The J-Notes
Fansided

Four reasons why the Utah Jazz will make the playoffs in 2018

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 18: Jonas Jerebko #8 and Thabo Sefolosha #22 of the Utah Jazz attend a press conference after signing with the Utah Jazz at Grand America Hotel on July 18, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Keith Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 18: Jonas Jerebko #8 and Thabo Sefolosha #22 of the Utah Jazz attend a press conference after signing with the Utah Jazz at Grand America Hotel on July 18, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Keith Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PARIS, FRANCE – MAY 15: Rudy Gobert poses during the visit of IOC Evaluation Commission Chairman Patrick Baumann after the press conference following his second day tour of venues proposed by Paris 2024 bidding committee for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games on May 15, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Frederic Stevens/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – MAY 15: Rudy Gobert poses during the visit of IOC Evaluation Commission Chairman Patrick Baumann after the press conference following his second day tour of venues proposed by Paris 2024 bidding committee for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games on May 15, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Frederic Stevens/Getty Images) /

Rudy Gobert

Although the Utah Jazz lost what many would call their “best” player, they retained what I would certainly call their most important player in Rudy Gobert. Hayward is undoubtedly an exceptional talent, but the skills he brings to the table are largely replaceable, be it by committee or by a player acquired or developed down the road, whereas Rudy’s size and skill set are very much unique and would be hard to find elsewhere.

The seven-foot-one, 245-pound big man upped his game to a whole new level last season as he became a force on both ends of the court by putting up averages of 14 points on 66.1 percent shooting from the field, 12.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game while leading the team in plus/minus at an average of 5.4.

He also finished 2016-17 second in the league behind only James Harden in win shares at 14.3, led the league in defensive win shares at 6.0 and was tied for the top spot in both offensive and defensive ratings at 129 and 99, respectively. As the old adage goes, the numbers don’t lie, and those numbers clearly show that Rudy is a winner. His impact on both ends of the floor was huge for Utah and should only continue to be.

Not only does his on-court performance speak volumes to how much he helps his team win, but Gobert also has an incredibly strong winning attitude and will stop at nothing to will his team to victory. Having been spurned by his former cohort Gordon Hayward and after seeing how poorly some so-called experts have predicted that the team is going to fare next year, the Stifle Tower ought to come into next season with a massive chip on his shoulder and that should only help him be even better.

As long as the Jazz have All-NBA and All-NBA Defensive player Rudy Gobert on their team, there’s no questioning that they will be a force to be reckoned with.

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