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Deconstructing The Utah Jazz Defense

Related Topics: Utah Jazz

For the third consecutive year, the Utah Jazz boast one of the best defenses in the league. They rank first in points allowed per game and second (tied with Golden State) in defensive efficiency.

Their defense is anchored by defensive player of the year candidate Rudy Gobert, who leads the league in blocks per game, and, per basketball-reference, makes the Jazz five points better defensively while on the court. As in past years, Utah’s defense is built on preventing penetration, and forcing tough jump shots, with Gobert deterring would-be drivers from even entering the lane.

This defense has helped the Jazz control the four-seed in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, and their unique ability to control the speed of games promises to make them a tough playoff out.