Kyle Korver has been through this before. As one of the NBAs top outside shooters, he understands that when hes hot, hes a hero and when his usually-accurate jumper is off, he can get labeled the goat.
However, after Thursdays 3-for-10 outing, including 1-for-7 from three-point range, his teammates and coaches arent foisting the blame on him, as they understand the loss to Orlando was a team effort. Still, the fact that he missed multiple wide-open attempts as the Bulls tried to complete the comeback and beat the Magic cant be a pleasant thought.
Somebody once told me, Shooters shoot, and if I had another one, Id have shot that one, too. My whole life, in the fourth quarter, you shoot threes. Sometimes you make them, sometimes you miss them. Tonight hurts, lamented Korver, who will face his former team, the Utah Jazz, in the Bulls next game. A couple of them felt really good, but it hurts. You want to come through for your team.
Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, who often terms the NBA a make-or-miss league, refused to hold Korver responsible for the loss.
Kyle, wide-open shot, his shot. Im living with that, all day, every day. Great shooter, right on line, doesnt go in. You can live with that, said Thibodeau. What you cant live with is the second shot on the other end. Weve got to finish our defense. The game is on the line. Weve got to find a way to win the game, so that part, weve got to correct.
Derrick Rose, responsible for delivering the ball to the teams designated sharpshooter, admitted he was shocked that Korver didnt deliver, but hasnt lost faith in the veteran swingman.
Who wasnt surprised? He has Gods gift, where he just has the touch for shooting and weve just got to live with it. We know that thats his job, to shoot the ball, he had some clean looks, Rose explained. Were not mad at that. We know that the majority of the time, that they go in. tonight it didnt and weve just got to live with it. We just want him to keep his confidence up and if he gets the opportunity again, shoot the ball.
NBA
That doesnt seem like it should be an issue.
Its another game, said Korver. Ill be aggressive again Saturday.