Utah Jazz: Rudy Gobert and 27 other reasons not to tank

In the wake of a bad losing streak, many have started calling for the Utah Jazz to simply lose as many games as they can this season in hopes of a high draft pick.

This Utah Jazz season has been difficult. It’s been hard to watch, hard to think about, and (hard to believe eyeroll) but even harder on the coaches and players. We could all use a little encouragement in Jazz Nation right about now.

It’s easy to call for “tanking” when you consider the apparent rise to relevancy the Philadelphia 76ers are now seeing after multiple seasons of living at the bottom of the league.

Fans, analysts and writers alike have even started using the #TankNote hashtag, a clever spin on the official #TakeNote tag. Not everyone is happy about this, I might add.

Simply put; I disagree with that strategy.

The Utah Jazz have had an uninspired start to the 2017-18 season. With a lack of offensive firepower, difficulties building chemistry with new teammates and a lack of identity following the loss of Gordon Hayward.

I believe that the problems thus far are not only okay, they are understandable and even expected and do not warrant the Jazz simply “blowing things up” and starting over.

27 reasons the Jazz should not, will not, and can not tank

Reasons 1-14

1. You “tank” to find a franchise cornerstone to build around. We already have one (two with Donovan Mitchell).

2. Tanking is far from a guarantee.  With three top two picks and one top ten, the Lakers’ best rookie out of the bunch was picked at 27.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, Rudy Gobert and Nikola Jokic were all non-lottery picks.

4. Counting this season, we have four guaranteed years of an All-NBA center.

5. Tanking is not worth the risk of Rudy wanting out. He wants to win.

6. Rudy is a top ten player.

7. With Rudy this season, Jazz Defensive rating was third best. Without him? 19th.

8. Since the Rudy injury, the Jazz have adjusted the offensive scheme to space the floor. In that span the Jazz have the fifth best offense. With that same spacing, but Rudy back on the floor, we can assume a top 15 offense and a top 3 defense.

9. Rudy is a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

10. Rudy is still getting better.

11. The Jazz are currently one game out of the playoff picture and other teams are also struggling (See: Clippers nine-game losing streak).

12. “Championship or bust” is just a silly mentality.

13. Stuff like this monster block on Carmelo Anthony.

14. There’s a video game devoted to Rudy (play it, it’s fun).

Reasons 15-27

15. This game against the Dallas Mavericks.

16. The game where Rudy almost had a 5×5.

https://twitter.com/ClutchPointsApp/status/925286427751002112

17. This pick and roll combo with Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert will be deadly.

18. Angry Rudy is unstoppable: Career high 35 points.

19. Rudy can also pass: Between the legs to Gordon Hayward.

20. And this pass: Wraparound to Derrick Favors.

21. Rudy can also do this coast-to-coast with a Eurostep finish against the Miami Heat.

22. He did it again against the Portland Trailblazers.

23. The “Rudy Effect” (per Craig Bolerjack), when opposing players are terrified when he’s nearby. Like Paul George was here.

24. Donovan Mitchell and his competitive spirit is a perfect match with Rudy Gobert.

25. Tanking could ruin a small-market team.

26. Gail Miller just prevented the team from ever leaving Utah. Losing while trying will always be better than trying to lose.

27. Rudy Gobert committed to the Jazz long term and vowed to bring Utah a championship.

Next: Utah Jazz: With weird Western Conference, outlook isn’t all that dreary

I know this season is hard. It’s tough to watch this team lose, especially after such an incredible season in 2016-17. Rudy Gobert will make it worthwhile.