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Kyle Korver: Maybe sharpshooters aren’t so valuable to contenders

By Doug Patrick

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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OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 03: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives against Kyle Korver #26 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 3, 2018 in Oakland, California. 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 03: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives against Kyle Korver #26 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 3, 2018 in Oakland, California. 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

How do the Warriors do it?

The Warriors employ a switch-heavy defense that counteracts one of Korver’s greatest strengths, his elite “route-running” ability. He runs a perfect path through walls of screens for the ball to find him beyond-the-arc for an open triple.

But with each defender peeling off their screening man and onto Korver, he’s essentially trying to outrun five athletic wingers handing Korver off to each other. For Korver, it’s an endurance race. For the Warriors, it’s a relay.

With Golden State smothering him, the lethal shooter’s three-point attempts dropped from 5.55 through the first three rounds to only 2.75 in the Finals.

Finding no open looks, Korver’s frustration was best personified when he hoisted up a 32-footer in Game Three. He finished this game 0-for-2 from deep with zero points in ten minutes.

Korver was no longer the perfect sharpshooter in a high-powered offense. He was a liability. His age, quickness, and contributions were all weaknesses for the Cavaliers.

Contenders = Switch-Heavy Defenses

The Warriors, along with the Rockets, have popularized this type of switch-everything defense. Many teams, especially those with lots of wings, used this strategy through the playoffs this past year.

Contenders will face other contenders, so they will inevitably face these defenses. So, should they trust sharpshooters like Korver to produce against them?

As the NBA continues to trend towards 6’5-6’10 lineups with ultra switchability and advanced tactics like “scram-switching,” sharpshooters may lose or have already lost some of their value.

Let’s see how similar shooters fared against similarly structured defenses: Joe Ingles against the Rockets and J.J. Redick against the Celtics.