He’s gotten much better. His feel around the rim is much better. He’s always had the natural talent of affecting shots on the defensive end. Offensively, I think he’s much stronger. He’s more confident as well. – Jazz point guard Trey Burke, on Rudy Gobert
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Jazz players learned how important transition defense is to new coach Quin Snyder when the team didn’t run one offensive play during the first practice.
Snyder humorously reinforced the message to Rudy Gobert during an interview following the final practice of training camp Sunday afternoon.
While answering a question about areas in which he’s improved — and he certainly has — the second-year center’s response was cut short by his coach.
“Say, ‘I’m going to get back on defense. I’m going to run back on defense,’” a smiling-but-serious Snyder told Gobert while he walked by the interview.
“Yes,” Gobert replied.
Snyder, whose comments elicited laughter from people within earshot and captured Gobert’s attention, continued to speak as if he were the French big man's ventriloquist (minus the accent).
“I’m going to form a wall. I’m going to be the best transition defender,” Snyder said for Gobert. “I’m going to be a better transition defender than (my) countryman Joakim (Noah).”
The real Gobert was then asked if that indeed is his goal.
“Of course,” he said.
Snyder smiled and interjected, “It’s my goal.”
With that, Snyder, who called it “a fight” to get Jazz players to change habits away from their inefficient defensive tendencies, went his way and Gobert’s interview continued.
“It’s not very tough,” Gobert said of trying to foil opponents’ fast breaks and early offense attempts. “I’ve just got to run back. It’s just getting in a habit.”
That aspect is just one area in which the 7-foot-1 center believes he’s improved.
Entering his second NBA season, the 22-year-old said he’s made strides with his body. His confidence is up from an occasionally draining rookie season in which the coaching staff kept him far down the bench because of his rawness. His offensive moves have also come along.
In other words, The Stifle Tower is hoping to become more than just a shot-blocker — and one who doesn't play often at that.
“He’s gotten much better. His feel around the rim is much better,” said Jazz point guard Trey Burke, who came into the NBA with his fellow 2013 first-round pick. “He’s always had the natural talent of affecting shots on the defensive end. Offensively, I think he’s much stronger. He’s more confident as well.”
Quite the surge for a six-month period, considering Gobert was a non-factor in 2013-14 for the Jazz. The 245-pounder, whom Utah traded to get after Denver selected him 27th overall, only saw action in 45 games as a rookie and averaged just 2.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocks.
The improvement happened while Gobert worked on his own, with the Jazz in a strong summer league showing, and with the French national team in a bronze-medal-winning performance at the FIBA World Cup. Snyder credited that international experience for giving him a big boost.
“It was just very important,” Gobert said of the offseason. “I gained a lot of experience during the summer — like probably a year of season of experience in one summer. That means I’m not 22, I’m 23 right now.”
Gobert grinned after saying that — and his passport would verify that he doesn’t turn 23 until June 26, 2015 — but the world took note of the growing-up-before-our-eyes player this summer. He sparked France to a quarterfinal upset win over host Spain while grabbing 13 rebounds, swatting one shot, and affecting others in crunch time for the surprise French squad.
Back in his U.S. home, teammate Gordon Hayward has also noticed a positive difference and maturation in Gobert.
“I think he’s taken big strides, just the experience helps you so much as a player, having a year under your belt,” Hayward said after Sunday's practice. “We can see the potential of his, especially on the defensive end. When he’s in the right position, it’s hard to score. He’s such a force down there with his length. We’re going to need him this year.”
Both Hayward and Snyder emphasized that Gobert’s passing will benefit the Jazz offense. Both even called him “a willing passer.” That is of utmost importance in Snyder’s system. In the flow of Utah’s new offense, bigs will be participating in a lot of high post pick-and-rolls and will have many chances to distribute to teammates perched on the perimeter or cutting to the basket.
Gobert’s hands have been considered a weakness, but Hayward said he’s noticed improvement in the way the center catches and grasps onto the ball. There’s still room to improve, but he's gotten better. Last year, Gobert almost acted lost at times on offense, Hayward noted, but the Jazz captain said he’s come along in anticipating passes. That, of course, is tied into Gobert feeling more comfortable and having more confidence on offense.
The coaching staff has been working with Gobert on getting to the basket off of pick-and-rolls, something that should help him have more of an impact on that end of the court.
“He’s a force when he rolls to the rim. We’ve got to get better at throwing it up to him,” Snyder said. “I’ve been on him to roll to the rim. When you roll to the rim and they pass it to you, it makes you want to roll more.”
Gobert feels more relaxed and understands the game at a higher level now after feeling “just restrained sometimes” as a rookie.
“I’m learning to play with my teammates and with the coach. It’s getting better every day,” Gobert said. “I think I can implement what the coach wants me to do, the way we want to play offensively and defensively.”
Snyder agreed that is happening, which will help Gobert earn a regular spot in the big-man rotation. It will help if he improves his inept free-throw shooting (49.2 percent) and avoids getting into early foul trouble.
“Obviously, his strength right now is he affects the game defensively,” Snyder said. “I think there’s clearly a place for him on the floor. He changes the game.”
“His talent is definitely there,” Burke added. “Just his natural physical abilities is off the charts.”
Now if he’ll just repeat after his coach, “I’m going to run back on defense. I’m going to form a wall. I’m going to be the best transition defender.”
Snyder isn’t just emphasizing that for fun.
“If he’s back there,” the coach said, “he discourages people from going to the rim.”
If you’ve forgotten this oft-repeated fact, Gobert does have a 7-foot-9 wingspan that comes in handy while trying to discourage opponents in his vicinity.
“He’s just so long. … He’s just such a big wall,” Hayward said. “He can just make a huge impact when he’s in the right place.”
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