Tim MacMahon: Rudy Gobert on the rowdy atmosphere for Gordon Hayward’s Utah return: “You could hear it: This meant a lot for [Jazz fans]. Especially after we lost four games at home, we kind of owed them that win tonight. We did the job, and they did a great job pushing us.”
Rudy Gobert Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: C
Born: 06/26/92
Height: 7-1 / 2.16
Weight:235 lbs. / 106.6 kg.
Salary: $22,741,573
Born: 06/26/92
Height: 7-1 / 2.16
Weight:235 lbs. / 106.6 kg.
Salary: $22,741,573
“Gordon is a good guy, I think I’m a good guy … Sometimes you make choices that you think are good for you,” Gobert said. “You don’t have to judge anyone. It’s just a game, and we’re gonna go play basketball.”
Hayward is expected to make his much-anticipated return to Vivint Arena in Celtic green and white on Friday, when Utah hosts Boston at 7:30 p.m. However, that is barring any unforeseen health concerns following the second night of a back-to-back in Phoenix with the Celtics medical staff closely monitoring him. “People do what they want,” Gobert explained. “I hope he’s happy. We’re happy here and we’re just going to play basketball.”
The Jazz clogged passing lanes and forced the Mavericks to make bad decisions. Dallas committed 25 turnovers, and Utah turned them into 31 points. “We wanted to play our defense with some heart,” Utah coach Quin Snyder said. “I thought we did that. Now we got to add some smarts. That said, I thought we came out with the right frame of mind.” Mitchell scored 23 points in his first game back after missing a game with an ankle sprain. He also dished out seven assists and had five rebounds. Rudy Gobert had 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots. Alec Burks added 18 points off the bench.
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Gobert feels the NBA rule changes are affecting the Jazz’s ability to defend as a unit. “A lot. I think it impacts everyone,” Gobert said. “We want to be a physical team and we want to impact the other team’s movement. It’s a big change and it’s hard with all those screens and guards that are using that as an advantage to get fouled. It’s hard, but it’s the same for everyone so we have to adapt.”
Eric Woodyard: Rudy Gobert on how NBA rule changes are affecting the Utah Jazz’s team defense: “A lot. I think it impacts everyone. We want to be a physical team.” Some of the notable changes were freedom of movement on the perimeter and in the post. pic.twitter.com/FyaMhpqRng
