Chicago Bulls: Has Kyle Korver Finally Broken Through?

The Chicago Bulls and the Orlando Magic were the top two defensive teams in the league coming into their Friday night showdown.

On paper they were separated by only two-tenths of a point, but the Bulls showed just how wide that gap really was by holding the Magic to 83 total points while scoring 97 in a game where Chicago took control in the second quarter and never looked back.

While the defensive stifling of a potential playoff opponent is satisfying, another thing that should have the Bulls feeling good is the performance of Kyle Korver. Kyle registered 18 points with a stat line that included five three-pointers and three steals in 31 minutes of playing time.

Korver’s signing in the summer of 2010 was smothered by the lingering echoes of the noise made by the Miami Heat’s free-agent coup.

Kyle was supposed to be the sharp-shooter who helped spread the floor, allowing Rose either more freedom in isolation or the option to pass out of penetration to a reliable shooter. Last season, Korver was too streaky to be that reliable shooter.

He hasn’t made much noise this season so far, either. Averaging just under five points per contest, Korver’s only other notable performance before the Orlando game was 11 points scored with 17 minutes of play in a losing effort to the Golden State Warriors.

Chicago fans have waited for Korver to catch fire and be that three-point sniper the team so desperately needed, and they are hoping that the game against the Magic was the spark for that flame.

Shooters will continue to shoot whether they are hot or cold. All it takes is for one shot to go down and the confidence comes streaming back. Imagine what six shots to the tune of shooting 75 percent from the field can do for Kyle.

The Bulls have four more games left to play over the next five days, and Korver should see a little more floor time thanks to his recent contributions. If he is able to have a few more games like he just did, consider the dead-eye shooter from the 2009-2010 season to be back in the building.

 The Chicago Bulls got a little bit better thanks to Kyle Korver, and that spells trouble for everyone else.