Utah Jazz: Quick thoughts from preseason to prep for regular season

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 02: Alec Burks #10 of the Utah Jazz looks on during a game against the Toronto Raptors at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 2, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Was there a winner between Alec Burks and Grayson Allen?

Via John Keeffer

With the Utah Jazz essentially running back the same roster this year, there hasn’t been a lot of debate over who will get rotational minutes. Usually there are a few rotational battles to be figured out during the preseason, or final roster cuts to be made.

This year, there was really only one roster battle going on. That was the battle for backup shooting guard minutes between Alec Burks and Grayson Allen, and what a battle it was.

Looking at the numbers alone, you’ll be hard-pressed to determine a winner. Burks finished the preseason averaging 13.4 points, to go along with 4.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He also converted on 51 percent of his shots overall, and 47.6 percent of threes. Allen essentially matched the scoring numbers, finishing with averages of 12.6 points, and making an unreal 52 percent of his three-point attempts.

Heading into the year, most were pretty confident in saying that Burks will get the nod early on, but Allen will steadily take minutes away from him, and by season’s end, the job will be Allen’s. If this preseason was any indication, Burks isn’t going to go down without a fight.

.@andyblarsen reports that Alec Burks is playing better than he has in years, because he's healthy and he's reading defenses like never before.https://t.co/vFOa1plvrG pic.twitter.com/kI6vp3S29k
— Salt Lake Tribune Sports (@sltribsports) October 15, 2018

The big thing is going to be the shooting. This Jazz team needs shooting off the bench, and if Burks has turned a corner on his shot decision making, then it may be more difficult for Allen to get into the rotation this season.

Three years ago, Burks attempted 2.5 threes per game, which is the most he’s ever attempted. Better yet, he shot 38 percent from three that year. During the preseason, Burks attempted over four threes per game. If he can start shooting the three with more frequency and continued accuracy, it will be hard for Quin Snyder not to play him, especially with the level of shot creating ability Burks has shown in the past.

Either way, it is going to be a fun battle to watch all season long.