Jazz survive and beat gritty Detroit Pistons


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SALT LAKE CITY — For the past few years, the Utah Jazz have largely flown under the radar in the NBA.

However, those days are no more. Suddenly, the Jazz are the subject of respect and acclaim all over the league, with Utah’s defensive performance becoming a prime topic.

After Utah’s 109-91 win over the Houston Rockets Thursday, and center Rudy Gobert’s rebounding exploits, the Jazz earned their first four-game winning streak of the season, and raised expectations another level.

While Utah has beaten every playoff contending team it has played since the All-Star break, it previously lost to two teams that weren’t in the playoff hunt (Los Angeles and Boston) and had a narrow win against another (New York).

Hosting the 23-42 Detroit Pistons, the Jazz were attempting to do anything to avoid a letdown. That effort succeeded, as the team overcame a gritty effort by Detroit to beat the Pistons, 88-85.

Unlike the Rockets win, where Utah dominated from the opening tip, the Jazz struggled to gain much traction offensively in the game.

The Pistons took a 33-27 lead in the second quarter before the Jazz countered with a 4-0 run that was triggered by Derrick Favors' free throws and a Gobert dunk. The run ended with a Dante Exum three, which forced a Detroit timeout. Utah took a 49-43 halftime lead.


"I'd say (Utah) has got to be pretty thrilled with him and the future he's got in this league," Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said, referring to Jazz center Rudy Gobert.

The second half saw more offensive struggles. Utah made just 4-of-16 shots in the third quarter, and Detroit held a 69-67 lead in the fourth quarter. However, Rodney Hood hit a three to give Utah a 72-71 lead — a lead the Jazz would never relinquish. Trey Burke hit the clinching shot — a floater with 13 seconds left, when the Jazz had just a one-point lead.

Even though the scoring slowed in the second half, Snyder said there is a difference between playing bad offense and just not scoring.

“Sometimes we play bad offense and score; someone makes a tough shot,” he said. “There were a couple times where we don’t play with force, and we get up against the clock. Early in the (third) quarter, I thought we were getting really good looks; we just weren’t converting.”

While the win might not have showcased Utah’s best, the fact is the Jazz are turning heads around the league — especially as their winning streak is now at five games.

For instance, the strong play of Gobert and Favors has forced other teams to change their schemes to match up against Utah’s size. Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy has been impressed with the pair’s recent play, and said they make the Jazz formidable foes for any NBA team.

Van Gundy was particularly bullish on Gobert, who finished with 10 points and 19 rebounds. The longtime NBA coach, who coached Dwight Howard in Orlando, said Gobert has a chance to be an elite player in the league.

“With (Enes Kanter being traded), Gobert’s gotten more minutes, and he’s really a great defender,” he said. “He’s quick, he’s active, he’s long as hell. He comes and contests every shot.

“I think he’s a guy with great understanding of what his role is and where his greatness is. I’m not sure every young player understands that. I think a lot of young guys want to be certain things; certain things that maybe they’re not going to be.

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“He seems to have a great understanding of his role on the floor — to be a basket protector; to run the floor; be an offensive rebounder. He knows he’s not going to get the ball a lot in the post. I’d say (Utah) has got to be pretty thrilled with him and the future he’s got in this league.”

Favors led the Jazz with 26 points on another strong offensive performance after scoring 29 points against the Knicks Tuesday.

Favors said his game is developing and will continue to develop.

“I feel good right now,” he said. “Overall, I’m improving a lot. (Snyder) trusts me to actually go to me in the post, and I’m working on my game. The team is starting to trust me a lot more in the post; they’re starting getting me to go early. I still think I can get a lot better than I am now.”

Snyder praised the work Favors is doing for the Jazz.

“(Derrick) is just making good decision,” he said. “He’s taking his jump shots opportunistically. He’s hard to guard. He’s just being more patient, and that means letting the other guys get to spacing. We are seeing him improve as the season progresses.”

The Jazz have Sunday off in preparation for Monday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets. The day off will leave time for the Jazz to reflect on their 10-2 run since the All-Star break, and also on the work they have ahead.

Snyder said it’s an exciting time.

“I’m trusting them in a little more right now, and they’ve earned that,” he said. “You get to a point where I want to make sure we’re fresh. They’re dialed in. It’s good because we’ve got a long way to go; there’s just a lot more to do. But what we’re doing is positive.”

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Jon Oglesby

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