Utah Jazz : MVP Award Update & More

Dec 11, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Utah Jazz point guard Alec Burks (10) drives in against Sacramento Kings shooting guard Marcus Thornton (23) during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Sacramento Kings 122-101. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Sixth Man of the Year : Alec Burks

With the moves that Coach Corbin has made to the lineups this season, Alec, Enes, and Jeremy have been the key pieces coming off the bench. As I think everyone would agree, Alec has been far and away the best player to come off the bench for the Jazz. In fact, he might be one of the best players on the whole Jazz team.

Alec’s role with this team is to be the sixth man. He is playing the role of James Harden for the Jazz, and he is doing a very good job of it. Alec is averaging 13.4 points per game and shooting 44.6% from the field. There has been a lot of debate among Jazz fans about Alec’s role with the team. Looking at the numbers, my perspective has changed a bit.

Alec has played in all 52 games for the Jazz this season, coming off the bench in 44 of those games. That means Alec has started in eight games this season. When Alec has gotten the starting nod, his points per game average has gone up, but only by a single point. His shooting averages from the field have basically stayed exactly where they were when he was playing off the bench, except for his 3-point shooting. As a starter, Alec’s shooting from beyond the arc has dipped down to 28.6%, while off the bench he is connecting on 36.0%.

The increase in his points average is due to his aggressiveness to get to the basket and draw contact. Alec is averaging one free throw attempt more per game as a starter than he does off the bench. All this has resulted in a 2-6 record when Alec starts.

Alec has become one of the better shooting guards in the league. He is becoming more and more consistent in his role, and that is in large part to embracing and knowing what his role is on this team. I have not seen a single player in the NBA be able to stay in front of Alec when he is driving to the basket. He has blown by some big name players on his way to the rim.

According to NBA Stats, Alec is ranked in the top 20 in the NBA in drives to the basket. Alec has had a total of 272 drives this season and has scored 233 points on those drives. That makes it that Alec connects on 46.5% of the drives he is taking. Alec is the only guy really driving to the basket for the Jazz, too. As a team, the Jazz drive to the basket 6.5 times per game. Alec himself is driving to the basket 5.2 of those 6.5 times per game.

Alec has said that he enjoys his role with this team. He is becoming a legitimate sixth man for this team. Perhaps, by season’s end, Alec could even be in the conversation for league sixth man of the year if he keeps producing at a high level. This season, I fully expect that Alec will continue coming off the bench. However, after this season, I see Alec being the starting shooting guard for the Jazz. He is a spark off the bench this season that the Jazz have desperately needed, and this season, Alec Burks is the Jazz’s Sixth Man of the Year.