2 studs and 1 dud from Utah Jazz win over Mavericks

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert is supposed to have a fatal flaw. He’s the best rim protector in the National Basketball Association, but he can’t survive switches. It’s this fatal flaw that is supposed to limit the Jazz’s ceiling in the playoffs.

Try telling that to Luka Doncic last night.

Rudy Gobert hounded the Slovenian sensation on switches last night. The strategy paid dividends for the Jazz, with Doncic shooting a putrid 8/24 from the field. If Gobert can sustain that kind of portability on defense, the Jazz won’t have to worry about small ball come postseason time.

It was a spirited team win to get the unofficial second half of the season off on the right foot. The Jazz emerged victorious in this game by a score of 114-109. Here are 2 studs and 1 dud from the contest.

Utah Jazz stud: Rudy Gobert

If you weren’t expecting to see the Stifle Tower’s name here, reread the opening paragraph. Now, ask yourself some serious questions about yourself.

In addition to limiting Doncic, Gobert gave the Jazz the usual goods they expect from him. All told, the star center finished with 14 points, 17 rebounds and 3 blocks.

It’s a colloquialism to say that a player “can’t miss”, but in Gobert’s case, it was literally true last night. He finished a perfect 6/6 from the field.

The most impressive aspect of his performance remained his perimeter defense on one of the league’s best perimeter playmakers. If this is a hidden ability of Gobert’s, he could not have chosen to reveal it at a more opportune time.

After all, the Utah Jazz may be gearing up for a deep playoff run.