The Utah Jazz are on a roll these days. Since the All-Star break — a period which included the trade deadline, when they dumped utterly useless defender Enes Kanter — the Jazz are 11-2, which is good enough for the best record in the NBA. With Kanter gone, the Jazz now trot out Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert, and basically tell opponents to “come at us, bro”. Here’s the result over the last month.
Post-All-Star, @UtahJazz allowing 9.6 PPG less than any other team(IND) That gap btwn 1st & 2nd= nearly the gap btwn IND & 22nd-ranked team
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) March 17, 2015
Among those who contest 5+ Shots/Game at the rim, Gobert ranks 1st in FG% defense at rim (38.9%), Favors is 5th (44.1%). Key to @UtahJazz D — NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) March 17, 2015
Jazz NBA ranks since All-Star #1 DefRtg #1 NetRtg #1 REB% #1 Opp FG% #1 Opp 3PT% #1 Opp DREB #1 Opp REB #1 Opp AST #1 Opp PTS #1 WINS
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 17, 2015
I mentioned Gobert in my Summer League recap last July, because watching him in person was just that incredible (albeit against weaker competition). But now, playing against certified NBA players, he’s turning into a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate right before our eyes. Watch the video above where the 7’2″ “Stifle Tower” (by the way, I still like “French Rejection”) swats away shot attempts with ease. Barring an insane miracle, the Jazz aren’t going to make the playoffs, but they’re — Gobert especially — going to make the last few weeks of the season entertaining as hell.
[Twitter, photo: Bart Young/Getty Images)
