In the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Game 4 win against the Boston Celtics, Kyle Korver chipped in 14 points and nailed two 3-point bombs. But this is not what necessarily impressed Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue.
As posted by Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated, Lue raved about Korver during the post-game press conference:
“You rarely see a 36-year-old running full speed against Marcus Smart, against Rozier and diving for the loose ball and lay it on the line. Kyle is just a pros pro. He does everything right. Every night he gives it a hundred percent effort.”
Per Ben Axelrod of WKYC, a reporter corrected Lue, pointing out that Korver is actually 37-years-old, to which the head coach replied:
“God. I’m playing him too many minutes.”
Known for his superb 3-point shooting skills, Korver also showcased his best defensive stance in Game 4. He was able to block three shots — an impressive feat given his lack of athleticism and the mere fact that he’s going up against much younger players.
Apart from which, he dove for the loose ball in one of the plays. He was running with much more athletic guys, Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart.
While Korver’s initial role is to space the floor to allow LeBron James to operate, his presence has certainly added more value.
He’s not just out there to be a veteran voice and a reliable marksman. Korver is out there to do any means necessary to win. Even if it requires putting his 37-year-old body on the line.