I think preparation was a really big step for me taking a step forward (in practice and games). Just making sure I’m mentally prepared. – Trey Burke
SALT LAKE CITY — When promising point guard Dante Exum went down with a season-ending knee injury this summer, a bit of gloom and doom loomed over Jazzland.
Two people who didn’t panic about the unfortunate loss of the big and athletic Aussie: Jazz coach Quin Snyder and backup point guard Trey Burke.
Burke felt bad for his teammate, but he also knew this meant his other teammates would need him more than ever.
Snyder started mapping out possibilities with Jazz brass, concluding that Utah would push forward at point guard with Burke, Brazilian rookie Raul Neto and a three-wing lineup that utilized the size and passing capabilities of Gordon Hayward, Alec Burks, Rodney Hood and Joe Ingles.
They’ll miss Exum, for sure, especially on the defensive end.
But they have to keep moving forward with the players they have.
“When that did happen, obviously you hate to see that type of stuff as a player, this is what we do for a living. He’s our teammate,” Burke said of Exum. “For me, I (realized) that I was going to be a guy that was going to have to play more minutes obviously with him going down. I think that just helped me prepare as well.”
The good news for the Jazz in that regard is that Burke was already putting in a lot of time in the gym to bounce back from a rough second season in which he lost his starting position and shot only 36.8 percent.
Some might think Burke saw this as an opportunity to redeem himself, which might seem silly considering he’s only 22 years old with just two NBA seasons of experience.
The oft-scrutinized NCAA player of the year was already determined to come back stronger than ever.
“The light already clicked (on) before the injury happened with X. It was already kind of a mindset of mine that I wanted to go into this season (strong),” Burke said. “It was summertime when it happened. I was already preparing myself going into training camp to kind of be more of a leader, be more energetic on the defensive end, be more consistent on offense and to just be a better player all the way around.”
So far, so good*.
*OK, the only proof of that comes from exhibition appearances, but nobody on the Jazz played better than Burke the past few weeks. The former Michigan star, who’ll return to his college state in Wednesday’s season opener, led Utah in preseason scoring with 15.3 points per outing on 50 percent shooting.
Though obviously pleased with those numbers, Burke admits even he’s not putting too much stock into preseason success. He wants to help the Jazz when it matters, beginning Wednesday night against the Pistons.
“A lot of people say, ‘OK, he’s scoring, he’s scoring, he’s doing this,’” Burke said. “I think a big step I’ve taken as well is in distributing, really just trying to look for others. Coach tells me to be aggressive whenever the opportunity presents itself.”
Sometimes that means pulling up for a jumper off of a screen or attacking the basket.
But he needs to balance that with being a playmaker for others. He noted a lob pass he made to Rudy Gobert in Thursday’s preseason finale as being “a big step” for him in trying to creatively make things happen within a do-what’s-best-for-the-team framework.
His team appreciates that.
“He’s more focused,” Jazz power forward Trevor Booker said. “That’s the biggest thing that I’ve noticed — way more focused, and it gets everybody else going since he can be on the same page.”
That focus is more important than his improved shooting percentage.
“Just on the court he’s talking more,” Booker said. “He’s been more of a leader on the court and everyone can tell.”
Nobody is more pleased about that than Snyder, who helped Burke’s defensive game improve in the latter half of the 2014-15 season after he moved him to a reserve role.
“I just think he’s come every day. He’s just had a great look,” Snyder said. “It’s kind of a very ambiguous thing. It’s a difficult thing to characterize someone’s look, but when you see him, he’s ready, he’s focused, there’s a charisma to him, just the way he presents himself right now.”
Snyder compared Burke to being like a quarterback in the huddle.
“You look at it. Certain guys give you something without even saying anything,” he said. “I think there’s a presence and a poise to him that is unique. I’d see it in flashes (last season). I’ve seen it consistent (this year).”
Snyder credits Burke for being more prepared as he approaches his third season.
“It’s something he’s taken to heart,” the coach said.
Snyder said they’ll have conversations like this:
Coach: “Trey, you’re playing good.”
Burke: “I’m all in.”
Or …
Coach: “Trey, you’re playing good.”
Burke: “I’m ready.”
Snyder said part of the process Burke is going through includes a “psychological maturity.” For Burke, it helps that he has experience with what to do and not to do leading up to practices and games. He knows what to expect now. He’s putting in extra time after team workouts to put up shots — from step-back shots to 3s. He remains in the practice facility to work overtime with assistant coach/point guard specialist Igor Kokoskov. He’s focusing on what he can and can’t control. And he’s physically and mentally on point when he enters the gym.
“I think preparation was a really big step for me taking a step forward (in practice and games),” he said. “Just making sure I’m mentally prepared.”
In other words, he’s all in.
“It’s nice,” Snyder said, “when a player’s in that place.”
Burke worked hard to trim down without losing muscle mass this offseason, and his excellent physical shape was reflected in offseason testing. He suffered a slight setback when he entered camp sick, but he’s back to full strength in multiple ways.
It’s possible he’ll start the season coming off the bench behind Neto — a role that would allow him to take advantage of his scoring punch more than he might be able to with primary options Hayward and Derrick Favors on the court at the same time.
Even without Exum, Snyder likes what the Jazz have at point guard heading into his second coaching campaign with Utah. Burke has shown signs of being the playmaker the Jazz hoped for when they used two first-round picks to trade for him in 2013, and Neto has been a surprisingly good defender and a terrific passer.
“I do think we’ve had good play at that position. These guys are playing the right way,” Snyder said. “I think both Trey and Raul know who they are right now.”
Snyder isn’t as worried about who starts or comes off the bench as some fans or players might be, saying, “It’s really about roles.”
Burke knows his role is simple — help the Jazz win. Best part for him, he feels like he’s in a position to do that.
“I feel healthy. I feel good. My body feels great. My mind feels great as well,” Burke said. “I’m just prepared to win, really. I think that’s everyone’s mindset going into this season — and to start on the road, it’s going to be a big test for us, but I think we’re ready.”
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