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Cleveland Cavaliers: What’s happened to Kyle Korver?

By Nathan Beighle

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 30: Kyle Korver #26 of the Cleveland Cavaliers gestures to the officials in the second half of their 104-101 loss to the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 30, 2017 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. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 30: Kyle Korver #26 of the Cleveland Cavaliers gestures to the officials in the second half of their 104-101 loss to the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 30, 2017 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. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
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Over the course of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ slump, one thing has stayed the same: they have failed to consistently play their main three-point threat.

It seems Christmas to the rest of the NBA has come early this season. The Cleveland Cavaliers yearly midseason slump has come in full effect about three weeks before the trade deadline.

While many of the fans and analysts predict trades and even call for the firing of head coach Tyronn Lue, the fix may be quite simple. And, it starts with getting Kyle Korver back on track.

When the Cavs were 23-8, Kyle Korver, to that point in the season, had been averaging 22.6 minutes per game. He had been shooting just a touch under 45% from downtown, easily the best average on the team, and had been one of the team’s few reliable threats from deep.

Since then, he’s averaged 20.4 minutes per game and shot the ball from deep just 4.7 times per game, significantly down from the 5.6 attempts from deep per game through the Cavs first 31.

What can we take away from those numbers? Are they hit fault or is a lack of capable offensive playmaking at fault?

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For starters, Korver is not getting the looks that he normally gets.

Korver, throughout the entire season, has taken over 30% of his shots while being “wide open.” He shots over 50% from the field on those shots, one reason his field goal percentage is 1.4% above his career average. However, over the Cavs last 14 games, instead of 30.8% of his shots being wide open, just 18.5% have been.

Since Korver is such an intelligent player, he doesn’t try to do too much. He’s never been one to force his shot, and when the offense starts to stagnate like it has been, Korver suffers.

Secondly, Korver is 36-years-old and is a one-dimensional player. The Cavs knew that when they signed him to a three-year, $18 million deal this past offseason.

He isn’t a playmaker. The majority of his shots come from a teammate’s penetration, which is why over 96% of his three-point baskets are assisted on. That means, if the Cavs aren’t attacking the basket and rotating the ball, Korver’s volume three-point shooting will take a hit like we see above.

Add to that the fact that Lue has been trying to work Derrick Rose back into the rotation, which, while not directly impacting Korver, does eventually limit his minutes with the second unit.

Rose, Wade, Korver, Green, and Thompson are the main second unit players, and Cedi Osman and Channing Frye both compete for minutes with that group also. That said, when it’s Rose, Wade, and Thompson on the court with Korver, Korver is the only capable three-point shooter, which limits his effectiveness.

Without other three-point threats, Korver can’t get the open shots that he is used to, one reason why he succeeds alongside LeBron James and other shoots. Lue has a couple option to fix Korver’s slump. He can either add shooting to the second unit, or he can insert Korver into the starting lineup.

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It’s obvious what Korver brings to the team, and it’s imperative that Lue helps Korver regain his stroke in order for the Cavs to break through their usual midseason slump.