13.4 pts a game.
Stuckey improved both his FG% (40 to 44%) and his 3 point % (18 to 29.5%) from year 1 to year 2.
The better metric is per 36 minute production and Stuckey was 14.5 pts per 36 as a rookie (Burks 16.3) and in his second year moved just slightly to 15.1.
Hughes comparables are nearly perfect to Burks because both had a rookie year on a lockout year. Hughes jumped from 988 minutes to 2,300 in his second year. Hughes was never a great shooter and was 41% his rookie yearand 40% his second year. Hughes didn’t shoot the three until his 4th year in the league.
In his second year, Hughes jumped from 9pts a game (Burks was 7) to 15 pts a game for the season. Hughes was traded from Philly to Golden State in the year and in his final 32 games averaged 22.7 pts a game.
In regards to per 36 mins he went from 16.6 pts per 36 (Burks was 16.3) to 19 pts per 36 minutes. Hughes and Burks both went to the line 5.5 times per 36 as a rookie and Hughest went up to 5.8 his second year.
If these two names are any indicator year 2 in Alec Burks career has a lot of promise.