![]() Only one team allows more field goals attempts in the non-restricted area portion of the paint, indicating how many opposing players pull up short of the rim. Since Gobert’s last return, no team allows fewer field goals attempts in the restricted area than Utah. His percentage is higher because many players driving to the rim won’t even bother attempting the difficult layups over him that they’d try and miss against anyone else. The best centers this season are allowing just 51 or 52 percent of shots like that to go in.īut in many instances, teams have stopped challenging Gobert altogether. That 58 percent field goal percentage against near the rim is good, but not spectacular. Gobert’s real value, though, comes from what he prevents offenses from doing. His Defensive Real Plus-Minus - a stat that attempts to measure impact while accounting for teammates and opponents - is plus-5.46, best in the league. With Gobert defending, opposing players shoot about 58 percent within five feet of the rim. Gobert’s 2.4 blocks per game would be second in the league, if he qualified. Rudy Gobert should be the Defensive Player of the Year You see him and his effectiveness, but you almost have to watch what players do when he’s not there,” Snyder says. 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. DALLAS - Utah Jazz players know Rudy Gobert will be there when they screw up on defense, because Gobert tells them exactly that. ![]()
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