Soaring Down South
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One Skill Every Atlanta Hawks Starter Must Improve

By Colby Giacubeno

Dec 10, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) during the game against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 10, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) during the game against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 16, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard
Dec 16, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard /

Kyle Korver

Position: Shooting Guard

2015-16 statistics: 9.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.2 APG

2015-16 slash line: 43.5/39.9/83.3

Throughout his 13-year career, Kyle Korver has been known for being a three-point marksman. One area that he has always struggled somewhat with is defense. This isn’t saying that Korver doesn’t understand the defensive philosophies that come with playing in the NBA, it just isn’t the strong part of his game, which is common with most shooters.

He will be 36 in March, so to expect him to all of a sudden become a lockdown defender at this point in his career is just unrealistic. It’s difficult to ask him to even do more than he has, considering all the miles that are on his legs currently, but if Korver wants to keep his starting spot, he’s going to have to prove to Budenholzer that he can hold his own on that side of the ball.

He’s too big of a threat to the defense not to have on the floor because he creates so much spacing, but in today’s NBA, if someone cannot hold their own defensively, the opposition will attack, attack, and attack some more until you make an adjustment.

Last season, his opponents shot 44 percent against him including 48.5 percent from two and 54.5 percent from 10 feet or less. Ideally, those percentages need to drop if Korver wants to continue to see the minutes he did last season.

Next: Small Forward

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