Trey Burke’s Defense Developing Under Snyder

By Clint Peterson | Jan 17, 2015

He’s been blasted for it, told he was too small to effectively play on either end of the floor. But in addition to breaking out of an extended slump in a big way and brewing chemistry with Derrick Favors — who has been on fire in tandem — Trey Burke‘s defense is coming along nicely as well.

The Utah Jazz guards had a habit of going under screens and getting torched by shooters or players with a quick step and good foresight. Quin Snyder has been insisting his perimeter players fight through screens, sticking their man, disrupting the flow of the opposing offense.

It’s a harder way to play than just floating behind a big man hoping your guy doesn’t snap the twine or make a mad dash for the paint. But the reward is often a turnover or quick outlet in transition where a player has a shot to shine the most brightly out in front of the defense and raucous crowd.

Burke is one of many former defensive liabilities that Quin Snyder is transforming into a confident, cohesive defensive unit. He’s been criticized fairly heavily in some circles, for both his offensive and defensive struggles, but Trey Burke’s defense is a reformation reminiscent of a successful reclamation project under Snyder’s watchful eye.

Trey Burke’s defense is a reformation reminiscent of a successful reclamation project under Snyder’s watchful eye

Bear in mind Burke’s played a tender 109 total games in his NBA career. For some perspective, an NBA starter could play that many games in a single season, if they were to go the Finals. So, to be validating his place as an NBA starting point guard, especially in the Western Conference, in a barely significant amount of appearances is nothing to scoff at.

Trey Burke shows a willingness to fight over and through screens to stay glued to his man now. Perimeter defense has often been a problem for the Jazz in the past, but with Burke’s help, the Los Angeles Lakers were held to a season low eight three-point attempts last night.

With the game against the Lakers far from decided, and over seven minutes to play in a two possession game, Trey Burke picks up point guard Jordan Clarkson as he crosses the time line. This is the point in the game the Jazz must either make a stand and put the game away or fight a bitter battle to the final buzzer.

Trey Burke’s defense against the Los Angeles Lakers

Granted, it’s Jordan Clarkson, but the Jazz had been in the habit of being burned by nobodies before. No longer. The focus should be not on whom, but how Burke is playing the possession at this critical juncture of the game.

Burke is never going to shut down Russell Westbrook, but let’s be perfectly honest, no one is for more than a few possessions at a time.

The Lakers try to set up a high pick-and-roll with Nick Young, the Jazz’s Elijah Millsap defending. The goal here is clearly to get the ball to Young, but Burke is in denial mode, staying close to Clarkson before the attempted scrub-off comes.

Trey Burke’s defense against the Los Angeles Lakers

Clarkson backs Burke down to meet the pick where Young tries repeatedly to get Burke to go one way or the other to free himself up — first setting the screen left, then right, then back left and once again back to the right. Burke is unyielding, refusing to go under or around, holding his ground, pinning Clarkson to the sideline, in turn sandwiching Young with Millsap keeping tabs.

Trey Burke’s defense against the Los Angeles Lakers

Deciding the defense is too tight, Young finally makes a break for it. But Burke and Millsap switch seamlessly, blocking the potential passing lanes for Clarkson, who is now desperately trying to find a way to get the ball to Young. Nick Young torched the Jazz for 41 points last spring, and with no Kobe Bryant, he’s the main man tonight for L.A. It’s Swaggy time. If they can get him the ball.

Trey Burke’s defense against the Los Angeles Lakers

Young decides he can grab a lob pass over the top of Burke and pulls up, calling for the ball. Meanwhile, Burke bodies up into Young as Millsap closes on Clarkson who has now picked up his dribble.

It’s do or die time now. No choices left, thanks to suffocating defense on the part of Burke and Millsap. The Jazz have dictated how the play will go, for better or worse. All Clarkson has to do is get Swaggy the ball.

Trey Burke’s defense against the Los Angeles Lakers

Young dances in circles trying to get his Velcro Burke suit off, but cannot shake it free. Clarkson thinks he sees an opening down the sideline and lofts it to Young who lunges for the now sailing rock.

Trey Burke’s defense against the Los Angeles Lakers

My man Tyler Gibbons of Real Sports Live, ABC 4 Utah got a great angle of the rest of the play in real time, coming right at you.

After playing stifling defense at a critical juncture, Burke shows great awareness of what’s happening, forcing a turnover to end the Lakers’ chances of cutting into Utah’s slim lead. The Jazz forced 21 turnovers in all, an area sorely lacking in their defensive efforts until recently.

Burke and Young would continue to duel for the next few possessions, Trey getting the last laugh with a dime to Hayward for the dagger, putting the game out of reach with three minutes to play and a nine point lead.

Burke didn’t just beat Clarkson either. Lakers starting point guard Jeremy Lin went only 3-10 in 30 minutes on the night, including 0-1 from three.

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