Utah Jazz: 2 studs and 1 dud from demolition of Philadelphia 76ers

Utah Jazz stud: Rudy Gobert

Bojan Bogdanovic earned his stud designation by turning in a season-best performance. Rudy Gobert, on the other hand, earned his by mostly providing more of the same.

The Stifle Tower finished this contest with 15 points, 17 rebounds and 4 blocks. That last number is the most intriguing one. The 1.9 shots that Gobert is blocking per game in 2021-22 are actually his lowest per game average since his rookie season. It’s no coincidence that the 15.4 rebounds he’s grabbing per contest are a career high. Each statistical outcome is indicative of what feels like an intentional strategic shift: Gobert is opting to disrupt and collect shots rather than send them away.

All of which is great, but it’s still fun when Gobert uses his go-go gadget arms to swat shots. Blocks aside, Gobert was utterly dominant in this contest. The Sixers had no answer for him. It is, once again, confusing that Rivers played Andre Drummond for a mere 12 minutes. Undeniably, Drummond is a player with warts, but in Embiid’s absence it would seem prudent to play him against a Utah Jazz team rostering one of the best centers in the NBA.

Doc Rivers tried Charles Bassey for 9 minutes, but the rookie simply wasn’t ready for the rigors of guarding Gobert. He tried a small-ball approach resembling the Los Angeles Clippers’ strategy against the Jazz in the Western Conference semifinals last season. Credit Doc for boldness, but the 3 rebounds that former Utah Jazz player Georges Niang grabbed in his 30 minutes of action hardly made a dent in Gobert’s dominance.

All told, the Utah Jazz dominated the interior because Rudy Gobert dominated the interior in this contest. As impressive as Bogey was on the offensive end, it wouldn’t be hard to make the case that Gobert was once again the most valuable Jazzman last night.