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Toronto • Trey Burke kind of chuckled at the question.
When was the last time he, the former college basketball player of the year and 2013 NBA lottery pick, was a healthy scratch in a game?
"Probably never, to be honest," he said.
But that was the point guard's fate on Monday night in Boston, where he watched the Jazz fall 100-95 without ever getting into the game: a DNP-CD for the first time in his professional career.
"It was [head coach Quin Snyder's] decision," Burke said. "I was ready whenever he called my number. I was ready to go in. But that was the decision he made."
Now Burke is left to wonder if he has fallen out of Snyder's rotation for good.
At the trade deadline last month, the Jazz swapped a second-round pick to acquire Shelvin Mack from Atlanta. Almost instantly, the Hawks' third-string point guard became the starter in Utah — and the move has had a trickle-down effect that has Burke on the outside looking in at the moment.
On Tuesday, Snyder hinted that a change might be coming and that his preference would be to tighten his rotation at that position. "I don't want to box myself in," he said, "but philosophically it's hard to play three point guards." Snyder likened the situation to a "quarterback controversy" and suggested that his players would benefit from consistency in their roles.
The decision ultimately comes down to this: Are the Jazz better off with the offensive-minded Burke or the defensive-minded rookie Raul Neto as their primary backup behind Mack?
"Raul coming off the bench has given us a very steady defensive effort," Snyder said when asked about Burke's healthy scratch. "As you know, that's always been a priority for me."
Neto, who made the leap from Spain's top league to the NBA last summer, had started all but two Jazz games before Mack took over the starting job last week. The change was a jarring one for him, though he said he intended to increase his defensive intensity in his now-diminished roll.
"Before, I was playing 30 minutes and sometimes I don't have the energy or legs to pick up full court and press the ball," Neto said. "Now I'm playing less minutes, I try to go every minute the hardest I can."
Burke, whom the Jazz traded two first-round picks for in 2013, was the Jazz's fifth-leading scorer this season before Mack arrived, averaging 11.2 points per game. Burke had been at the forefront of the Jazz's trade rumors leading up to the deadline. The third-year point guard said he had not spoken to Snyder about any change to his role, but after Monday's game it seems the 23-year-old Burke could be the odd man out.
"Those two guys right now have provided us with the beginning of a rotation," Snyder said of Mack and Neto. "Trey's going to have his opportunities. When and where the come ... maybe [Wednesday]. We need everybody to be ready."
Burke has played 201 games in his three seasons in Utah, including 111 as the team's starting point guard before ceding that job to Danté Exum last season. He has averaged 12.4 points and 4.3 assists for his career.
"Stay positive," he said when asked about his mentality going forward. "Be me. Get extra work in. Do what I have ben doing really," Burke said. "Stay positive. That's all I can do. I've been through a lot of adversity. This is just a little bit of adversity. Just stay positive."
"But it's not about me. It's really not about me," he added. "So I've just got to keep doing what I've been doing every day, working hard and helping this team win. That's about it."
Jazz at Raptors
P At Air Canada Centre, Toronto
Radio • 1280 AM, 97.5 FM
Records • Jazz 28-31; Raptors 39-19
About the Jazz • Opened up a four-game road trip with a 100-95 loss in Boston on Monday night.
About the Raptors • The East's second-place team is terrific at home, where they're 21-6 this season.