Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Kyle Filipowski has improved his shooting form, boosting his performance for the Jazz.
- He averages 10 points and 5.5 rebounds in February, shooting 53.8% from three.
- His enhanced shooting opens up the Jazz's offense, providing more playmaking opportunities.
SALT LAKE CITY — Kyle Filipowski said he's feeling a bit "more like myself out there" lately.
The numbers are starting to back that up, too. The former Duke All-American is on the best run of his pro career, averaging 10.0 points per game and 5.5 rebounds during the 11 games in February.
He's rebounding in traffic and has been asked to do some playmaking. All the things that made him a top collegiate player have been shining through as of late.
But one thing is different: his shot.
"Probably about two months ago, I started making a little bit of an adjustment," Filipowski said.
He got together with Utah assistants Mike Williams and Andrew Warren along with head coach Will Hardy and formulated a plan to alter his shot. The team wanted to get his release a little quicker and clean up some of his mechanics.
Filipowski said they were small changes, but they still came with some challenges — especially due to the timing.
"I mean, it was a bit of a challenge, for sure, especially in the middle of the season, you know, trying to play games while being in the process of changing it," Filipowski said.
He started perfecting the new form with close- and mid-range shots in practice, but then needed to take 3-pointers in games. That made for some odd moments and may have contributed to his 25% 3-point shooting in January.
"But I think I've kind of gotten over the hump there," he said. "And something's just really clicked recently, which has got my shot to just feel very smooth."
It not only feels good, though; it's been looking pretty good, too. In February, Filipowski is shooting 53.8% from distance on 2.4 attempts per game. He was a perfect 4-for-4 from deep on Monday in Utah's loss to the Blazers.
That uptick in shooting has started to open up other parts of his game and, in turn, the Jazz's offense.
"His shooting is really improving, and it's helping him a lot," Hardy said. "But it's also giving our team a very different look."
Teams are being forced to guard Filipowski out on the perimeter, which clears up space in the paint and frees him up to use his playmaking skills away from the basket. It's not dissimilar to how the Jazz used Kelly Olylynk last season. Opposing defenses are being bent because they have to respect him — not only as a passer but also as a shooter.
"Coach has definitely trusted me to have the ball on my hands a little bit more," said Filipowski, who had five assists against the Blazers. "Now, aside from playing defense and rebounding, those little things, running the court hard, now it is a little bit more of the decision-making and being able to run the offense a little bit more and make those decisions."
Things that he's been doing most of his basketball life.
So, yeah, he's feeling like himself — just with a different (and more effective) shot.
"I feel a lot more comfortable out there on the court — just a lot more free, not overthinking too much," he said. "I think that's probably the big thing is the mental side of it. Not feeling the need to look over my shoulder. I feel like I'm able to go out there, play hard and the rest comes with that."
