Utah Jazz Defensive Rating Back In Black
Dec 9, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27), forward Derrick Favors (15), and center Enes Kanter (R) talk during their game against the San Antonio Spurs at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
After spending two seasons in the red with abysmal defense, the Utah Jazz defensive rating is skyrocketing back into the black at a startling rate.
We looked at what the Jazz were doing with Rudy Gobert taking over the spot in the starting lineup formerly occupied by the now-departed Enes Kanter, about a week-and-a-half ago when the eyeballs said something special was stirring.
More from Jazz News
- With the FIBA World Cup over for Simone Fontecchio, it’s clear he deserves minutes for the Utah Jazz
- Best, Worst and Most likely scenarios for the Utah Jazz this season
- Hoops Hype downplays the significance of the Utah Jazz’s valuable assets
- 3 Utah Jazz players who have the most to gain or lose this season
- Former Utah Jazz forward Rudy Gay is a free agent still and it shouldn’t surprise anyone
"In holding the Portland Trail Blazers to a season-low 76 points, the Utah Jazz moved up an entire spot in NBA defensive ratings, to 25th — no small feat for being 54 games deep into the season — threatening to climb out the defensive cellar for the first time in two years.–The J Notes, Utah Jazz Defensive Hyperbole Rampant, February 21, 2015"
Typically, by this time of the NBA season, most teams are pretty much who they’re going to be for the remainder of it, barring injury or trades. While no blockbuster, the Enes Kanter to Oklahoma City Thunder trade, for little more than a bag of airline peanuts and a soda water, has turned out to be maybe the most impactful trade of the 2014-15 NBA season.
.@Clintonite33 It's benefited both parties mutually. Kanter's blossoming, and Utah is 4-1 since.
— Landry E. Heaton (@LanRovr0) March 3, 2015
Kanter has been critical to the Thunder staying afloat with Kevin Durant out.
@Clintonite33 @Silverarrow82 I think the trade is one of the rare win-win trades in the league.
— Josh (@jsjjazzfan78) March 3, 2015
Well spoken, Joshua. I concur.
@Clintonite33 For sure. It's amazing to see how much Kanter was holding the Jazz back defensively. Didn't think that was possible for 1 plyr
— Ash (@Silverarrow82) March 3, 2015
When we last looked in, a scant four games ago, the Jazz had just climbed an entire place in the NBA defensive ratings after a single game — again, I can’t stress enough how unusual that is this deep into the season — from 26th to 25th. Four games later, the Utah Jazz defensive rating has made another leap. As noted in the latest edition of The Gobert Report, for the month of February, the Utah Jazz defensive rating was the NBA’s best. As in numero uno. Elite.
PPG allowed: MEM is 1st in NBA (95.7) and Utah 4th (96.8)...no one was better than Jazz at def efficiency in month of February #UTAatMEM
— Austin Horton (@austinhorton) March 3, 2015
That’s the Gobert effect, next to Derrick Favors. It allows the Jazz’s guards and wings to gamble, force turnovers for easy transition buckets and bonus possessions.
Remember, we’re tracking the Utah Jazz’s defensive rating progress in step with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s, who were tenth in the NBA in DRtg when they acquired Enes Kanter. The supposition of the narrative is that the Utah Jazz’s defensive rating would rise while the OKC Thunder’s would fall.
So, did it?
Utah Jazz defensive rating, March 3, 2015
Kanter has helped the Thunder tread water, which is basically what he did for the Jazz. The thing is, when your goal is to be a defensive team first Enes becomes the Kan’ter Man
Interesting. The Utah Jazz are gaining a remarkable 0.5 defensive rating spots per game. Meanwhile, the Thunder slid one spot since Enes Kanter began starting for Scott Brooks.
Kanter has helped the Thunder tread water, which is basically what he did for the Jazz. The thing is, when your goal is to be a defensive team first — as Utah GM Dennis Lindsey has reiterated since he took over for Kevin O’Connor — Enes becomes the Kan’ter Man.
What Quin Snyder, Elijah Millsap, Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors are doing for the Utah Jazz defensive rating is more than momentous. It’s almost miraculous.