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The Wonderous Shooting of Kyle Korver
Posted by: Andy-Larsen on March 25th, 2010
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.
We all know that Kyle Korver is a fantastic shooter. However, what he has been doing this season, since coming back from injury, is nothing short of remarkable. His averages are well above any previous production in his 6 years in the NBA. Let’s take a deeper look, and we’ll do it bullet-point style.
Field Goal Percentage
- His field goal percentage is at 51.7% for the season
- That is 8% higher than his career average(43.1%), and a full 4% than his previous best season ever.
- No one currently on the Jazz has had a season in which they shot 8% better than their career average. Fesenko, last year, shot 5.5% better, although that was somewhat of a fluke given that he played only 150 minutes all season. Even players who we regard as inconsistent from season to season, like Andrei Kirilenko, has only had a season in which he shot 3.8% better than his average. Kyle Korver’s 8.6% improvement is on a whole other level.
3 Point Percentage
- Korver is currently shooting 55.2% from 3, and has shot enough attempts (87) to qualify for the NBA lead.
- The next highest on the list, Boobie Gibson, has shot 47.6%.
- If Korver missed his next 13 threes, he would still hold the NBA lead this season.
- If Korver missed his next 13 threes, he would still hold the Jazz all-time record in 3P%, over Jeff Hornacek, who shot 47.8% in 1999-2000.
- If Korver keeps this percentage up for the rest of the season, he would easily become the record-holder for the best single-season 3P% in NBA history (the record is held by Steve Kerr, with 52.3% of his shots falling during the 1994-1995 season).
- No other current Jazzman has ever shot a higher 3P% than FG%. In fact, as far as I can find, no other Jazzman has done that ever, with at least 50 attempts.
- His current 3p% his 14.2 percent higher than his career average of 41.0%.
- Again, I can’t find anyone with a comparable differential. Memo’s season last year seems to be the closest, he shot 7% better than his career average. That’s not even close. Stockton once had a season in which he shot 46.2%, in which he shot 7.8% better than his career average. 14.2% is out of this world.
Clutch Shooting
- He’s been clutch. This is a severe sample size warning, but in games with 5 minutes left or less, with the Jazz either leading or trailing by 5 or less, he’s made 83.3% of his FGs.
- He’s also made 100% of his free throws in those situations.
Free Throw Shooting
- Given all of this, his free throw shooting has been off. He’s shooting 76.9 percent, 11% worse than his career average, though in only 39 attempts.
- That being said, it’s much, much easier to find free-throw shooting anomalies like this. Early career Karl Malone, Fesenko, Andrei Kirilenko, even CJ Miles have all had similar problems.
Let’s be clear here, most of these statistics are amazing, but they’re unlikely to continue. I don’t expect Kyle Korver to have become the greatest shooter ever, overnight. However, he’s gotten such a head start on most of them that some of these records that he currently holds are likely to stand, given that there are only 11 games left in the season. We should expect some regression to the mean, however, and expect Korver to be more like the 43%/41%/88% shooter that he has been for the rest of his career. He simply can’t keep up 52%/55%/77% much longer.
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He’ll keep it up. Should have been in the 3-point competition, in my opinion, but not surprised he wasn’t…they didn’t want to stink the thing up!
Many have been searching for the next “Horny.” I tweeted last week that I’d found him. It’s Kyle.
I dunno man, he might keep it up. He’s looking pretty automatic to me! Maybe the “knee and wrist surgeries” really turned him into some kind of bionic 3 point shooting, clutch performing half man half machine thing…
I know you’re probably right that he can’t keep it up for long but I can hope right? At least through the playoffs and subsequent finals right?!
I do believe he can keep it up. If you watch his shot selection it is something pretty amazing, (If only CJ will learn from Korver shot selection we would all be alot happier with CJ) In past seasons it seemed like every time Korver touched the ball he was shooting it, yes he is an amazing shooter but he has control in which shot he takes, i like that he will put the ball on the floor and take it to the hole. So i think this can be a record setting year for him.. Wait to go Korver !! But i do have one question for the coaching staff, why do we never see a play ran for the Best shooter in the NBA, and why is it that you see Deron look for CJ first then Korver? If your saying ya right he doesnt just start watching a little closer and you;ll notice,
O ye of little faith. If Kyle believes in himself and shoots for the goal of keeping his current streaks going, he’ll do it! I know it!
Thanks for sharing these stats. I check out nba stats quite often a few weeks ago we noticed Korver sitting up top the 3 pointers.
That would be something incredible if he could stay at that top and if he continued his hot shooting throughout the playoffs.
Cool stats… I really hope he beats Steve Kerr… Go Kyle
I’m always checking out the blog here at Jazzbots but when I get to attend a Jazz home game the crowd just goes nuts when the basketball is passed to Kyle and when he shoots the crowd just goes estatic ( I dont’ know if I spelled that right).
He has greatly improved his three point shooting and defensive effort on the floor.
Seems to me that the players are having much more fun out on the court.
oh how sad only 11 games left? Before you know it the regular season will be over,. Nevertheless I know Korver will make it. He needs to keep working with Hornacek
I can tell which blogs are yours way before looking at the name, Andy. Surely glad someone likes statistics and can do them so well so I don’t have to. I can look at other statistics (NBA) and they don’t have half the meaning yours do. Keep it up and keep the faith in Korver, he may still continue to amaze everyone. Notice how every team double teams him now?
great blog, however I hate the last sentence, how do you know he can’t keep it up ?
This is why I did not have a problem with the Brewer trade. I think we are a much better matchup against the Lakers if we use a shooting guard who can stretch the defense.
When I interviewed Kyle, I told him I thought he could be better then Jeff, hoped he resigned and ended his career with the Jazz. You could see his face light up…”I certainly hope so.”
I think he could easily have his number right next to Horny’s, up in the rafters, if he can get a get a long run on some good Jazz teams.
Other aspects of his game continue to improve. His passing, his defense and his mid-range shot just keep improving.
His only problem, which is similar to Matthews, is he can’t make his own shot, like CJ can.
AG: Actually they do run a play for Kyle. It’s the “Korver Kurl”, formerly known as the “Harpring Curl”. The Jazz just don’t have a 3 point play in the set offense.
Jazzaholic