What's new
By:
Filters

[MacMahon] The Making of Rudy Gobert

stitches

stitches

Well-Known Member
2023 Prediction Contest Winner
Interesting article about Gobert:

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/presents170316b

The making of Rudy Gobert

SALT LAKE CITY -- UTAH JAZZ CENTER Rudy Gobert crouches in a defensive stance just inside the 3-point line, far from his preferred territory. There are less than three minutes left in a game the Jazz lead 78-73. He's guarding DeMarcus Cousins, the high-scoring center whose highlight-producing skill set factored into Gobert missing his first All-Star invitation.

It feels like everyone in Vivint Smart Home Arena knows Cousins will attack Gobert. Down five, Cousins' Pelicans need a bucket, and Cousins is among the league's best bucket-getters. Cousins makes his move: a dribble to his left, bringing him to the top of the key, then a nimble crossover followed by devastating power move, dropping his shoulder into his 7-foot-1 defender. Gobert mirrors Cousins' early maneuvers, moving laterally, extending some of the NBA's longest arms straight up and then -- surprise! -- turbo backpedals as Cousins charges forward, expecting contact. Cousins stumbles, flinging up a wild shot that fails to draw iron.

Cousins sits on the floor, scowling at the referee as Gobert grabs the rebound and shovels the ball to teammate Gordon Hayward. Gobert then sprints the floor, seamlessly flowing into a high pick-and-roll with his All-Star teammate. The Jazz get a clean look at a 3, which misses, but Gobert dives down the middle of the lane, slices under All-Star game MVP Anthony Davis and uses his full length to tip in the missed 3.

Gobert ends up with 15 points, 16 rebounds, two blocks and the win.

Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey believes a big man like Gobert, if he is committed to dominating with simplicity, can anchor a contender. And that's the plan he laid out to Gobert and his agent. "We hope," Lindsey says, "that he's the Utah Jazz version of Bill Russell."

[read full article here]
Click to expand...
 
McMahon has been great this year with his coverage of the Jazz. Love his stuff
 
That was terrific. If Hayward really wants to win Gobert is a guy you stay with long term. So much fire... does all the dirty work and dominates without needing the ball.
 
I liked hearing that story about running a play for Rudy. That stuff is honestly so important-- Rudy has been characteristically selfless in putting team wins above anything and everything else. It's important that the team provides opportunities for him to slightly push his ceiling along, and feel that he's valued. Not in every game, mind you-- but you acn handle a single possession every now and then. Especially in the context of a blow-out.
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
That was terrific. If Hayward really wants to win Gobert is a guy you stay with long term. So much fire... does all the dirty work and dominates without needing the ball.
Click to expand...

Rudy is honestly the key to keeping Hayward here. Everyone else is more or less replaceable, but there simply isn't a single other big man like him in the NBA. Great PGs can be found everywhere, even good coaches are more commonplace. Gordon knows that.
 
dalamon said:
Rudy is honestly the key to keeping Hayward here. Everyone else is more or less replaceable, but there simply isn't a single other big man like him in the NBA. Great PGs can be found everywhere, even good coaches are more commonplace. Gordon knows that.
Click to expand...

fair, but we all know Joe Ingles is the key.
 
Those sessions typically last between five and 10 minutes, depending on whether Gobert is in one of the contrarian moods the team has come to expect from time to time.
Click to expand...

All the greats are contrarians.
 
RealGM - Dennis Lindsey: Rudy Gobert's Desire To Be Good As Unique As His Standing Reach

The Utah Jazz were struck by how Rudy Gobert wanted to improve, even in pregame warmups when they were scouting him in 2013.
"He was working on completely the wrong stuff," Lindsey said.
Gobert was raw with a 9-foot-7 standing reach.
"I know this sounds crazy, but it's proven to be true to date: His want to be good is as unique as his wingspan and standing reach," Dennis Lindsey said.
Gobert slid in the draft to 27th as he struggled in several workouts.
"He was lost going into that jungle of the workouts," agent Bouna Ndiaye said. "In Chicago, he was bad. He was really bad."
"He likes to play. Like, he enjoys playing," said Alex Jensen, the Jazz assistant coach who works individually with Gobert. "I think a lot of big guys kind of fall into it because of just being big, but he likes to play and he wants to be good. It sounds simple, but it's rare. It's not the norm."
The Jazz paid $3 million to purchase a late first round pick in what was considered a weak draft.
"We got lucky there," Lindsey said. "If we were so smart, we would have moved to the top of the draft."
The Jazz signed Gobert to an extension before the start of the 16-17 season.
"We hope," Lindsey says, "that he's the Utah Jazz version of Bill Russell."


Full Story...
 
"Basketball players are just the race-car version of cars. Bigger, stronger, faster, more powerful," Lindsey said. "Every person has a chassis, if you want to use the car analogy. The chassis has to be balanced."
Click to expand...

"Balance"... God, Lindsey is such a ****ing idiot. When will this stupidity end?

The Jazz' mishandling of Rudy has been disastrous. On any other team, he would have been an all-star by now. DL needs to be fired.
 
Engorged On Unborn Gore said:
"Balance"... God, Lindsey is such a ****ing idiot. When will this stupidity end?

The Jazz' mishandling of Rudy has been disastrous. On any other team, he would have been an all-star by now. DL needs to be fired.
Click to expand...

Let's see. He was only drafted because the Jazz wanted him. At 24 he has become the best center in the NBA. Most everyone agrees he should have been an All-Star this year and was snubbed. Good god, I can only hope DL does this well with Exum, Hood, and Lyles.
 
Scat said:
Let's see. He was only drafted because the Jazz wanted him. At 24 he has become the best center in the NBA. Most everyone agrees he should have been an All-Star this year and was snubbed. Good god, I can only hope DL does this well with Exum, Hood, and Lyles.
Click to expand...
I think he was being sarcastic.
Not sure doe
 
Saint Cy of JFC said:
All the greats are contrarians.
Click to expand...

We had a super talented senior manager that should have been a partner based on ability... she was the contrarian and at some point we decided she made everyone miserable. So not always.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top