coach wrote:
Since this thread was started
The Lakers have lost 5 in a row
The Nets have won 5 in a row
Of course Lebron's metrics have gone down and Harden's has gone up. Harden has moved into the discussion.
Forget Gobert, in 2015 the Hawks had easily the best record in the east and the 2nd best record in the NBA but not 1 Hawk was in the discussion nor finished in the top 10 in voting for the MVP race. Gobert doesn't score and in the playoffs his man to man defense has been exposed. He has not had success playing his man away.
The Hawks comparison is poor. Hawks played in a weak Eastern Conference. Jazz are on pace to win more games than the Hawks won that season in 10 less games against a harder schedule. Jazz have 6 losses and started 4-4. Next best team has 11 losses. Jazz have had one of the toughest schedules in the NBA. The teams with 11 losses have had three of
the easiest schedules in the NBA.
Rudy is clearly the best player on his team. Who was the best player on the Hawks team?
Give me an example of Gobert's man to man defense being exposed. Not one play where Steph Curry crossed over Gobert with Rudy playing on an injured knee.
Ben Simmons has 41 points recently, but went 3/7 against Gobert with 3 or 4 turnovers.
Miami Heat had two times in one game where they went 10 minutes without making a shot a few weeks ago.
Jazz played amazing defense against the Rockets a couple of years ago. He was responsible for guarding both Harden and Capela. Rubio literally guarded Harden standing behind him(on purpose), because she had Rudy as help. Rudy was the #1 isolation defender in the NBA last season. A 7'1" center was the #1 perimeter defender! Rudy only gets exposed because he is responsible for guarding other people's man.
Jazz have the number 1 defense in the NBA starting Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic who are both terrible defenders. Mitchell is basically a non defender. Bogie is targeted constantly.
Gobert is averaging close to the same amount of points as Steve Nash when he won his first MVP. Gobert is scoring 14 PPG, while only missing 4 shots.
Meanwhile, he averages 3.4 offensive rebounds per game. The Jazz are one of the best shooting teams in NBA history. Jazz are making 17 3s a game on close to 40% shooting. Players are getting wide open looks due to Gobert's screens and rim rolls. Rudy gets doubled constantly on his rolls. Players leave their man to prevent the lob to Rudy.
Rudy's impact can't be measured by a box score. He is the equivalent to having the best offensive and defensive line in football. People consider Rudy merely a rim protector on defense and a poor offensive player.