Utah Jazz: 3 reasons keeping Derrick Favors is a good move

2. The Jazz can go big while the rest of the league goes small

The two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors are setting the tone in the NBA with their up-tempo brand of “small-ball” that is heavy on 3-point shooting.

While a number of teams will attempt to mimic that style, sometimes the right move is to zig when the competition zags.

The Jazz and head coach Quin Snyder prefer a slower pace. They ranked 29th out of 30 teams last season in field goal attempts per game and were in the middle of the pack (13th) in 3-point attempts.

Utah’s calling card is its defense. The Jazz ranked first in the league in points allowed per game (99.8), second in defensive rating and ranked sixth in lowest opponent field goal percentage and most turnovers forced.

While the league trends toward small-ball, one of Utah’s strengths is its size. Gobert stands 7’1″ and Favors is listed at 6’10” and 265 pounds. He’s big enough to play center on most teams.