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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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CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 21: Kyle Korver #26 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after a basket in the second quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on May 21, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 21: Kyle Korver #26 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after a basket in the second quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on May 21, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Ingles and the Rockets:

Everyone’s favorite Aussie and least basketball-player-looking wing, Joe Ingles, is arguably as lethal as Korver from beyond the arc. He shot 44% from three over the last two seasons.

Against the Thunder in the first round, Ingles found his regular success—in fact, he shot two points above his regular percentage (21/45). Even with Paul George assigned to neutralize Utah’s best shooter, Ingles often got loose.

Against the Rockets, he was less effective. Although he shot a respectable 43.6% from deep for the series, this number is heavily skewed by his 7-for-9 performance in Game Two where he scored 27 points in the Jazz’s only victory that round.

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Ingles scoring 27 points and the Jazz winning in Houston—both of these things are anomalies. When Ingles goes off like that, the Jazz will beat you. Subtract this one breakout game and Ingles’ three-point numbers look more like Korver’s from the Finals: 7/23 (30%).

When similarly subtracting his best game from the Thunder series, Game Three, his numbers dip slightly but remain impressive: 16/35 (43%). Jingles was ultimately a better, more consistent shooter against OKC’s matchup-oriented scheme than Houston’s switch-it-up one.

Redick and the Celtics:

J.J. Redick needs no introduction as a shooter. In his playoff run this past year, the 76ers faced off against highly competent defenses in their five-game outings with the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics. Against the Heat, Redick shot 13/37; against the Celtics, he shot 13/38, averaging 34.6% from three in both series. This number is about seven points worse than his season average.

Of course, this lower percentage could have as much to do with Ben Simmons’s limitations as a non-shooting rookie point guard in the playoffs as the Heat’s and Celtics’ defensive strategies.

However, there is something more to be said about the Celtics effort. They never let Redick explode for big performances (series high: 23 points) and kept him to 16.4 points per game. Against Miami, Redick notched 28- and 27-point performances and averaged nearly 4 points more per game.

Comparison:

While these samples come from these shooters playing against different teams—maybe we’re comparing apples to oranges—there seems aspects to this comparison that entertain a closer look.