The Utah Jazz is currently involved in a fight for one of the final spots in the Western Conference playoffs. With four games left on the schedule, Utah is in the eighth spot, but just half a game ahead of the Rockets and half a game behind the Mavericks.
Utah lost a close game to the Spurs Tuesday night, but before that, they thought that they might get some good news regarding an injured player. Alec Burks hasn't played since the end of December after he fractured his ankle, but there was some hope that he might have been able to return for that game against the Spurs.
Burks did not return for that game despite the optimism, and there was even a report out there that he might be shut down for the season. Head coach Quin Snyder has caught wind of that rumor and shut it down, immediately saying it was "erroneous."
Despite all of the reports going around saying different things about when Burks might return, it seems like he is very close. The Jazz initially said that a return this week is a possibility, which is why Jazz fans got so excited for Tuesday possibly being the day, but now Friday against the Los Angeles Clippers is the likely target date.
Burks would be a welcome addition back into the lineup because before he got hurt, he was having the best season of his young career. Burks was initially in competition with Rodney Hood for the starting shooting guard spot, but he lost out and instead thrived off the bench. Through 28 games, the 24-year-old guard averaged 14.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while making 39 percent of his three-pointers.
It never hurts to have another potent scorer coming off the bench, but expectations for Burks, if and when he returns, should be tempered. The former Colorado star has been out of action for more than three months and will likely have some rust when he gets back. On top of the rust, the Jazz likely won't play him the 27 minutes per game he was averaging before the injury, right out of the gate. Burks will need to be eased in so that he doesn't risk re-injuring the ankle.
Regardless of what limitations Burks may have, the Jazz could really use him. With just four games left and the team clawing for a playoff berth, it's all hands on deck, and the hope is that Burks can at least provide something in the final few games of the regular season.
