Utah Jazz: Answers to 10 Big Questions at Midseason

Oct 28, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) is congratulated by guard George Hill (3) after a basket and a foul in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) is congratulated by guard George Hill (3) after a basket and a foul in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
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Utah Jazz Rudy Gobert Phoenix Suns
Dec 31, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) reacts after dunking the ball during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Jazz won 91-86. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Who has shown the best improvement?

Gordon Hayward may be Utah’s best player, but Gobert is arguably the most valuable one. He was good before, but I think he’s now established himself as the league’s most intimidating paint presence and a legitimate threat on both sides of the ball.

Obviously, the biggest areas of improvement have come on the offensive side of things. As of this writing, Gobert is second in the NBA in field goal percentage at over 66 percent and leads the league in points per shot at 1.90.

The latter is an incredible number; aided in large part by the fact that Gobert has morphed from the guy who opposing teams fouled intentionally to one that is flirting with 70 percent from the line.

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