Utah Jazz: 2017-18 NBA season preview

Storyline 2: Will we get the real Derrick Favors back?

Before his injury-ravaged 2016-17 season, Derrick Favors was shaping up as a genuine All-Star candidate. His 16.4 points and 8.1 rebounds were earning him league-wide recognition; a difficult task for somebody playing for the Utah Jazz.

Knee injuries kept Favors to a hobbling mess last season. At times painful to watch, the 25-year-old looked a shadow of his former self. His decline hurt the Jazz more than we will ever know, but a return to form this season would have a much larger impact on the season.

Utah Jazz

His social media posts suggest he’s recovering well, but it will be difficult to know how well his knee has progressed until he sees significant court time. Running in sand is a great sign of strength, but nothing quite replicates the daily grind of forcing his 265-pound body up and down the court.

Expectations are hard to pin on big men returning from long-term knee injuries, but Favors is putting in the work. While the numbers Favors put up himself are important, his output will also influence Gobert’s.

The Frenchman is likely to see a few more shots than he’s accustomed too. As he becomes more of a focal point in the offense and his combination with Rubio develops, opposing defenses will cave in on him a lot more. His 68.2 percent shooting from within five feet will be a lot harder to replicate with defenders not having to worry about Gordon Hayward.

Where Favors comes in is spacing.

If he can be a mid-range threat, or even the prime target on the opposition’s scouting report, the lane opens up for Gobert. The high pick-and-roll becomes a staple of the Jazz offense and the 22-point void Hayward left begins to be filled.

If the knee is healthy, there’s no reason Favors can’t reproduce the 16 points and eight rebounds he averaged in 2015-16. His name isn’t getting a mention as we approach the season, but a healthy Favors would be hard for the league to ignore.