NBA Player Power Rankings: Stephen Curry Sends a Message

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Oct 28, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) boxes Detroit Pistons forward Ersan Ilyasova (23) during the fourth quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons won 92-87. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

18. Derrick Favors, Utah Jazz

Position: Power Forward

Age: 24

2015-16 Slash Line: .667/.000/.750

2015-16 Season Averages: 35.0 MPG, 26.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.0 BPG, 1.0 SPG

The Utah Jazz are attempting to build a contender through dominant interior defense. Trading Enes Kanter created the opportunity to do so, as Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert led Utah to late-season success in 2014-15.

In 2015-16, Favors is looking to take Utah to the next level by turning the corner on the other end.

Thus far, Favors has done an excellent job of establishing that his offensive upside isn’t as distant as it once seemed. Going up against Andre Drummond and the Detroit Pistons, Favors took over the offensive interior.

The 24-year-old veteran put up 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field.

Favors still has work to do offensively, as consistently producing has never been his forte. This was a prime example of what he’s capable of doing, however, as a skilled and physically overwhelming traditional power forward.

If Utah continues to play as well as it did defensively, and Favors produces 20 points a night, it should be a rewarding season for patient Jazz fans.

Next: Turning a Corner?