Kyle Korver : The Closer
‘Closing Time’ (Melissa Majchrzak - NBAE/Getty Images)
In the late innings of any close baseball game, most managers will decide to bring in the bazooka, the big-gun, the flame-throwing relief pitcher who can make opponents quake in their cleats. He is the hired-gun, the specialist and it’s his job to come in and close out the game with a wicked curve or slider or unleash the 100 mph heater. He is known as The Closer. I am not talking about the retail world’s version of The Closer. You know the slimy dude with slicked-back hair smelling of Aqua Velva that sweet-talked you into the rust-proofing and undercoating on that ’93 used Taurus or a 4-year extended warranty on a toaster. I am referring to the alpha-male man’s man with icy Gatorade running through his veins, who wants the ball in his hands in the game’s closing moments.
In basketball, usually the best players start the game and play the majority of the time and usually there has been no clear-cut basketball equivalent to The Closer, until now. For the Utah Jazz, Kyle Korver is The Closer. Instead of hurling split-fingered fastballs from 60 feet, he is dropping 3’s unconsciously from 23-feet-9 inches away. In the place of the 100 mph heat, he is sealing wins by nailing 90% of his free-throws. Even if his shot is not on, he is making the defense come out to guard him which opens up the middle for Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams. He is the zone-buster.
Although he usually plays the second quarter and helps start a few good runs, it has been the fourth quarter which he owns. Rewind back to December when the Jazz lost 11 games and I bet the Jazz only lose a few of them with Korver in a Jazz uniform in that fourth quarter. Since his arrival, the Jazz are on a 20-5 tear and he has just nailed big shot after big shot.
In Denver, he scored 5 points in the last 48 seconds to help the Jazz win by 3. Against Orlando, he dropped 5 in the last 36 seconds as Utah won by 4. Most recently against Atlanta, he scored the last 6 in a 20-second span to close out the 6-point win. If the Jazz ever win a championship, they must give Philadelphia some props because they have given the Jazz two of the best pure shooters in team history- Jeff Hornacek and now Kyle Korver. Maybe Philly is taking the ‘brotherly love’ creed a bit too far but speaking for the Jazz, we sure appreciate it.
If possible, the Jazz should borrow one more thing from baseball to raise the roof even higher in the ESA: the theme song. When Trevor Hoffman, the closer of the San Diego Padres and the all-time leader in saves leaves the bullpen and begins to head onto the field, the Padres’ P.A. announcer begins blaring the slow rhythmic gong…gong…gong from AC/DC’s Hell’s Bells and the crowd goes absolutely nuts. Mariano Rivera enters Yankee Stadium to Metallica’s Enter Sandman and the Dodger’s Eric Gagne enters the field to the Axl Rose wail that begins Welcome to the Jungle.
Korver needs a theme song, some bass-thumping, hard-pounding, blood-pumping, stadium-rocking anthem that puts the crowd over the edge and puts the sound at unsafe decibel levels. I think they could borrow from Hoffman. Just imagine the closing minutes of a game 7 with the Lakers in the Western Conference finals. Jerry Sloan calls a timeout and The Closer walks slowly on to the court and it starts… “gong…gong…gong.. I’m rolling thunder…a pouring rain…I’m coming on like a hurricane…” It would be crazy.
70 Comments to “Kyle Korver : The Closer”
Search Jazzbots.com
Be connected!
Get the latest from Jazzbots delivered to your email
Get the latest from Jazzbots delivered to your phone
Bookmark and favorite Jazzbots.com
Jazz Inside Scoop
The FREE, Official E-mail Newsletter of the Jazz.
The Inside Scoop is one of the best ways to keep up-to-date with your Utah Jazz. We'll provide you with information year-round about the Jazz -- breaking news, special event information, unique merchandise & ticket offers, promotions, advance contest opportunities and more.
Featured Sponsors
Jazzbots Recent Readers
Jazz Polls
Loading ...
That’s the best idea this season! He needs a song let Kyle choose it. This would be awesome finally some recognition for how much a guy can do for a team off the bench!
BRING IT ON KYLE!
K-Korv getting some love, I love it. It is always great to see athletes from the Missouri Valley make it big time like he did. I bet Craig Steven had alot to do with how many points he poured in during his college days! We need K-Korv to take more shots, him and D-Will have the best shot of making them. Hopefully K-Korv can one day have his number up there in the rafters, but him between the two greatest of all time(Eaton and Horny)! CBIZKIT5 OUT!
