Utah Jazz: 2017-18 NBA season preview

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(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Storyline 1: Can Rudy Gobert be the guy?

When Gordon Hayward was around, the Utah Jazz were his team. He had earned that role after toiling away for seven years. But had he stayed with the franchise, Rudy Gobert was going to wrestle that tag from him sooner rather than later. In fact, the process began last season.

Gobert’s influence is widely considered to be on defense only. He led the league in defensive win shares with 6.0 and blocks at 2.7 per game in 2016-17. His mere presence is enough to steer teams away from the basket and force them into low-percentage shots.

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The Jazz have decided to build around the defensive powerhouse, but to be legitimate contenders, Gobert needs to become “the guy” on both ends of the floor.

A number that flies under the radar is Gobert’s 8.5 offensive win shares last season. He wasn’t a passenger at the other end of the floor that so many outside of Utah assume he is.

The 14 points per game were never going to set the league on fire, but it shows a steady improvement. Up from 9.1 points per game in 2015-16, Gobert displayed a softer touch and ability around the rim that will continue to develop this season.

With Ricky Rubio now in control of the offense, the potential for a lethal pick-and-roll pairing is there. Gobert is going to set high screens and roll as in the video below all season long.

With the defensive ability already present, a small improvement offensively is all that is keeping Gobert from receiving league-wide recognition. He’s yet to reach star status, but an increase in points per game will definitely catch the eye of the more casual fan.

If Gobert can replicate his 12.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks of 2016-17, but add three or four more points to his 14 per game, he can undoubtedly be “the guy” for the Utah Jazz this season.

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