Jazz look to Hornacek for a little outside help

It appears the Utah Jazz are finally getting serious about fixing their outside game. Nobody wants to be ranked 23rd in the league in three-point percentage — unless they're No. 24.

In that light, the Jazz are considering asking former guard Jeff Hornacek for help. In sportscasting terminology, they want to score from downtown, dial it up from long distance.

If Hornacek does help out, fans may soon see DeShawn Stevenson squaring up straight, shoulders to the basket. For the first time in his career, John Starks won't have to guess whether he'll be hot or cold that night. Andrei Kirilenko's shooting stroke will be automatic.

Hornacek will help them "enjoy the shot," as the coaches say. (That means following through easily, rather than pushing or flipping the shot.)

That's the thing about Hornacek. He always knew how to enjoy his shots.

Lest people start thinking Hornacek is some sort of wizard, I want to make one thing clear: He can't perform miracles. For example, he's not fixing John Amaechi's tortured shot. No way. He could work with Greg Ostertag until his hair turns white and nothing's going to change there, either.

John Crotty has that funny southpaw push-shot, but there's no real need to fool with that. Hornacek wouldn't even think of messing with Karl Malone's patented mid-range delivery, even if the ball does roll off the side of his hand.

But other players such as Stevenson, Starks, Kirilenko, Donyell Marshall, Bryon Russell and Quincy Lewis could be helped. Hornacek only needs to figure out how to squeeze it in between trips to the grocery store and the grade school.

Exactly what he teaches them is his choice. But I have a few suggestions. First, he should tutor them on how to make eight threes in the same game, the way he did that night against the Sonics. Or the time against the Nuggets when he made six treys in the fourth period.

As long as he's teaching, he should show them his whole repertoire, trick shots and all. They should all know how to make a half-court shot, the way he did in the playoffs against the Spurs one year. I really wonder if he could teach them that over-the-head flip the TV stations keep showing.

And don't forget the running floater that even Shaq couldn't block.