Wow, what a great blog. I couldn’t stop laughing when you described the guy with the Aqua Velva after shave, haha. Anyway, back to KKorv, this guys been huge for us and you’re right, even when he’s not “feeling it” he still opens up oportunities for everyone else by just standing behind the arch. Over the last couple games though he doesn’t seem like he’s as willing to fire up shots. I wonder if because he hasn’t been as hot lately as he started that Sloany told him to not shoot as much. If so that is a shame. I agree with your analogy of Korver as a Closer, but what you need to realize is the mentality of the closers. They go out to the mound, throw their best stuff and if the other team beats them then they tip their cap, but the best closer aren’t afraid of anybody. They believe nobody can touch them and thats why they have that job. KKorv is at his best when he has that confidence in himself. I loved when he first got here because as soon as he’d get it, he’d fire it up with no thoughts about missing. I think he might be getting too worried about missing or Sloan is taking his shots away. Last night he had a 3pt opportunity late in the game that he passed up. I’m not sure what’s going on, but we need him to fire that thing up as often as he can because he IS our closer and that’s what closers do!
K-Korv is the clear starter at Shooting Guard if R-Brewer goes down but, instead they start Miles how is that showing K-Korver respect?
korver is a manamal he is just what the jazz needed to close out the season go jazz go we can do it
kyle korver is the perfect thing in a close fourth quarter game i think he should be starting over r-brewer.
K3 is the man. Best addition to the Jazz since Horny.
K Squared is the man off the bench!!! This is the best trade for the Jazz in a long time. Probably since the Jeff Hornacek trade!!!! I agree even if he’s off the defense cannot sag down and leave him open, it’s just not logical! He will not miss that many from behind the three-point line. Kyle, I give you the green light, shoot at will!!!!!
KK=3 is all and more, now if we can only either get him the darn ball or improve his shot even more.
He is either on or off, or some teams really get on him, but when he is on, he is deadly!
Korver is amazing. I watched him with Philly and miss him being there, but he’s done wonders for the Jazz, and he does need his own theme song. I agree with everything, he is basically the NBA’s equivilent to a closer.
That is one sweet idea. K-korv definately needs a song. I can just imagine myself going nuts when i go to jazz games and K-korv heads to the floor with the song blaring
The only reason Korver doesn’t start is b/c i think sloan likes having someone with a deadly shot out there for when okur and williams go to the bench.
Ever since we aquired Korver, its been the start of a new era for the jazz.
My idea for a Korver theme song is the beginning of Ted Nugent’s “Stranglehold”
Give it a listen Kyle
I don’t think KK is not shooting because Sloan told him not to. In an interview a while back Sloan said he didn’t mind any shot if it one that can go in. I have noticed that Kyle seems to need to get the ball when he can make a quick turn and release. He was open in the corner a couple times last night and I was yelling at them (from 120 miles away) to get him the ball. Guess there is a reason the play went differently but I feel much better to have the ball in his or Williams hands for the three. I think we need Milsap in there to rebound and push some people around.
i’m from philly and i miss kyle soooo much. i met him 8 times & hes an amazing person, he’s so sweet!! i have pictures with him & autographed things all over my room.. i miss him but he sure is doing INCREDIBLE in utah!!! he’s shining and he deserves the spotlight! i love him alotttt =] you go kyle baabbyyy.
you are soooo sute korver i want to mary you!!!!!!!!!!!
A nice blood pumping intro with an applicable title is Stranglehold by Ted Nugent. Another would be Shoot to Thrill by AC/DC.
This is an awesome idea and it would get the fans whipped into a frenzy and get the building rocking!
The reason that they don’t have “closer” songs on the nba is… EGO!!!!!!! If Korver got one; the great shooter and player that he is, then King James would have to have one. And Melo, and Kobe, and the list goes on and on.
One other reason that comes to mind is respect. If they only play it for KK, then what does that say about the rest of the team? That they can’t win the game without him or that they simply have to put him on a shelf above the rest of the players?
It would be awesome if they started the “Hell’s Bells” intro when we had two minutes left in the game; something to signify that the end is near for the visiting team. It would simply start too much of an issue between players to have it for one player.
Korver is an awesome pick up. I don’t understand why Philly was willing to part with him; especially for Giracek.
