Fansided

Why Rudy Gobert should have made the 2017 NBA All-Star team

By Andre Snellings

Jan 16, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (center) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Jazz defeated the Suns 106-101. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (center) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Jazz defeated the Suns 106-101. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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December 20, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) grabs a rebound against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Jazz 104-74. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 20, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) grabs a rebound against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Jazz 104-74. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Gobert is a defensive juggernaut

Gobert is the defensive anchor of arguably the best defense in the NBA. For the season, the Jazz allow 104.1 points per 100 possessions, second in the NBA and just behind the Warriors’ league leading 103.4 points per 100 possessions. The Jazz, Warriors and Spurs are all within less than a point of each other in defensive rating. The Spurs defense is led by the two-time defending Defensive Player of the Year award winner in Kawhi Leonard, while the Warriors defense is led by the two-time defending runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year award in Draymond Green. The Jazz defense is anchored by Gobert, who is having a larger defensive impact than either Leonard or Green this season.

The Jazz built their entire defensive scheme around Gobert’s ability to lock down the paint. Their perimeter players are able to play more aggressively out to the 3-point line because they know that the leading shot blocker in the NBA (2.6 blocks per game) is behind them as a help defender. Gobert holds his own man to an effective field percentage under 46 , but more importantly he leads the team to an NBA-best 48.2 effective field goal percentage allowed to the entire opposing team. And when Gobert is on the court, that number is an even smaller 46.9 effective field goal percentage allowed.

In fact, the areas in which the Jazz defense have success align directly with the areas where Gobert is strong. Of the defensive four factors, they are first in effective field goal percentage allowed but 26th in turnovers generated, which makes sense as their defense is all about preventing easy shots from the inside-out as opposed to a more perimeter-based system. Similarly, the Jazz are sixth in the NBA in both defensive rebounding percentage and free throws allowed per field goal attempt, with Gobert’s rebounding (fourth in the league in defensive rebounds) and ability to challenge shots without fouling as the keys to both.

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