Utah Jazz: Highs and lows from the first half of the season
The Lows
No. 1: Injuries
This has been the story all season long for Utah. Injuries have been a big reason, but obviously not the only reason, that the Jazz have struggled to find their groove really all season long.
The most devastating injury — or rather injuries — Utah has had to try and deal with this season surround star center Rudy Gobert.
Gobert, who is still currently recovering from a second knee injury this season, has appeared in just 18 of the 41 games this season. The good news is, Gobert is looking to make his return — the Jazz are hoping for good — around the middle of January.
Some other injuries in Utah this season include Joe Johnson, who has played in 19 games after suffering a wrist injury, as well as Raul Neto (concussion), who will miss extended time, and Dante Exum (shoulder), who has yet to play this season.
No. 2: The play of Ricky Rubio
In an attempt to make a last-second effort to try and convince Gordon Hayward to re-sign in Utah this offseason, the Jazz went out and traded for Ricky Rubio from Minnesota, sending a first round pick (which is actually Oklahoma City’s pick) back to the Timberwolves.
But so far this season, we haven’t seen the Rubio that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing throughout his NBA career. Through 41 games, he is averaging 11.6 points, along with career-lows of 4.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.
For a player that was traded in exchange for a first round draft pick, Rubio hasn’t lived up to his expectations this season in Utah.
No. 3: Being in the Western Conference
This low is one that obviously is completely out of Utah’s control, but it’s something that has been unfortunate for the Jazz this season, especially in what appears to be a down year in Utah.
In a year where multiple teams in the West reloaded or added valuable pieces to their teams to try and make a run at stopping the Golden State Warriors — teams like the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City, among others — the Jazz have found themselves without their star player from last season while still trying to fully find an identity.
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It’s not that Utah is a bad team, it has multiple solid pieces. But in a year where teams have geared up to make a run in the postseason, the Jazz seem like they could end up being the odd team out.