Rudy Gobert is a top 15 player, deal with it

Part of getting through the NBA offseason is analyzing the takes of multiple national outlets and their NBA player rankings. We all know that ranking players is tough. It opens up a whole can of worms on twitter, welcoming every fanbase’s craziest fans into mentions for days on end. Sports Illustrated has been releasing their top 100 players (for the 2018-19 season) and the Jazz have been represented very well. Ricky Rubio came in at 57, Joe Ingles at 56, Derrick Favors at 51, and Donovan Mitchell at 34. Yesterday SI released rankings 30-11, and another Jazz player was unveiled.

Sports Illustrated

Rudy Gobert aka The Stifle Tower aka Gobzilla aka The French Rejection aka Ruuuuuuuuudy came in hot, representing the Utah Jazz in the top 15 of a national NBA player ranking. What a time to be alive. Rob Mahoney’s description of Gobert’s impact nits the nail on the head while defining the true value that he brings to the game and why he is ranked so high.

Gobert (13.5 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.3 BPG) is so imposing that he actually changes the psychology of a game. Opponents with the ball in hand turn their focus inward; you can see confident players talk themselves out of shots they would ordinarily love to take, all for fear of Gobert swatting them away. Many teams will go to amazing lengths to pull Gobert away from the basket—challenging him laterally rather than vertically—but there’s only so much you can do to separate from a 7’1” shot-blocker with Gobert’s instincts. An incredible number of plays will always be in his reach.

His presence provides a sense of order, a way of life. Utah orients its entire defense around Gobert, knowing that he’ll not only influence a ton of shots himself, but give teammates license to apply their own pressure. This has a constricting effect. Passing lanes are tighter. Driving lanes are contested. It’s difficult to even work through your offense against Gobert and the Jazz, much less score. Defenders are emboldened at every turn, channeling Gobert’s confidence. Gobert plays with the sureness of a player who knows exactly what he is. There are no misconceptions to his game—no indulgent post-ups or rash dribble moves. Just no-frills, highly efficient offense predicated on putting as little space between him and the rim as possible. Cutting off his access to the basket is easier said than done; even last season’s Rockets, who switched as capably as any team in the league, couldn’t entirely deny Gobert’s rolls, cuts, and put-backs. There are some things you can never take away from a seven-footer when he’s wholly committed to playing his game. — RM

Gobert changes the psychology of the game. How many NBA players actually do that? Probably only a handful, and most of them are top 20 players. Even though Gobert has proven for the last several seasons why he deserves to be included in the conversation with the NBA’s best, there were plenty of people that took to twitter to complain about how high SI ranked him compared to other deserving players.

Yeah, I know, these things happen. Like I said, ranking players is hard, and there is always backlash. But it’s good to finally see Rudy get some respect. The man literally took a team that was heading towards the lottery last season and hoisted them into the playoffs AND advanced to the second round in the Western Conference. As long as Rudy Gobert was on the floor for the Jazz last season, they were probably winning basketball games. And to me, that’s the true value of the Gobzilla.

It’s quite refreshing to be on the other side of a ranking for Rudy Gobert. Typically Jazz fans are the ones throwing fits in mentions about how low Gobert is ranking, and we are used to the disrespect and realize that not everyone comprehends the greatness of Rudy Gobert. Like Kevin Malone says in The Office: “Its just nice to win one”.

Soon will come the day that every mouth will confess the greatness of Rudy Gobert. As each day passes, we get closer and closer. But for now, until Gobert hoists the Larry O’Brein trophy in the air in front of the Jazz crowd and colored confetti, the NBA world is just gonna have to deal with it. *Puts sun glasses on and sips tea*

The Jazz announced a free event for fans to meet the team at Vivint Arena, and it sounds like a pretty cool gathering.

Although it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which all fans can “meet” the players, this sounds like it will be a fun (and free) opportunity for fans to interact with the players and see a little bit of their personalities up close.

Part of the above-mentioned fan event held by the Jazz includes a three-point shootout put on by Jazz players.

Each team will consist of one guard/wing and one big man, and each player will have 45 seconds to shoot from three racks of five balls, including a money ball, stationed around the three-point line. The two teams with the highest scores will advance to the championship round.

This seems like it should be some pretty good fun and it will be interesting to see which duo comes out with the victory. I’ll put my money on Joe Ingles and whichever big man he teams up with. Who you going with?

I like the Utah Jazz and I like art. Put the two together, and you’ve pretty much made my day. These students and their masterpiece of a ceiling tile is quite extraordinary.

Quin Snyder stopped by and spoke at an event for the Salt Lake Chamber yesterday afternoon, and talked about the upcoming season for the Utah Jazz. Snyder shared his intellect and insight while looking devastatingly handsome in front of a bunch of CEOs and what looks like a very fancy event. Snyder looks great in a suit, doesn’t he? Can’t wait to see him in those suits on the sideline.