If any of you have been to a game since Korver has come on board, then you know the energy he brings to the crowd. It’s like every time he touches the ball, the whole crowd holds their breath, anxiously waiting to see if he makes the shot, and if he misses, the crowd’s sigh is evident, but when he makes it, everyone goes crazy, You don’t see the crowd hold their breath for anyone else but K Korv. As Hot Rod says, He’s our secret agent man!! hahaha and he really is! They need to play that song every time korver steps out on the floor.
Duuuuuuuuuddde, me and my little brother watch the jazz games every night and we always give our opinion on everything. I always tell him that if Korver gets hot from behind the perimeter, we win automaticly. with him and memo shooting like that, looks like its true!
Jimmie…..Very true!! Sometimes when one player is put on a pedestal his playing goes to heck. Look how it has been with Memo. He is now coming back thank heavens. It takes EVERY player on the team ( even the ones that don’t see playing time often).. Careful about setting one way above the others.
No need for a big production over it, but seems that it could help provide another thrill to the game.
A short little string of music, that the player likes, might be even better to help them “Feel It”!
Maybe incorporate it into the big thumping that is an almost constant, only make it with real rhythm for the players. So what if it adds another element to the whole league, change is always nice.
Kyle wouldn’t want to have a song. That’s self gratification and that’s not him at all. He would hear that song and people would ask him and he’d defer it all onto his teammates. He’s always been that way. Very humble.
After last night’s amazing win it was exciting to hear the guys on the post game show talking about how big he was for the comeback. Simply having him on the floor helps the team.
That’s why this “miller metric” equation is so ridiculous. Larry Miller put together that thing and it’s lame. That’s why according ot that system he’s among the worst guys on the team. He’s not a big scorer, he doesn’t get a lot of rebounds, he doesn’t steal the ball, and he doesn’t get a lot of assists, but he is VERY effective at what he does and I’m sure his teammates realize that.
I agree with whoever said that we need a generic song for the last few minutes of the game. I know earlier I said that K Korv needs his own song,(secret agent man) but that was just for kicks. I think if Jazz fans knew that every game, when there’s 3 minutes left, a heart pumping song was going to be played it would absolutely drive the fans nuts. We all know that when Jazz fans are loud, and I mean really loud, it’s amazing how much energy it brings to the floor. The players feel it and that’s why we have the one of the best home records this season. The ACDC bells would be sweet!!!
K-Korv is just what the jazz needed to take them to the next level!!! Watch out Spurs!!!
We got a good deal when we go kk, we have the best player’s and they play well together,but I want to beat there butts, when they let a team beat them that, they should have beat. What is going on in your head’s boy’s let’s get it together, we want the championship this year. LET’S GO JAZZ!!!!!!!!!
As a Philadelphia born but Western raised fan I have always pulled for the Philly teams unless they played against my Sun’s or Jazz. Having lived in Az for most of my life and the last 17 years in Utah I root for all 3 teams. Unless the other 2 are playing the Jazz, then all bets are off. I was thrilled with the Hornacek trade and feel just as good about the Korver trade. The two players always gave the Jazz fits when they played against them and now they are fittingly Jazz players. Hopefully, and I think that this is a no brainer, Korver will be as successful as Horny and we can only hope more so since he has two good legs. As to the music I reckon each quarter should have its own theme song. 1st- Welcome to the Jungle, G&R. 2nd -Shoot 2 Thrill,AC/DC, 3rd - Stranglehold, Ted Nugent, 4th Turn out the Lights.
At any rate you have to give props to the Jazz for what they are doing. Now if Korver could get the ball more in rythmn then take his shot they would finally get over the hump on the road. Go Jazz The Team.
Kyle is a great asset to the Jazz now. I watched him when he played in Philly and I am from UT and huge Jazz fan. It’s too bad our state has to always compare new people (athletes especially) to other people such as actors (Ashton Kutcher)? Please! He is much better looking and has alot of talent. I work with a woman who lived by the Korvers in California and showed me a picture of him when he was 13. He was a tall kid and looks just like his mom. He seems to be a very humble person who just wants to play basketball. I am proud to call myself a Jazz fan and enjoy many exciting games from them and with Kyle shooting his 3’s. He is making me proud from Philly to Utah.
I think the Utah Jazz’s gain is the 76er’s loss. KK is a wonderful shot and will do whatever is aked of him to win. Good luck.
