Perhaps Larry Drew said it best.
The Hawks coach succinctly summed up Kyle Korver’s current streak of 68 games with a 3-pointer, tied for the fourth longest run in NBA history.
“He’s not a guy who seeks the 3,” Drew said. “He is the 3.”
Korver can extend the impressive streak, and move ahead of Reggie Miller, when the Hawks host the Knicks on Wednesday night in a nationally televised game.
Only once this season has Korver failed to make a 3-pointer, the season opener against the Rockets on Nov. 2. In every other game he has played he has connected from long range.
“I’m getting asked about it more. That means it’s probably going to end,” Korver joked Tuesday. “I will probably reflect on it at some point in time when the season is done. I just try to make the shots that I shoot. All it means is I made one shot a game for however many games in a row.”
It’s more than that.
Korver is well behind the NBA mark of 89 games set by Dana Barros. However, he shattered his personal best of 28 consecutive games. He long ago established the Hawks’ record, besting the mark of 42 games set by Mookie Blaylock (March 26, 1996-Jan. 11, 1997).
Only 14 times during the streak has Korver finish with just one 3-pointer. During the streak he is averaging 2.6 per game. That includes an 8-of-12 night, both season-highs, from 3-point range to help the Hawks overcome a 27-point deficit in a double-overtime win against the Celtics on Jan. 25.
The closest the streak came to ending was Feb. 13 at Orlando, when he connected from long range with six minutes remaining.
“When he’s on the floor, he’s going to be behind that line somewhere,” Drew said. “I don’t care what our play is. He’s going to be behind that line somewhere. He’s behind that line in transition. He’s behind that line when we post Al (Horford), when we post Josh (Smith). A lot of the plays we run lead to him getting behind that line. That is who he is. For him to be able to make a 3 in 68 consecutive games is absolutely phenomenal.”
Entering Tuesday’s schedule, Korver ranked third in the NBA in 3-point percentage at .454, just behind Jose Calderon (.461) and Stephen Curry (.455). His 176 makes ranks fourth in the league, and his 388 attempts ranks 15th.
His current 3-point shooting percentage, with seven regular-season games remaining, is the second best of career. Korver shot .536 (59-of-110) in 52 games with the Jazz during the 2009-10 season. Of his 564 shot attempts, 68.8 percent have been from 3-point range.
Korver is quick to credit his teammates for his success with the Hawks this season.
“I’m not out there creating these 3-pointers for myself,” Korver said. “I’m a product of good ball movement, passing and screens. A lot of the credit, obviously, goes to teammates’ willingness to work with me.”
Korver credited Horford and Smith for their ability to pass out of double-teams from the low block. He especially noted their ability to find him on the opposite side of the court from the pressure. While many big men may simply be able to pass straight out from the double team, the Hawks’ big men find the open shot.
Drew said Korver “plays the game the right way” and does not force his 3-point attempts. He is a willing passer who has the ability to step away from an on-rushing defender to set up a two-point shot attempt for him or a teammate.
The Hawks’ bread-and-butter is a fast-break transition offense. Yet there is a place for Korver. He knows his job is to stretch the floor.
“You have Josh and Al running for lobs and Jeff Teague attacking the basket,” Korver said. “People have to respect that. Lots of time I’m open on the break.”
LONG-RANGE SHOOTERS
The following is the list of the longest streak of games with a 3-pointer made in NBA history.
1. Dana Barros 89
2. Michael Adams 79
3. Dennis Scott 78
4. Kyle Korver 68
4. Reggie Miller 68
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