This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
When Gordon Hayward's shots weren't falling often enough to start the season, the Utah Jazz star wasn't worried.
Neither was the man who spends the offseason getting him ready.
"He shot the ball this summer better than I've ever seen him shoot it," said Rob Blackwell, a trainer who works with Hayward as well as NBA players Josh McRoberts and Carl Landry.
Coming off a career season in Utah, Hayward hunkered down with Blackwell at the St. Vincent's Sports Performance facility in Indianapolis to work on his ball handling, his post moves and, as much as anything, his jump shot.
Through his first five seasons as a pro, Hayward had shot 43.8 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from 3-point territory. The forward thought he could do better. Blackwell thought Hayward's shot looked flat. So he introduced him to data that showed the optimal shot had a 45-degree arc and entered the basket dead center, 11-inches from the front of the rim. Then he showed him a computer system that tracked the arc and depth of each shot.
"I always tease these guys that they're a video-game generation," Blackwell said. "They're into the tech no matter what. At the same time, I know the science standpoint would intrigue him."
As it turned out, 90 percent of Hayward's shots were coming in too flat, with a 41-degree arc. So Hayward took more than 200 shots in every warmup and the another 200 shots during every workout, with the computer system instantly voicing the angle of each one.
"Very quickly you can develop the muscle memory to be even more consistent than you've been," Blackwell said.
Hayward struggled through the first four games of this young season, hitting 35 percent of his attempts, before finally breaking out in Denver. Over his past two games, Hayward has connected on 13 of 23 shots and the forward believes he's finally back on track.
"It's one of those things where there's nothing like playing in a game," Hayward said on Monday. "You've just got to get into a rhythm and … remind yourself when your shot's not going of those different little things."
The best and the best of times
Steph Curry, the NBA's reigning MVP, has been torching nets. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are back at it in Oklahoma City. And Anthony Davis, despite his team's 0-6 start, is the player around which most general managers say they would want to build their franchises.
But don't forget about the guy in Cleveland.
"Always," Hayward said Monday when asked if he looked forward to his matchup Tuesday with LeBron James. "Best player in the world."
By the way, Hayward did beat James and the Cavs last year in Salt Lake City with a step-back jumper at the buzzer. The Jazzman said he's seen the highlight only a couple of times since, "but I don't usually try to dwell on moments like that whether they're good or bad."
Keeping an eye out
Alec Burks dished out eight assists against the Denver Nuggets and followed it up with four more against the Grizzlies — and Jazz coach Quin Snyder has liked what he's seen from the shooting guard.
"Alec can pass and he likes to pass," he said. "I think it's just a question of him continuing to do that and finding the situations where it's the right read. What's happened, because he's so dynamic going to the basket, people start to collapse and then those passes are available."
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