K-Korv is just what this team needed. That is why he got 6 minutes tonight(2/29) against the Hornets. I don’t know what Sloan is doing, Memo took 7 three point shots tonight and made the goose egg. We were 3-16 on 3’s and K-Korv took one. I heard the rumor that Sloan might be done after this year and Larry H. Miller is going to pursue Roy Williams of UNC. Lets hope we can get this done!
I’ve watched K3 since his days at Creighton and still watch him. He plays for the team not himself. He would not want a theme song. He is a man of character and good heart. He is a solid role model which will help you community so I am glad he is getting the respect he deserves.
Maybe the crowd should start a chant upon his arrival late into the game. K3 or K Korv or Closer.
Don’t count on it THANK HEAVENS, he had already signed a contract for next year!!
C-Biscut what are you smoking? Sloan is the best thing for the Jazz and ultimately Korver will get his minutes extended.Sloan knows what he is doing and to think that Miller would be stupid enough to go after a college coach when he has Johnson in the ranks is ludicrous. Every year people call for Sloans head yet all he does is win. Enough with the “negative waves man” as Donald Sutherlands character (I think it was Oddball?) in the movie Kelly’s Heroes would say. Kyle will be fine and the Jazz will go far in the playoffs this year. They might not win it all this year, but watch out next year when Korver is with the team from game one and the younger players have more experience. ” The future is so bright I have to wear shades.
I think this is one of the best ideas I have heard in awhile. ESA is already one of the toughest places to play. I have been to games at the staples center and the oracle arena, but the Jazz home court is one of the toughest/funnest to watch. adding to the excitement at home could make us even more intimidating. Hopefully we see the jazz do as good this year as the previous year
I was a born and bred Creighton fan by my father and an Omaha, Nebraska native. I’ve been to every home game (when in town) since about ‘92, front and center. When I first started attending games Creighton was lucky to have 1000 fans in the stands. They experienced some success with some good players up until 1999 and attendance usually hovered around 4000. Enter Kyle in 1999. By his Senior season Kyle and the Bluejays were selling out the Arena (capacity 9,000) to the point where tickets were being scalped outside the arena. Unimaginable for me in the early 90’s. Impressive for a guy who had ONE Division-1 offer. Creighton now plays in arena that seats 17,500 which to many is known as “The House That Kyle Built” as countless new fans bought season tickets after Kyle’s Senior season.
I was never a fan of the NBA until Kyle went to the league and I was then an immediate die-hard Philly fan. Needless to say I now find myself checking Utah Jazz box scores every night and watching their games in full. Kyle has the ability to captivate his fanbase and I love that this is the case in Utah.
As far as a theme song goes, I’m not sure Kyle would go for that as a few of you have alluded to. In my eyes (which are clearly biased, ha) there has never been a player with a more ‘team first’ attitude. But what an excellent idea!
Go Kyle, and Go Jazz!!!
Korver rocks, we picked up a keeper and we better sign him to a long term contract, Ive lived in AZ for 16 yrs now, but grew up a die hard JAZZ fan since the early 70’s and the ABA yrs, I love to wear my Jazz colors to work, drives the suns fans here nuts, go Korver and go JAZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Back in the “Giricek Era” whenever Gordon would come onto the court, I’d say, “In steps the Anchor!” Some would think the Anchor is a compliment. Something firm, solid, strong… but in this application of the term, I was referring to the ability to hold us down. The anchor kept us stuck in one place, stuck into the bottom of the ocean.
When the Korver trade went down, I regretted to hear Giricek was leaving as he was a decent guy, and just because he had an argument with Jerry Sloan wasn’t reason enough to ship him off.
But Korver came and the Jazz improved. The “Korver Streak” helped the Jazz go from a dismal western conference opponent to a real contender for the western conference title.
But then the all-star break happened. The Lakers got Gasol, the Suns acquired the Big Shaqtus and Dallas reunited with a little Kidd. Big trades, big muscle added to the west.
The odds are stacked against the Jazz now.
I did, however, place a $500 bet on the Jazz to win the NBA championship during the preseason when the odds were 15 to 1. Low odds because the Jazz made it to the Western Conference Finals last year (remember) but still if they do win the championship, I will be able to buy my new 2008 Triumph Bonneville motorcycle.
So I need to believe Kyle Korver is Jeff Hornacek reincarnate. I have no other choice. If he fails to live up to this expectation, I will hope he retires immediately after the season and moves to Svenborgia never to be heard of again.
