On The Horizon

Jim Squire

Utah Jazz-Toronto Raptors: Report card--Deseret News

Forwards: Paul Millsap continues to build an All-Star resume. He carried the Jazz with 31 points, 11 rebounds and a 3-pointer that forced the second overtime. Gordon Hayward simply can't buy a bucket right now. He was 1-for-9 overall, and 0-for-5 from 3-point range with three airballs. Hayward usually finds other ways to contribute when he isn't shooting well, but not so much on this night.

Grade: B

Utah Jazz small forwards come up small in production--Deseret News

Gordon Hayward, Josh Howard and C.J. Miles were a combined 5-of-25 from the field — ouch! — and basically couldn't buy a basket between 'em. Hayward was 1-of-9, including an 0-for-5 night from 3-point range, while Howard went 0-for-5 from the field in a rare unproductive performance for the 6-foot-7 veteran.

And although Miles managed to score 11 points, he was just 4-of-11 from the floor.

"It's frustrating for me (because) I'm not shooting the ball well and I shoot so many in practice and I see them go in all the time," said Hayward, who did grab seven rebounds. "It's just something I'm working on and shoot it with more confidence."

Of course, it's tough to gain any confidence in your shot when you're struggling the way Hayward has. The second-year pro is now shooting just 37.6 percent (44-of-117) for the season, and only 23.1 percent (9-of-39) from beyond the arc.
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Corbin admitted he was surprised to see his small forward trio of Hayward, Howard and Miles all struggle so much with their shooting — especially on the same night.

"It's just one of those things," he said. "We've got to find a way to get better. We've got to keep working at it. And I don't think the three of them will have a bad night on the same night much."

Utah Jazz shooters ice cold from the 3-point line--Salt Lake Tribune

As the Jazz continue to misfire from the 3-point line, the scrutiny of Gordon Hayward intensifies.

He shot 47.3 percent as a rookie and, this year, was expected to be a long-range shooter who stretches the defense.

Instead, Hayward has missed 30 of his 39 3-point attempts.

Since scoring 19 points in a 106-96 win at Denver on Jan. 15, Hayward has scored 18 points on 6-for-27 shooting.

In that four-game stretch, he is 0-for-10 on 3-pointers, including 0-for-5 against Toronto.

“He struggled a little bit — didn’t make shots,” Corbin said. “He’s not the only one but he was one guy, I think, who was thrown off a little by their zone [defense].

“He had a couple of good looks early and he turned them down looking for something better. That throws his rhythm off. … But he’ll be OK.”

Before Thursday morning’s practice, Hayward spoke quietly, vowed to keep working and suggested he’s thinking too much about which shots to take and which ones to turn down.

“That’s part of being a young guy — part of growing, man,” Corbin said. “He comes in early and works. He stays late and works on his shot. ... He’s a capable shooter. He’s just got to make them in a game.”

When it comes to struggling from the 3-point line, Hayward isn’t alone.
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Hayward played a season-high 36 minutes against Toronto.

Given his struggles on offense, did Corbin consider going to Josh Howard, Alec Burks or Miles down the stretch?

“When you lose a game, you think a lot of different things,” Corbin said. “That’s one of the things I thought about. Do I leave my bench alone? Should I have done this or should we have run something different? When you lose a game, you critique everything and we’ll continue to do that.”