The departure of Enes Kanter, the rise of Rudy Gobert and a stifling defense are just some of the reasons the Jazz are 11-2 since Feb. 19.
On Feb. 19, the Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons engaged in a three-team trade that sent Enes Kanter, Steve Novak, D. J. Augustin and Kyle Singler to OKC. Reggie Jackson was shipped to Detroit and Kendrick Perkins moved to Utah, but was bought out soon after.
Since the deal, the Jazz have the best record (11-2) out of the three teams. The Thunder are 8-5 while the Pistons are just 2-10 and falling apart at the seams.
Utah’s wins have been quality wins as well. In addition to defeating the Rockets on March 12 and beating the Grizzlies on the road March 3, the Jazz won two games in a row at home against Portland and San Antonio Feb. 20 and 23. At one point in last night’s game against the Hornets, they led 81-38.
The Jazz have given up only 82.8 points per game over the past 13 games, the best defensive scoring average in the NBA during that span. Utah has also become the best overall scoring defense in the league at 95.1 points per game, 0.2 points ahead of Memphis. Opposing teams are attempting a third-lowest 81.0 shots per game on the season and having a third-highest 6.0 of those shots blocked.
Sophomore Rudy Gobert has been big reason for the Jazz’s improved defensive play, and his rebounding efficiency is also giving Utah a huge boost. He’s recorded seven double-doubles over the past 12 games and he’s averaging 17.3 rebounds per game since the beginning of March. The Stifle Tower is also rejecting 2.3 shots per game this season. Lastly, he’s the league’s fifth-most efficient center and 17th-most efficient player, according to ESPN’s John Hollinger.
Similar to the Pistons’ addition-by-subtraction method of waiving Josh Smith, Utah has benefited from Kanter’s absence. While he is a very talented offensive player, his defensive skills are lackluster at best. Because of this, Derrick Favors often found himself having to guard centers and protect the rim rather than being the powerful, versatile power forward/machine he is. Although he’s more than capable of protecting the basket, having Gobert by his side places those responsibilities in his hands while Favors goes to work in the paint. When he and Gobert are together, Utah blocks 2.4 more shots than their opponents (according to Basketball Reference), but the Jazz had 0.6 more of their shots thrown back when Favors was on the court with Kanter.
Moreover, Favors is averaging 18.6 points per game in March (the highest monthly average for him this season), and when he and Gobert are in the game together, Utah averages 3.2 more points than their opponents. But when Favors was paired with Kanter, that number was -2.5, meaning opponents were scoring more than the Jazz with those two in the game.
Kanter’s ineptitude on the defensive end is best shown by the offensive rating of Utah’s opponents when he was on and off the court. When he was in the game, opponents had an offensive rating of 111.2, but when Snyder moved him to the bench, that rating dropped to 102.6, meaning opponents scored almost nine more points per 100 possessions with Kanter on the court than off the court. In comparison, the offensive rating of opponents when Gobert is on the floor is 102.3, but that number skyrockets to 110.3 when he takes a seat.
Ultimately, trading Kanter and giving Gobert the reigns at center could be one of the best decisions Jazz management has ever made, especially if he continues his recent play. With a solidified frontcourt that also includes Gordon Hayward, who has risen to star status this year, Utah can continue addressing their needs in the backcourt.
Speaking of Hayward, the fifth-year player, whose scoring numbers have statistically improved every season since he entered the league, has become the team’s leader. The most noticeable change in his game this year, though, is that he has learned when to take a back seat to Favors or any of his other teammates and when to take over late in games, something stars do. The fifth-most efficient small forward in the league, he has become a Swiss-army-knife-type player who is capable of doing a plethora of different things including scoring, rebounding, passing and defending. After receiving a big contract last offseason, he is earning every penny he is being paid.
But back to Utah’s backcourt situation. Trey Burke failed to stamp his name on the starting point guard job, but he has done alright since coming off the bench as a sixth man. Dante Exum has also struggled, and while he is far from being a bust, there are many improvements that need to be made. He is currently one of the least-efficient players in the league and his shooting, a documented issue prior to the start of his NBA career, is still a work in progress. On the bright side, Rodney Hood has played well since returning from injury, and he will continue to get more playing time with Alec Burks out and not many other options available.
The return of Burks next season will bolster Utah’s backcourt, and it will be very interesting to see how the Jazz begin the 2015-16 campaign when all hands are on deck. The team will also have a lottery pick in the upcoming draft, so another young talent will be added to a core of rising stars. In addition, Utah will have lots of cap space this offseason to add some veteran pieces to the puzzle.
After earning their 30th win of the season last night against Charlotte, the Jazz are just six games under .500, and with 16 games left to play, this team will end up with a positive record if it continues its recent play.
Hopefully the league is taking notice, because the Utah Jazz will be a force to be reckoned with very soon.
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