When we acquired Korver from Philadelphia for for Giracek, I really had no idea what it was going to be like. His defense is good, he can fire up a tre from anywhere, and his free throw shooting is superb. The definition “The Closer”, is exactly what he is. No team wants KKorver to have the ball in his hands when it comes down to the last mins of the game and they have to foul. The Jazz will be the 4th seed going into the playoffs and I know for a fact that they have too much heart to have their season end in the first round… It’s been awhile since this team has had the talent to bring home a NBA Championship…but I think that time is now.
Love the blog, but if you’re going to use baseball as an analogy, got to update your knowledge of the rosters. Since the Dodgers, Gagne’s been with the Red Sox, the Rangers and now plays for the Brewers.
Kyle Korver is a great asset to the Jazz ! We love watching him play (along with the other great Jazz players.
Great blog ! here are some theme song choices we thought of :
lets get it started by the black eyed peas ” LETS GET IT STARTED IN HERE ! ”
theme from Rocky
vertigo
Rebel Yell
Bad to the bone
GO JAZZ !!
I’m a NJ-born guy, always a Philly fan, and was a fan of Korver ever since my Sixers took him from NJ for an undisclosed amount of cash. In good ol’ philly form (anyone remember Eric Snow - traded for 3 guys, 2 of which were immediately dropped off the roster) the sixers traded Korver for a player they kept for very little, if any time. Giricek’s off the roster already!
While everyone else in the western conference was going around dumping big name guys who were important to their teams(Shawn Marion PHX and Devin Harris DAL) the Jazz dropped Gordan Giricek and got the one thing they needed, a pure shooter with ice in his veins. Kyle Korver. The guy shoots lights out from pretty much anywhere on the court and hes helping the Jazz when basketball games, when it comes down to it thats all that really matters. He’s gunna be a big help come playoff time. Much love to you my man, keep shootin kyle.
I like it but what is up with all the hate on brewer I think he is just as important to the start of the game as kover is to the end, his steals and dunks are almost always the the thing that gets the jazz momentem going. let’s keep dishing the love for kover but stop bringing the hate in the process!
Sorry I know I’m a bad speller
I must have missed something? I haven’t seen anything negative here about Brewer? I love the Brewer/KK combo, with them splitting minutes the way they have been (except for a few games where I was also starting to question what Sloan was doing?). Brewer is so athletic and active around the basket…….KK comes in and mixes things up….. awesome! I agree, even if his shot isn’t ‘on’, he still makes a difference. He works hard, hustles, isn’t afraid to take a charge (and knows how to take one!), he’s passing the ball well…….. and busts that zone defense!!! Tonight is a good example…… the shots from deep weren’t really falling (got that one, on the bounce though!), but he went inside and even posted up, making some nice shots (one for a three point play). Love Kyle, and all he’s brought to the Jazz. His shot is a thing of beauty, and even if they aren’t falling, he needs to keep shooting! I noticed recently also that he has seemed a little hesitant which worried me because he hasn’t been hesitant to shoot at all since he got here, leading me to think somone might be trying to limit his shots….. hope not, that would be a mistake. I’d take Kyle throwing up 3’s blindfolded over Memo shooting them. I know Memo makes the threes sometimes too, but he shouldn’t be shooting that shot as much as he does. Glad he (Memo) has been going inside more in the last couple of games…. nice he can hit the three, but he shouldn’t be hanging out so much around the three point line. Also, it might just be me, but it seems like Memo NEVER passes to Korver??? Anytime Memo gets the ball, even if Kyle is wide open, right near him, he always takes the shot himself (sometimes forcing it). I might just be biased, wanting to see Kyle shoot, but I just don’t think I ever see Memo pass to Kyle. Is it possible that it’s hurting Memo’s ego a bit, not being the ‘money man’ as often, and having the crowd so excited about Kyle shooting 3’s? If so, he needs to get over it and be a team player….
Sorry for the babble…… about the song. I don’t think he’d feel comfortable having his ‘own’ song. What he does need is a great nick name for the announcers to use when he scores!
First, Eric Gagne is a Brewer now, so you are speaking of the Gagne of the past, not present. Second… am I picky or what??
To answer a question up top, the reason Miles starts is so that the second team is not broken up. If Korver took Kirelinkos place or Brewers place in case of injury, then the second team wouldn’t be as deadly. Brewer gets what I would call loose points. Brewer is the 5th option in the starting lineup, so if Korver moves in, then Korver is the 5th option on the 1st team and no option on the second team. I would rather have Miles be the 5th option on the first team and Korver stay the second or first on the second team.
