With Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert set to miss at least the next four weeks, here are a list of players that will need to step out in Gobert’s absence.
A tough season for the Utah Jazz has gotten a little bit tougher.
There were rumblings over the weekend that big man Rudy Gobert would miss some time after suffering a knee injury on Friday night against the Miami Heat.
The injury occurred during the third quarter of Friday’s 84-74 loss to the Heat, when Dion Waiters dove and crashed into Gobert’s knees, forcing him to exit the game.
NOOOOOOOOO!!!! Rudy Gobert taken off the court as Dion Waiters runs into Rudy Gobert's knee. pic.twitter.com/kxFRyQkxmj
— Dave Noriega (@davenoriega) November 11, 2017
That fear of Gobert missing some time was brought up again on Sunday, with The Vertical‘s Shams Charania reporting that the Jazz expected Gobert to be sidelined for an extended period of time:
Sources: Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks with a bone bruise in his right knee. Gobert suffered the injury Friday against Miami.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 12, 2017
The Jazz later made it official Sunday afternoon, announcing Gobert suffered a right tibia contusion and will be reevaluated in four weeks:
The injury to Gobert obviously hurts Utah, who will now lack a strong post presence and a defensive threat in the paint. Gobert was having a nice start to the season, averaging 13.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and a NBA-leading 2.5 blocks per game in 12 contests. He had also recorded eight double-doubles in those 12 games this year, tying for the third-most in the league.
While Gobert is watching from the sideline for the next 4-6 weeks, here are a few players that will need to step up even more for the Jazz:
Derrick Favors
With a gap in the paint with the absence of Gobert, that means Derrick Favors will have to step it up even more.
Favors has been a physical presence on both ends of the floor that has made him a nice complementary piece next to Gobert over the past few years. Now, he will have to continue to expand his game for the next month or so.
So far this season, Favors is averaging 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.9 steals per game for the Jazz.
Thabo Sefolosha
So far this season, Thabo Sefolosha has been the primary player coming off the bench when Gobert exits the game.
Now more than ever, the forward will have to step it up when he enters the game off the bench and try to continue to provide a spark when the starters take a seat.
In 14 games so far this season, Sefolosha is averaging 7.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, while continuing to be a solid threat from deep, shooting 40.7 percent from 3.
Rodney Hood
One bright spot outside of Gobert this season for the Jazz has been the play of Rodney Hood.
Hood currently leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.7 points per game, while adding 2.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
With Gobert out, along with Joe Johnson (wrist) and Dante Exum (shoulder), Hood will have to continue his hot start to the season.
Donovan Mitchell
In a few years, we might look back at the 2017 NBA Draft and wonder why more people didn’t take a longer look at Donovan Mitchell.
The rookie guard has been great for the Jazz so far this season, averaging 14.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game, fitting in nicely in Utah thus far.
With Johnson likely due back at the end of November and Exum with no timetable for return, the play of Mitchell will be crucial.
Ricky Rubio
With the acquisition of Ricky Rubio from Minnesota this offseason, many knew he would add to the defensive side of the ball for the Jazz, and so far, he has. Utah, in fact, has established itself early on as one of the top defensive teams in the league this season.
But now more than maybe ever, the Utah Jazz need everyone, especially Rubio, to step it up offensively without Gobert in the lineup. Utah needs more from its point guard if it wants to continue to make it by without its starting center and best player.
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So far this season, Rubio is averaging 13.6 points, 5.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. But the common theme throughout his whole career has continued this season, as Rubio is shooting 37.1 percent from the field and 25.8 percent from deep, which are his lowest percentages since the 2014-15 season.