![]() That’s about league average, and nowhere near the huge lead that Utah has possessed since his return. 18 - which includes six games Gobert played at less than 100 percent, sandwiched by his two absences - the Jazz allowed 107.3 points per 100 possessions defensively. We credit this impact to Gobert because we know how bad Utah was without him. “If he gets 10 blocks, that’s great, but our efficiency is 90, then the probability of us winning is probably about 90, too. “If you look at efficiency rating, which is empirically what we look at to see how a team’s playing defensively, it’s directly attributable to your wins and losses on the court,” Snyder says. That’s a 5.9-point advantage over the second-best team during this span - which is the same difference between the No. 19, the Jazz have played 28 games and won 23 of them, all while holding teams to 96.8 points per 100 possessions. In an era of offensive explosion, it’s staggering what the Utah Jazz have done since Gobert’s second return. Look at what the team does when he’s around.” When you talk about subjectivity, whether it’s blocks or whatnot. “If he played 20 more games, he would have more impact, because he’s playing more,” Snyder admits before a game against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.īut Snyder continues: “In baseball, they have an at-bats limitation. But even his biggest apologists can admit those absences hurt him. If not for that, this award would like be locked up already - it would be hard to argue anyone has been more outstanding than a healthy Gobert. Then there’s Gobert, who’s had 11-game and 15-game absences with injuries this season. Joel Embiid has been sensational, but he plays less than many his peers. Kevin Durant and Paul George have been propped up by flashes of brilliance more than consistency. A dark horse candidate, Andre Roberson, suffered a season-ending injury halfway through the year. The past two winners aren’t true candidates: Kawhi Leonard has missed nearly all of the season and Draymond Green hasn’t played up to his normal standards. The Defensive Player of the Year award has been muddied this year. “Objectively, Rudy’s the guy,” Snyder tells SB Nation. Ask Derrick Favors, and he’ll admit he often thinks, “Rudy just saved my ass,” during games.Īsk Jazz head coach Quin Snyder, and he’ll give a 90-second case for Gobert as Defensive Player of the Year. But they don’t get too many chances.Īsk his teammates, and they marvel at Gobert’s incomparable length that seems to cover the entire paint. When he doesn’t cover their mistakes, they’ll yell at him for breaking his promise - all in good fun, Joe Ingles says, while explaining this phenomenon to me. The Timberwolves won all four matchups with the Thunder last season by an average of more than 26 points and were in complete control of the first half, until a meltdown late in the third quarter left the Thunder an opening to make a game of it and then some.DALLAS - Utah Jazz players know Rudy Gobert will be there when they screw up on defense, because Gobert tells them exactly that. They had to work for this win against a pesky, young and fast Thunder team that's playing without injured No. One of the most anticipated seasons for Timberwolves fans in the star-crossed history of their team, coming off a return to the playoffs and the blockbuster addition of Gobert in a summer trade with Utah, began with the 7-foot-1 Frenchman greeting the crowd during the pregame hype. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points and cut the lead to 105-103 with 4:04 left, but they didn't get any closer after that. Jaylen Nowell, who had 13 points, put the Timberwolves ahead for good with his layup with 10:47 remaining. ![]() ![]() Rudy Gobert stepped up with a steadying hand on a night when Karl-Anthony Towns (12 points) and Anthony Edwards (11 points) shot a combined 6 for 27 from the floor. Rudy Gobert had 23 points and 15 rebounds in his Minnesota debut, and the Timberwolves recovered to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 115-108 on Wednesday in the season opener.ĭ'Angelo Russell had 20 points and Jaden McDaniels added 19 points for the Timberwolves, who turned a 16-point lead into a six-point deficit during the third quarter.
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