There you go fellow commentor
Good Blog.
To Resembling the Mongols………Girechek wasn’t traded because he had an argument with the coach!!!!!!
My apologies to you Eric Gagne fans out there. Apparently I need a GPS to follow his latest moves since he has gone from the Dodgers to the Rangers to the Red Sox to now the Brewers all since December 2006.
To those who think Korver wouldn’t want his own theme song, you are probably right but I think it would be more for the fans than for him. Watch the Trevor Hoffman YouTube video and imagine that happening in the ESA!! I like some ot the other song choices some of you gave. “Stanglehold” and “Welcome to the Jungle” would be great. “Bad to the Bone” would have been great if it had not been overplayed way too much. Someone requested “Vertigo” and as a humongous U2 fan I think the only one of their songs that would work in this situation would be “Bullet the Blue Sky.”
Any further evidence that the Jazz need Korver down the stretch was the latest Hornets game where for some bizarre reason Jaron Collins played more minutes and shot more times than Korver and the Jazz lost by 12!
Brian B.. great explanation for keeping Kyle coming off the bench…. I agree.
Alan.. NO idea why Korver wasn’t in down the stretch on that one, I was baffled, and frustrated. Kyle has already ‘closed’ several games down the stretch, on free throws alone. Last night (BIG win against the suns) was a great example…… yeah, Kyle only hit one three (though, I have a feeling if he’d have gotten a couple more attempts in the 4th, he would have hit them……LOL), but came up big with free throws (that deflection of Nash’s pass and foul that followed was nice bonus as well!). It is so nice to have someone in the game that we feel confident in when he steps to the free throw line…… down the stretch especially. It’s been said over and over (and over) but I’ll say it anyway… hitting free throws wins games, period.
KORVER! you would be an idiot not to love korver- this guy came to our team when we were having major problems closing, however now that we have him, We CLOSE baby! look at the game against the Suns on March 7! Besides his amazing ability to turn, square up and shoot the ball in about no time at all, and his amazing three pointers, he is a guy that has to marked which leaves a spot in the middle open… Kyle i love you!
I was born and raised in utah I live in Vancouver Washington I have a office in Seattle and a office in Portland I love walking around these citys with my JAZZ HAT ON The Jazz are great fun to watch and even more so now since KK came to town..Keep shooting kk Go Jazz.
Kyle Korver for Sixth Man of the Year!!!
Did you guys see Giricek last night? Just watching how terrible he played just re-assured me that Kyle was an absolutely the right trade for the jazz. It reminded me of when Giricek would step out on the floor for the jazz, you didn’t know how well or how bad he would perform, you just held your breath and hoped he didn’t foul our or throw the ball away. I am grateful for KK.
Like the picture is titled, I think “Closing Time” by Semisonic would be a fitting theme song for Korver!…
……”Closing time - you don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here!”
“I know who I want to take me home “(KOR-VER!)”
I have been a phily fan all my life but my loyalties have changed miles since that organization got rid of AI and KK Since i have gone to a lot of home games for the Sixers I have had the good fortune to talk to Kyle for a couple of seconds here and there. He is the most humble player I have ever known or seen.. He is very thoughtful and will be an asset to any team he plays for…Im so glad that Kyle is finally getting the recognition not only for his shooting and his play but also for the kind of person he is..
the closer ehh ??? thats cool..he def deserves it..i live in philly and am a sixers fan i was wondering who the nimrod was who had part in letting him go…it figures people leave all philly teams then begin to shine even brighter than in philly…
I am from The Bronx and Have been a Jazz fan since 1990 when Jeff Malone was on the team. I am probably the only Jazz fan in New York City, and believe me when I say that I catch a lot of slack from my friends. But come on, they are Knicks fans(LOL). When Jeff Malone was traded for Hornacek, I always knew that it was only a matter of time before we went to the finals. While Jeff Malone was a good player for the Jazz, I always felt he did not fit the team. When Hornacek came, it was like he was meant to be in Utah and I felt a wrong was righted. The feeling that I felt then, is the same feeling I felt when we got Kyle. Giricek was a player that I felt was good for the Jazz just like Jeff Malone, but I always felt uneasy when Giricek shot the ball. Korver is the total opposite. I want him to shoot the ball and I feel confident when it is in his hands. It is like dejavu for me because once again I feel a wrong has been righted when they traded for Korver. Kyle belongs in Utah because it is meant for him to be there. He just fits the mold of a Jazz player.
