The J-Notes
Fansided

Derrick Favors is the least productive, but least irritating Utah Jazz starter this season

By Josh Padmore

Utah Jazz's Derrick Favors scores a basket, during their NBA Global Games match against the Orlando Magic at the Mexico City Arena, on December 15, 2018, in Mexico City. (Photo by PEDRO PARDO / AFP) (Photo credit should read PEDRO PARDO/AFP/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz's Derrick Favors scores a basket, during their NBA Global Games match against the Orlando Magic at the Mexico City Arena, on December 15, 2018, in Mexico City. (Photo by PEDRO PARDO / AFP) (Photo credit should read PEDRO PARDO/AFP/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

It’s been a frustrating first thirty games of the 2018-19 season for the Utah Jazz. While blame is being thrown at many players, Derrick Favors shouldn’t see any fingers pointed in his direction.

You can critique and complain about almost all of the players on the Utah Jazz. That’s what’s happening in Salt Lake City in the midst of a disappointing start to what was, and still can be, called a promising season.

Ricky Rubio: bad shooting, lack of defense, turnovers. Donovan Mitchell: shot selection. Rudy Gobert: complaining to the referees. Joe Ingles: sub-par three-point shooting, by his standards. Need me to go on? Alright, a few more. Jae Crowder: inconsistent reliability from the three-point line. Grayson Allen: nowhere near productive enough for a 23-year old rookie.

Derrick Favors… There’s not much to complain about with D-Favs. Maybe his three-point percentage? He worked all summer long on his three-point shot and is just under 30 percent on the season. He makes up for that with his terrific overall field goal percentage, though.

Favors has been solid, reliable and consistent all season long for the Jazz. He hasn’t complained once, either. He’s started most games, but has had to come off the bench some games. He’s not playing nearly as many minutes as most starters. Still, no complaints from Favs, who signed a two-year, $36 million contract with the Jazz over the summer.

During Saturday evening’s game in Mexico City against the Orlando Magic, Favors was one of the few Jazz players that brought it. He scored 21 points on 50 percent shooting from the field, grabbed eight rebounds and made five-of-six free throws. This loss could come back and hurt the Jazz. It could be the difference between them being a playoff team and a non-playoff team. If that’s the case, at least Favors showed up.

Favors averages over 11 points and seven rebounds per game for the Jazz this season. He shoots over 60 percent from the field, and has shot below 50 percent from the field just five times this year. Whenever Rudy Gobert goes down, or gets ejected, Favors always steps up.

Remember when Gobert injured his knee in the 2016 NBA Playoffs? It was Favors that stepped up and had a big series against the Los Angeles Clippers. In Game 7, he double-doubled with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Remember in Game 6 of the first round in the 2018 Playoffs, when Favors knocked down a mid-range jumper to give the Jazz a 3-point lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder with a minute to go?

LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 30: Derrick Favors #15 gestures as Gordon Hayward #20 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the second half of Game Seven of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center at Staples Center on April 30, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 30: Derrick Favors #15 gestures as Gordon Hayward #20 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the second half of Game Seven of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center at Staples Center on April 30, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Next. Utah Jazz: The Kyle Korver Effect is real and it’s changing everything. dark

You’ve got to love this guy. It’d be awesome if he stays with the Jazz for the remainder of his career. He’s quiet and is a bit of a background character in Utah’s starting five, but he’s definitely been the least irritating of the starters this season. He’s done exactly what we expected him to do.

And that’s far more than can be said for the rest of the starting five.

Home/Jazz News