He makes Utah’s defense dynamic and can do things Rudy can’t do
But enough of the doom and gloom about Favors not fitting on the team and the Jazz needing a replacement. Because as easy as it is to identify ways his role could be enhanced, there are also just as many strong arguments about why the Jazz should keep him on board. First among those is the fact that the combo of Favors and Gobert, for all its uncertainty offensively, makes the Jazz an absolute force to be reckoned with on defense.
That’s true to quite an extent when both are on the floor together as the twin towers, or the Wasatch Front as some would call them, can clog the paint and make life miserable for opponents trying to get to the rim. Both are long, lengthy and daunting defenders that have played crucial roles in Utah’s top-tier defense.
However, I think what the two provide when they aren’t on the floor together is even more riveting. First of all, when Gobert goes out and Favors comes in, the Jazz lose very little in terms of rim protection. Yes, Gobert is certainly better in that regard, but going up against second units as the primary rim protector has been a role in which Derrick has thrived. With both Gobert and Favors on the roster, the Jazz can go 48 whole minutes without any weakness in the paint.
Not only that, but there are things that Favors can do that Rudy simply can’t. A lot of those are on offense where Derrick’s mid-range game, ball-handling in the pick-and-roll and overall offensive repertoire is wildly better than Rudy’s. However, on defense Favors has some edges as well.
He’s much more capable of defending stretch-bigs out on the perimeter with better foot speed and lateral movement, meaning that when opposing teams go small, Favors absolutely is the better option than Gobert at the center spot. In the most recent playoff series against the Houston Rockets, Favors played an enormous role in the Game 4 victory, and his lack of playing time in Game 5 was one of my biggest criticisms of the contest.
I truly believe Favors was the better matchup against a fast-paced, high-octane Houston offense that oftentimes forced Gobert alone on an island. By keeping Derrick Favors around, the Jazz would be allowed heightened flexibility against various teams in the league. Oftentimes, Rudy Gobert is the easy choice. But on other occasions, the Jazz need Derrick Favors to change their defensive look and defend smaller units.
Keeping him on the roster to have that luxury, especially come playoff time, is worth potentially over-paying a guy who doesn’t get quite the minutes he deserves. The versatility and stinginess defensively that Favors provides for the Jazz is a vastly underrated aspect of what he brings to the team.