As far as a song, I like “Enter the Sandman” for when he enters in the fourth quarter, but like the other bloggers have said, it just is not Kyle’s style to have a song when he enters. I am proud to be a Jazz fan.
LETS GO JAZZ!!!
Kyle Korver is the best pick-up the jazz have had recently.
Korver Rocks!!!
Yes AGREE he is the best, but why is it he has to play okur and kk together, if you notice okur will not pass, the ball to him. I think there is a little jealousy there. What do you think
Yes I agree, he is the best, but don’t understand why doe’ s he play okur and kk together, as okur if you notice will not pass kk the ball. Is there a problem there?????
i have followed korver since his days at creighton and ive watched play ever since and he is my fav player of all time korver all the way
and i forgot his theme song should be light it up by rev theory
Thank you Donna! Yes, I also think there is a problem there…… as I mentioned in my way-too-long post above….LOL The only time Memo passes to Korver is if he is in trouble, and Kyle is the only one there….. if not, even if Kyle is wide open, Memo will ALWAYS take the shot himself, sometimes forcing it. It looks to me like his ego has been bruised a bit, by all the attention Kyle was getting, immediately, when he got here.
Unfortunately, the last couple of games are looking a bit like dejavu to me….. back to that stretch where Sloan was yanking Korver, earlier and earlier, and the team wasn’t doing well. Looks the exact same in the last two games we’ve had. I don’t get it. I know I’m not a coach, or an ‘expert’, but ONCE AGAIN, it doesn’t look like Kyle is even being involved in the offense…. looks more like a game of ‘keep away’ than it does basketball. In the Chicago game, the entire team was playing horribly….. and who gets pulled? Kyle. I’m sorry, but he needs MORE SHOTS. He can’t be expected to contribute when he’s only getting one or two shots a night! I’m sick of reading comments (not here) about how the bench is ’sucking’ and how Kyle is inconsistent…… does no one even watch the games before coming to that conclusion? Korver is active without the ball, obviously running the plays he’s been told…… which are usually on the weak side, AWAY from the play, and even when he is open, no one seems to notice. Once again, fighting to get involved, and that is sad. What a waste. I know the Jazz offense is not built around the 3 point shot…. or perimeter shooting in general, for that matter. But, why waste the talent Korver brings….. why not run a few plays for him? I don’t buy the ‘opposing teams have been covering him too well’ theory either. Many teams have great 3 point shooters, and they manage to get them open. Set some screens, give him some opportunities!!! It’s irritating the crap right out of me. I know they pulled the win out the other night, but it was ugly, and a struggle, just like the Chicago game was….. and I will make a bold prediction, if Sloan continues to pull Korver, cut his minutes, and the team continues to NOT involve him, even though he’s working his butt off out there…….. I think they will continue to struggle. That’s what happened in that last little……. hiccup…. where Sloan was cutting Kyle’s minutes, and he wasn’t being involved, the team was LOSING. They have got to do more to create shots for the guy. He’s a different player than Brewer…. Brewer is more active around the basket…… Memo, in case some forget is SUPPOSED to be our CENTER, and SHOULD be more active around the basket……. he get’s wide open shots for 3 all the time, because of the fact that he’s a center, and so usually no one goes out there to guard him. It almost looks like the team is trying to prove they can win without Kyle (I know, I’m probably reaching here…… just what it looks like to me though), and why on earth would they do that?? It’s blatantly, obviously, even painfully clear that when they share the ball, and the bench (Kyle) contributes, good things happen. Why mess with that?? I think it’s time that the team and Sloan accept the fact that YES, the trade for Korver did in fact, help the team…. and has been helping the team to win. Who cares how much, who cares about what was the ‘biggest’ factor for the Jazz in turning things around after the horrid December? Some don’t like that Kyle got ‘too much’ of the credit…….WHO CARES?? It’s clear he was a part of the success the team started having……. why not just accept that….. and run with it??
Sorry for the whining….. hopefully this will be short-lived, this putting Korver in for half (or less) his usual time, and playing ‘keep away’ so he doesn’t get any shots. Last time, it was 4 or 5 games though….. and when things seemed to go back to the way they had been, all was well. Hopefully this doesn’t go on even that long though. I can’t imagine the way this would muck with a shooter’s head): Sheesh, it’s mucking with MY head. Hopefully Kyle won’t lose his confidence, and will just work through this. The last thing I want to hear from announcers though, is that Korver is in a ’slump’. I hate that….. slump? Oh, could it be that his playing time has been cut in half, then half again, AGAIN? Could it be that he’s not getting any shot opportunities? Hmmm…. maybe.
