Dallas ― Excerpts from an interview Saturday with Jazz guard Alec Burks after Utah's 102-96 loss to the Mavericks.
Burks on standing up to players, not backing down: I ain’t soft. I ain’t no punk. I ain’t going to let nobody try to outhustle me or out-tough me. I’m from Kansas City. I’m not scared of nobody.
His run-in with Dallas' Brendan Haywood: I was mad. You don't foul people like that where I'm from. We do something about it. was just in the moment and my emotions got to me. I feel like it was a bad play. But I calmed down, I made the free throws and it was over.
Understand what Haywood was trying to do, but still not backing down: I will go over there in the next play. I'll do the same thing. At the time, I felt like it was a bad play. But looking at it, he just tried to make a foul.
More aggressive offensively with Jazz's second unit: I'm being aggressive. If I'm going to be out there, I might as well be aggressive. Being in the second unit, me and D-Fav, Enes, Earl, C.J., Jeremy, whoever ― we're all just trying to be aggressive, play hard.
Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin on Burks' increased defensive intensity: Absolutely, man. And he's learning how to play top scorers in the league. How and when he can physical with guys and not worry about if he make a mistake of if they make a call against him ― don't back up, just continue to be aggressive. And he's getting a lot better at that.
Burks playing defense like Corbin wants the entire team to: Absolutely. Especially on the ball scorers. You've got to make sure you're up on guys. Giving 'em different looks, putting pressure on them at times, falling off 'em at times, keeping a body on them. And he's learning how to do that.
Brian T. Smith
Twitter: @tribjazz
