Key Performer – Rudy Gobert
Give credit to rookie Willy Hernangomez for stepping up and putting up solid minutes for the Knicks as he has worked his way into a starting role. Though he’s averaging just 7.2 points and 6.6 rebounds on the season, as a starter he’s put up 10 points and 9.5 rebounds in 11 games.
Those are certainly solid figures for him, but the fact of the matter is that when looking across each team’s starting lineups, this is the match-up where Utah has the most marked advantage as this young rookie out of Spain will stand absolutely no chance against Rudy Gobert.
Count 'em! ✋✋✋✋✋✋✋✋#UTAatIND @rudygobert27 #DPOY https://t.co/MsclFLJzao
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 21, 2017
Gobert was in full force on Monday as he finished the game with a career-high eight blocks and absolutely punished the Pacers at the rim. Rudy was also one of Utah’s lone consistent bright points over the course of the recent three-game losing streak as he averaged 16.3 points and 15.3 rebounds during that stretch.
With the Jazz desperate for a win tonight as they look to solidify their hold on the fourth seed in the West and as Gobert looks to further his case as Defensive Player of the Year, given the fact that he’ll enjoy one of the most favorable match-ups of the night against Hernangomez, I expect him to come out guns blazing and to help lead Utah to a memorable victory on the night of the 20-year Finals Reunion.