Okay, sorry again for the rant(:
Korver is better than Giracek ever was because every time Giracek touched the ball he forced the Jazz into a turnover. But every time Korver touches the ball he makes a 20 footer or a 3-pointer. Korver is a great trade to the Jazz. I can’t believe philly wanted to give up Korver for Giracek(even though he was traded to Phoenix). Korver is a great player and he has alot of fans even me. I love Kyle Korver and he is a great person for the Jazz!!!
Kyle Korver to take the Utah Jazz to the NBA Finals!!
I’ve seen what teams are doing to counter Kyle when he’s in the game. They’re putting in 2 smaller, quicker guards in the game, making it tougher for Kyle to keep up with them.
This is the main reason why Kyle doesn’t play a ton against the Hornets. The Hornets put in Paul and Pargo for most of the game. Pargo’s been a starting PG in the NBA and could still be one. On the Hornets though, he’s the starting SG. This is a tough matchup for Korver though, as Pargo is much quicker.
It’s just a tough matchup. It’s not like the Jazz can put AK on either of them. And with West and Chandler in there you can’t put AK there either.
Basically, against the Hornets I think you’ll see more Price and Brewer at SG with a smaller dose of Korver (more than likely when Pargo is out of the game).
As for Okur not passing the ball to Kyle. I think there’s certainly something there to look into.
When Kyle was first aquired there was 1 guy on the team that had to feel a ton of pressure. His name it Memet Okur. Prior to Korver joining the team Okur was the only “real” 3pt threat. Teams were sitting back in zone defenses forcing the Jazz to shoot from the outside. They were missing and teams were winning. Upon Kyle’s arrival it lit a fire in Okur’s backside to get it going. He had to know that his ONLY asset to the team was his outside shot. He had the ability to spread the defense. He also had to realize that he’s probably among the lower eschelon centers defensively. That opened up a big problem for Okur.
I’m sure Okur thought at that time that the Jazz might be able to look elsewhere for more of a defensive presence inside (still probably the reason the Jazz won’t win this year). With their newly added shooter (Korver) they could get a defensive presence inside.
What happened in the following weeks and has lasted until today is Okur is suddenly a good shot from the outside again. He’s regained most of his form from last season.
It still doesn’t explain why he won’t pass the ball to Korver very often. I think it’s a matter of position though. We’ve seen Okur force shots in the past, you live with that. As a shooter you must have the confidence to shoot the ball at any time. To tell a player like him, or Kyle for that matter, to look to pass first all the time will only make that shooter hesitant and will likely affect his shot more than the defense.
To further the point that Kyle has brought something special to the Jazz is the improved play of the other players as well.
Since Kyle arrived guys like AK, Harpring, Okur, DWill, and Boozer have all improved. He’s had a lot to do with that.
On several plays they run they have Korver in the corner and they run that high pick and roll with DWill and Boozer. The guy defending Kyle can’t drop down in “help” defense because they’ll kick it to Kyle and he’d knock it down. This leaves DWill and Boozer 1 on 1 against their guys.
Kyle’s good shooting has motivated AK to seek help from Hornacek to improve his shot. It’s been working so far.
Jon…..Good blog. There is nothing like competition to make anything better!
Kyle is on fire! My Mom just loves Kyle as well as everyone in our family. My mother has turned 70 this year. I would love to brighten her Mother’s Day by giving her a picture that was signed by Kyle. However, I don’t know how to go about it since he doesn’t have a site that’s up and running. I always tease her about how she is about watching Kyles’ every move on the court. She has never been into sports but for the last few years she’s been a great Jazz fan! She is always making food and having us over for parties to watch the Jazz. Last year we got tickets for a game.. but my dad was ill from canser during that month so they didn’t end up going. Go Kyle…you are doing great! We are all cheering for you!
P.S. I love the socks!
Jennifer…..go to the Jazz.com and write to the promotion department and explain why you want the picture.
I FREAKING LOVE KYLE KORVER!!! HIS SOCKS ARE A TOTAL TURN ON!!WOO I LOVE KORVER! SO THE REST OF YA BACK OFF!!!
HE IS THE BEST THING THAT HAS HAPPEND TO THE JAZZ!!
-KIM KORVER
Leave your Comment