Can the Utah Jazz get Rudy Gobert more involved in the offense?

Rudy Gobert is one of the two most important members of the Utah Jazz. For all the criticisms of his game, this is basically an indisputable fact.

Of course, it’s also well-established that the bulk of Gobert’s value comes on the defensive end. So when he exploded for 25 points in last night’s victory against the Lakers, it came as a surprise.

It even got us thinking.

Should Gobert get more touches for the Utah Jazz?

Gobert already plays a vital role in this Jazz offense. It just so happens that most of it comes off the ball. His effectiveness as a screener and pick-and-roll finisher is arguably second-to-none.

He’s often the unsung hero in Quin Snyder’s system. Many quality Jazz possessions start with Gobert in the high post orchestrating a dribble hand off. Invariably, he rolls hard to the rim. Whether he gets the ball once he gets there is a different story.

Utah Jazz big man is a low usage, high efficiency monster

When he does, he often puts it in the basket. As it stands, Gobert is averaging 15.4 points per game on 71.2% shooting from the field.

That’s insane. Of course, the vast majority of those field goals are easy dunks or layups, but the same could be said for most pick-and-roll bigs. They still don’t convert at a 71.2% clip.

Gobert is the best in the league at what he does. It doesn’t necessarily follow from that point that he could, or should, do more.

Utah Jazz big man is talented, but limited

Gobert may have finished with 25 points last night against the Lakers, but the vast majority of those buckets came from dunks made after rolling to the rim.

He did convert a post up against Carmelo Anthony for a nice finish in the fourth quarter. Anthony is a notoriously poor defender lacking in the physical qualities to contain Gobert. It was a mismatch, and a mismatch should always be exploited.

Still, overhauling Quin Snyder’s entire system to feature Gobert on the low block more frequently feels counterproductive. He doesn’t have a bag of post moves to justify such a decision. More importantly, the team has the best Offensive Rating in the entire league.

The low post game is bordering on extinction, and the Jazz enjoy the most modern shot diet in the league. Whether Gobert’s capable of more in the post or not, the Jazz don’t need to make adjustments to find out.

Should the Utah Jazz alter their strategy?

If the low block isn’t an option, it’s hard to envision where the Jazz could make more room for Gobert to grow offensively unless he adds a jumper to his game.

It may not be a problem. This team needs improvement on defense first and foremost (which, for what it’s worth, can’t be pinned on Gobert either).

If they were to make alterations to suit Gobert, it may be most effective to simply put him in position to finish pick-and-rolls more often. Sometimes, he looks like a decoy in this Jazz offense. He rolls to create gravity inside, and the ball finds its way to a three-point shooter to exploit that.

The Jazz may opt to consider dumping it inside more often. If Gobert was averaging, say, 17.4 points on 68% shooting from the field instead, it might diversify this Jazz offense a touch.

With that said, a radical overhaul does not appear to be in the works.

Nor should it be. The Utah Jazz still boast the best Offensive Rating in the NBA. If they’re going to do Gobert any favors, it should be by giving him more help on the defensive end.