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Milwaukee Bucks Game Preview: Feb. 1 at Utah Jazz

By Ti Windisch

Mar 20, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) dribbles the ball as Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) defends during the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) dribbles the ball as Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) defends during the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 7, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) during a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz at Target Center. The Jazz defeated the Timberwolves 94-92. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) during a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz at Target Center. The Jazz defeated the Timberwolves 94-92. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Player To Watch: Rudy Gobert

It was a tough decision to make between Rudy Gobert and Gordon Hayward to feature as the player to watch for this game, but Gobert is definitely the biggest reason for Utah’s success this year.

The Jazz are good because they’re such a stout team defensively, and that begins and ends with Gobert. He’s averaging 12.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game while nailing a super-efficient 65.8 percent of his field goals.

The rebounds and blocks speak to what Gobert does on defense, but they don’t tell the whole story. He’s one of the best few defenders in the NBA, full-stop. Kawhi Leonard and Draymond Green might get more shine for their defense, but Gobert is certainly on their level.

He’s first in the NBA in defensive rating, first in defensive win shares and third in defensive box plus/minus. He’s held opponents to 47.3 percent shooting within six feet of the rim, good enough for fifth among all NBA players. No other players defending at least seven field goals per game in that range holds opponents to as low of a percentage as Gobert does.

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