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Utah Jazz: Seven New Year’s resolutions for the team in 2018

By Ryan Aston

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 15: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz is introduced before the game against the Boston Celtics on December 15, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 15: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz is introduced before the game against the Boston Celtics on December 15, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 30: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks to pass around Thabo Sefolosha #22 of the Utah Jazz during the first half at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 30, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

2) Rediscover the Defense

Entering the 2017-18 season, the word on the Utah Jazz was that they would win games with defense. Having the league’s best rim protector in Rudy Gobert, as well as plus perimeter defenders like Ricky Rubio and Thabo Sefolosha and a potential two-way star in Donovan Mitchell dictated as much.

Although they probably weren’t as dominant on that end of the floor as many had hoped, the Jazz were solid defensively to start the year. More recently, though, Utah’s once-vaunted D has been a mess.

Gobert’s absence looms large here, but even when he’s played, it’s been rough times. Over the team’s last 12 games (four of which Gobert played in), the Jazz are allowing an NBA-worst 112.1 points per 100 possessions. They’re also in the bottom four league-wide in defensive field goal percentage, turnovers forced and blocked shots during that stretch.

Simply put, this cannot continue. The Jazz have been better offensively than anticipated, but they won’t win if they don’t defend.

Next: No. 1

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