Rudy Gobert makes case for DPOY

“We will be fine.”

Those short and simple words, at the time, were quiet words of encouragement on twitter from Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert following Utah’s 12th loss in 15 games. The star center, who sent the tweet minutes after the Jazz fell to the Denver Nuggets, had missed the previous 10 games due to a nagging injury and

without the anchor of their defense, the Jazz struggled to find their footing in a difficult Western Conference.

Gobert’s words, while at the time viewed as little more than a simple response to a tough loss, are now viewed as nothing short as prophetic. The Jazz are now one of the hottest teams in the NBA following the return of the All-NBA Center.

But as Gobert continued to miss time with a knee injury, causing him to miss the next five games following the now infamous tweet, the Jazz continued to struggle Utah went 2-3 in the following games before Rudy Gobert was able to return.

Since Gobert's return, however, it’s been a tale of two tapes for the Jazz and it was Gobert’s return that provided the spark the Jazz needed to turn around their season. Since Gobert returned to the court the Jazz own a 21-5 record that includes wins over the Raptors, Warriors, Spurs, Trail Blazers and Timberwolves. The Jazz also find themselves in the fifth seed in the crowded Western Conference Playoff race following the quick turnaround.

The Jazz certainly did end up being fine.

But while Gobert could most certainly be looked at as a basketball prophet, Gobert is earning a different title in the Salt Lake Valley. That of Defensive Player of the Year.

Ask any Jazz fan and they’ll be quick to let you know how they feel about the NBA’s decision to give Draymond Green the DPOY Award last season over Utah’s Rudy Gobert. While Jazz fans, and Gobert himself, may feel as if the French center was robbed of the award last season, Rudy is poised for another run at the award this season. Although, Gobert faces an uphill battle if he wants to win the prestigious award.

Gobert is on pace to play 300-1,000 minutes less than his competition for the award. Two separate knee injuries have caused the center to miss extended periods of time, which could hurt Gobert’s resume.

While Gobert has missed 26 games this season, he has performed at an All-NBA level for the second straight year. Jazz beat reporter Andy Larsen – from KSL – pointed out that if Gobert wants to win the DPOY Award he would have to perform 15-50% better than the competition. Something Gobert has done since returning from injury.

Gobert certainly has the stats to back up his DPOY candidacy. Since Gobert returned from injury the Jazz first in opponent’s points per game, first in opponent’s field goal percentage, first in rebounds per game and first in defensive rating. Additionally Gobert has averaged a double-double with 14.6 points per game and 11.4 rebounds per game to go along with 2.3 blocks. Gobert also leads the NBA in contested shots per game since returning from injury and has blocked 55 shots – which ranks third in the NBA since 1/9/18.

As a team, the Jazz are 8-1 in ‘clutch-games’ since Gobert returned from injury and have a Net Rating of +10.5. Additionally the Jazz have gone 15-1 in games in which Gobert records a double-double since returning from injury.

While Gobert has quietly built his case for Defensive Player of the Year, the Jazz haven’t been as quiet with their support of their defensive anchor. ““I think it’s an empirical fact [Rudy Gobert is the best defensive player in the NBA,” Jazz coach Quinn Snyder said. “Empirical from the standpoint that if you look at every number, he has been dominant … I am just stating what is happening with our team and what Rudy is doing is special right now.”

Even Gobert himself hasn’t held back when asked if he should win the award. ““I don’t like to make my own case,” Gobert said, “but there’s nobody who impacts the game defensively like I do in the whole world. ... I watch a lot of games, and I don’t see anyone. Draymond had a great year last year, and he was close. But this year, it’s not close.”

There’s no question that the return of Rudy Gobert has jump-started the Jazz and allowed them to climb the Western Conference Standings. While guys like Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles have lead the way for Utah’s offense, it’s Gobert that has anchored the NBA’s best defense. Gobert first talked the talk after telling Jazz fans the team would be fine, and then walked the walk as he has the Jazz in serious Playoff contention.

To Jazz fans, to members of the Jazz organization and even to Rudy Gobert, there’s no doubt he is the Defensive Player of the Year. “To me, there’s no question right now,” Gobert said.