The Utah Jazz’s 4-Game Skid Highlights Rudy Gobert’s Underrated MVP Candidacy

Rudy Gobert’s slow start to the season has been less than ideal for a team that is already struggling with injuries and inconsistent play. As of late, he has shown signs of returning to his MVP form and deserves more recognition as one of the best players in the league.

Rudy Gobert, who is 24 years old, has been a cornerstone of the Utah Jazz defense since joining the team in 2013. In his fourth season with the Jazz, Gobert is averaging 10 points and 11 rebounds a game. He’s also shooting an impressive 52% from the field. Read more in detail here: rudy gobert age.

The Utah Jazz are seldom given the credit they deserve. If the previous four games give any indication, center Rudy Gobert’s MVP candidacy is in jeopardy.

Utah is the NBA’s most balanced team, with the best offensive rating and second-best net rating. Because of their dominance on both ends, the Jazz are a viable championship candidate. In terms of health and safety regulations, however, that balance has been thrown out the window with Gobert.

Gobert’s worth to the squad is shown by the team’s current losing run, which testifies to his MVP credentials.

With Gobert out due to health and safety concerns, the Jazz have dropped four consecutive games.

Rudy Gobert, the center for the Utah Jazz, has entered health and safety standards, according to the organization.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 6, 2022

On January 6, Rudy Gobert became a part of the league’s health and safety regulations. The Jazz have dropped four consecutive games and are 1-4 in their previous five games without the Stifle Tower.

During their four-game losing streak, the Jazz have a net rating of -13.7 and a defensive rating of 123.2, according to NBA.com. Those are some dreadful figures.

When a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year is gone from the lineup, it goes without saying that the team’s defense will suffer. The Jazz, on the other hand, have lost a lot of offensive energy.

In the last four games, Utah’s offensive rating of 109.5 is ranked 19th. It’s also considerably behind the Jazz’s season offensive rating of 116.7, which is the highest in the NBA.

On both ends, Gobert is sorely missed by head coach Quin Snyder’s club. It’s worth considering exactly how important he is to the Jazz.

Gobert is a fantastic two-way player.

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Rudy Gobert’s scoring ability isn’t very impressive. On the low block, he averages 15.5 points and isn’t exactly a technician. He does, though, play a key part in Utah’s offensive prowess.

The Jazz don’t have a lot of running backs. They are 14th in terms of speed. When they do go out on the break, though, the Frenchman runs the floor well. According to NBA.com, the Jazz score 1.48 points per possession when Gobert is in transition. In pick-and-roll, he’s even more useful.

Because of Gobert’s significance as a screener, Utah is one of the top pick-and-roll teams in the NBA. With the 29-year-old as the roll man, it scores 1.25 points per possession.

Gobert also has a sizable lead in screen assists in the NBA. Is it fair to give him credit for setting a pick only to have Donovan Mitchell euro step his way past defenders for a basket? Most likely not. However, because of the danger he offers rolling to the basket, he deserves credit for providing Utah’s ballhandlers that additional bit of room.

With Gobert on the floor, the Jazz score 4.5 points per 100 possessions more. Defensively, he’s much more crucial. When he sits, Utah surrenders 114.7 points per 100 possessions, compared to 106.3 when he plays. Gobert isn’t simply a rim protector; he’s a force to be reckoned with. He’s an outstanding help defender who can hold his own as a pick-and-roll hedge guy while also being the ultimate rim deterrent.

Despite a poor shooting streak, Stephen Curry still leads the NBA in plus-minus, but Gobert is third in that statistic and has had an equal effect. Gobert is well-liked by other sophisticated analytics.

Include him in the discussion.

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert looks on during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert looks on during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans On Jan. 3, 2022, Rudy Gobert walks onto the field before the start of an NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans | Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Many of the same names seem to keep cropping up in NBA MVP debates.

Curry has long been considered a favorite to win the award. Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo keep asserting their dominance. Nikola Jokic, the reigning league MVP, is still in the mix, but Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone believes he is being treated unfairly.

Gobert is most likely going under the radar as well.

The NBA’s rebounding leader is a two-time All-Star (15.1). He leads the league in win shares (6.8) and is tied for second in win shares per 48 minutes with Jokic (.274). According to NBA.com, Gobert is ranked fourth in player impact estimate (PIE). He’s worth tenth more than a replacement player (VORP).

In practically every advanced measure, Gobert is near the top in the NBA. He’s unlikely to win MVP, but he deserves to be recognized. That has been made very obvious by the Jazz’s losing skid.

Unless otherwise stated, all stats are courtesy of Basketball Reference.

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