When the Jazz goes just or lose, Rudy Gobert is the first name that comes back in the mouths of Internet users and some fans. But according to an expert, criticizing him would be unfair, especially at the defensive level. Indeed, he would almost be abandoned by his teammates.
It’s fashion when it comes to talking about Jazz across the Atlantic, the fault is often put on Rudy Gobert. It must be said that he is a triple Best Defender of the Year, and when his team finds itself unable to pass playoff rounds due to a porous defense, all eyes are necessarily on him. In fact, when a player pulls out a big game against Utah, everyone assumes it’s because the Frenchman has failed.
This is the reason why it was strongly criticized by Patrick Beverley and Anthony Edwards a few weeks ago. The leader felt, for example, that the pivot of the France team did not focus often enough on the best opposing player, and that he had too much trouble defending off. Valid criticisms, but which in no way justify the relentlessness of some.
Rudy Gobert abandoned by his teammates?
Kevin O’Connor, prominent journalist of the site The Ringer, has also looked at the case of Jazz and the image of Rudy Gobert in the NBA microcosm. For him, the tricolor pivot does not deserve the invectives of some, as he is lonely in the defensive system of Quin Snyder. According to the journalist, the problem stems more from the lack of involvement of his teammates.
Players like Jordan Clarkson, Joe Ingles and Bojan Bogdanovic bring a lot offensively, but they hardly contribute defensively. It’s unfair to criticize Rudy Gobert and blame him all on him. Royce O’Neal is the squad’s best outside defender, but he’s too small to deal with some beefier players. His other teammates are zero in defense, they are as resistant as paper mache.
Everyone in Utah should be on the transfer list except Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley, if it helps the team to improve. Danny Ainge should try his luck and bring in a player who can help Rudy Gobert make the defensive stops he needs on the road to a title. He’s never been afraid to take risks in Boston, it’s up to him to take Jazz to a new dimension.
For Kevin O’Connor, Rudy Gobert is not failing defensively, he is simply abandoned when he has to come out off to contain a long-range threat like Stephen Curry. And it is true that the rotations seem optional on certain sequences, which offers easy points in the paint to opponents of Jazz. We will quickly have to find a solution before the playoffs!
Rudy Gobert is very often criticized after a bad performance of the Jazz, fortunately, he can count on the support of certain experts. The key to success in Utah will obviously depend on the ability of leaders to strengthen the team.
