Utah Jazz: Four questions that will define Jazz-Rockets series

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MARCH 26: Kyle Korver #26 of the Utah Jazz during shoots the ball during an open practice at Zions Bank Basketball Campus on March 26, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

What’s Korver’s status and how will it affect the offense?

Since acquiring Kyle Korver in an early season trade, the Utah Jazz have been an absolute force to be reckoned with. From his debut game on November 30th through the end of the regular season, the Jazz posted the second best net rating in the NBA (7.9), trailing only the Milwaukee Bucks. This came largely due to Korver’s spacing threat on offense that helped make Utah significantly better on that end of the floor, raising their offensive rating to ninth in the league (112.3) during that same span to pair with their NBA-best defensive rating (104.4).

In other words, even though Korver hasn’t been quite as prolific of a shooter as he’s known to be during his return to the Jazz roster, his mere threat as a perimeter shooter and the gravity that he commands has made the Utah offense dramatically better. This could make a major impact in the series against Houston, considering that Korver and his dead-eye accuracy weren’t a weapon Utah had a year ago.

The bad news, though, is that Korver hasn’t suited up since March 29th with a lingering knee injury and his odds of playing in Game 1 are less than favorable as well. He’s listed as questionable for the bout and was only a partial participant in the Jazz’s latest practice.

Kyle Korver is questionable due to knee soreness, Ricky Rubio and Raul Neto are probable vs. HOU for game 1.
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) April 13, 2019

This spells bad news for a Jazz team, especially their second unit, that has been incredible and dangerous from three with Korver on the floor. Despite his age and slightly less efficient season, Korver’s abilities and reputation as a devastator from the perimeter revolutionized Utah’s offense. If they don’t have that weapon in this series against Houston, it’s going to greatly limit their ceiling and overall effectiveness.

Utah needs Korver healthy and back spacing the floor. Considering his injury status, it’s hard to know whether or not they’ll have that for Game 1 or any contests moving forward.