#RUDY GAY FINE HOW TO#
Much like the Bucks used last regular season to get experience with switching on-ball screens, Utah is learning how to play a brand-new style. With Gay at center, the Jazz are switching 40 percent of on-ball screens and 33 percent of handoffs, which is way up from only 13 percent and 10 percent, respectively, when Gobert is on the floor, according to Second Spectrum. In 12 games since returning from offseason surgery on his heel, Gay has played 24 of his 228 minutes at the 5, and those lineups play far differently than the Jazz do with Gobert or Whiteside. Now 35, he retains some quickness to defend on the perimeter and is strong enough to handle some bigs inside. He’s gone from a 6-foot-8, high-volume-scoring small forward during his prime athletic years to a spot-up 3-point shooter playing the 4 and sometimes the 5 for Utah. Just like many aging players, Gay has transformed to survive in the league. When Gobert is on the bench, Quin Snyder now has two primary options: Plug in Hassan Whiteside to keep a traditional center on the floor, or go with his other Rudy, Rudy Gay, as a small-ball center. Per usual during the regular season, the Jazz are filthy.īut to get over the hump in the playoffs, the Jazz are experimenting with smaller lineups to better prepare for teams like the Warriors and Clippers, both of whom have successfully downsized against them.
Rudy Gobert anchors an elite Jazz defense once again, and their offense is wrecking opponents, posting a 117.5 offensive rating, which is by far the highest in the NBA.
With that in mind, here are seven thoughts and observations from around the NBA, including one answer to a question I pulled from my social media mailbag: 1. Still, there are plenty of swaps that could shake up both the championship race and the lottery standings. The market is relatively mild right now, with few high-profile players readily available. Though most deals don’t happen until we get closer to the February 10 trade deadline, general managers are beginning to have more serious talks. Wednesday is an important day on the NBA calendar: On December 15, most players who signed new contracts during the offseason are able to be traded, meaning more than 80 percent of the NBA will be tradable.