Who leads the Western Conference with a 9-2 record since the All-Star break? No, the answer is not the first place Warriors, and no, it’s not the surging San Antonio Spurs either. Surprisingly, the young and hungry Utah Jazz are off to the best start of all teams in the West since February’s festivities.
When the Jazz struck a deal at the deadline last month to send Enes Kanter to Oklahoma City, the media questioned the purpose of the trade, and rightfully so. A very skilled, young center was departing for Kendrick Perkins (who was immediately bought out), two relatively unknown former second rounders, and a future protected draft pick. On paper, the Jazz didn’t get better at all; however, the shipment of Kanter opened up minutes for the 7’2 Frenchman, Rudy Gobert. Gobert has been an essential piece to Utah’s success over the past month, as he’s averaged 10.5 points, 14.1 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game as a starter while shooting 57% from the field. Gobert has developed the reputation as being the “Stifle Tower,” and for good reason, considering his French roots and the fact that he has an incredible 7-9 wingspan along with an unimaginable 9-7 standing reach, the longest ever recorded at the NBA Combine. The 27th overall pick of the 2013 Draft has been an absolute beast in the paint, clogging up the lane on defense and finishing with authority on offense. No one’s been able to keep Gobert off the boards either, as he only trails DeAndre Jordan and Andre Drummond in that department since the All-Star break.
Gobert’s impact on defense cannot be undervalued. Since the break, the Jazz have allowed a league low 84.1 points per game, which is roughly 14 points lower than what they previously allowed (98.0 ppg). In the same timeframe, the Jazz and Gobert have held opponents to 40% shooting from the field, which is good for fifth in the league. Both stats are eye-opening and, quite frankly, very surprising. The tremendous improvement in defensive proficiency has definitely been the main factor behind Utah’s recent success.
While they haven’t changed Utah’s defensive identity quite like Gobert has, Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors continue to keep the team flowing on offense. Both are extremely underrated stars who deserve more national attention than they currently get. Hayward and Favors have each increased their scoring averages three points a piece since last season, expanding Utah’s capabilities on offense; Hayward is up to 19.7 points per game, while Favors is at 16.3 points per game. Coach Quin Snyder’s ability to rely on both players night in and night out is a promising sign for Jazz fans.
Rookies Dante Exum and Rodney Hood haven’t exactly been impact players in the backcourt this season, but both have shown flashes of potential as of late. Hood, in particular, has shown that he is a capable scorer in this league, as he’s averaged 9.4 points per game in just under 20 minutes over the past month. Exum, the fifth overall pick in last June’s draft, is regarded as the prospect with more potential, but he has been slow to adjust to the NBA since coming overseas from Australia. Exum is a key piece to their future, and I personally believe he will turn out to be a very good point guard in this league. Exum’s time may not be now, but it will come.
The Jazz are 9-2 in their last 11, but that’s partly because they’ve played lottery-bound teams, right? Think again – throughout this stretch, Utah has defeated five teams destined for the postseason, four of which have serious chances at winning the NBA Finals. The Jazz have toppled the Blazers, Spurs, Grizzlies, Rockets, and Bucks by a combined 61 points, with the closest game being a seven point victory over Milwaukee. It’s truly remarkable that they’ve been able to shut down the elite offensive teams of the Western Conference; the high-powered Blazers were only able to muster together 76 points against Utah’s dominant defense. In fact, the Blazers were even at full-strength, as this game took place prior to Wesley Matthew’s season-ending surgery. Ironically, the Jazz have lost to two teams well under .500, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Both games were decided by three points or less, so it isn’t like they got blown out of the arena by any means.
Midway through March, the Utah Jazz sit at 28-36, seven and a half games behind the New Orleans Pelicans for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Is it reasonable for the Jazz to make the playoffs this season? Absolutely not; they have significant ground to make up with some incredibly talented teams (Oklahoma City and Phoenix) standing in the way. If their young studs continue to improve, the Jazz would certainly have a realistic opportunity to squeeze into the playoff picture next season.
You can look into the rise of the Utah Jazz all you want, but no matter how you analyze or interpret the stats, it’s clear that Rudy Gobert has been the driving force behind their turnaround. His elite rebounding and blocked shots have contributed to Utah’s stout defense of late. He is a thick, strong body to deal with down low whose defensive awareness and offensive skill set improves each time he touches the floor.
Utah’s recent slew of games has once again brought optimism to basketball fans of the Salt Lake region. By no means do I think it’s a stretch to say that this has been the best display of basketball in Salt Lake City since the Jerry Sloan-Deron Williams era. Regardless of how this season turns out, I am confident that the Utah Jazz are here to stay.
