The Jazz faced a fearsome big man tandem in Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside on Thursday, and were doing so without Rudy Gobert, one of the best defensive players in the league. They ended up losing the game, 92-91, but not because they lacked an interior presence.
They had one big man in Derrick Favors, and that was enough. The former third overall pick finished the game with 25 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, three steals and seven blocks. He almost singlehandedly allowed the shorthanded Jazz to push the Heat.
Favors got the start at center and dominated on both ends. He forced Whiteside into a 4-for-10 night, using his length to disrupt his post up attempts and block two of his shots. Bosh finished with 25 points, but he did a lot of his damage against the overmatched Trey Lyles and scored 11 of those in the eight minutes Favors was resting.
Favors only got a crack at guarding the two-time NBA champion for a short stretch. In that time, he showed off his quickness with a beautiful recovery that not many players his size could make.
Favors did most of his offensive damage on putbacks and by taking advantage of an unclogged lane without Gobert to dive on pick-and-rolls and finish strong through contact.
The only thing Favors didn't have going for him on Thursday was his jumper, as he was 1-for-5 on shots not near the basket against Miami. That shaky performance, though, is not indicative of the strides he's made as a mid-range shooter. In order to provide the Jazz's offense with some spacing that is sorely lacking when he shares the court with The Stiffle Tower, Favors has been forced to move to the perimeter more often. He's making it work, though, shooting a solid 38 percent on long two-pointers for the season. His transition into modern power forward is not complete, but it's underway.
Games like Thursday's, however, serve as a reminder of the player Favors could be if he had ever had a chance to play as the lone big man with a perimeter-oriented power forward. Before Gobert took over, Enes Kanter was around making life harder for Favors on both ends. The Jazz defense is now thriving with the incredible rim protection the Favors/Gobert pairing provides. However, Favors' individual numbers are affected and mask just how good he really is offensively.
Per 48 minutes | Points | Rebounds | Blocks | Free throw attempts | Field goal percentage |
Without Gobert | 29.5 | 18 | 4.2 | 10.6 | 53.2% |
With Gobert | 21.7 | 11.8 | 1.6 | 5.6 | 48.2% |
By accepting a move to power forward for the good of the team, Favors is sacrificing individual accolades. He's rarely mentioned among the league's best young big men and is overshadowed by the flashier Gobert. Yet, without his willingness to compromise, the Jazz wouldn't be a potential playoff team with an elite defense.
Fortunately, Favors is somehow still 24 years old despite this being his sixth season in the league. The Jazz do occasionally play Favors alongside a rangier and quicker player in Trevor Booker, allowing him to have room to operate when Gobert rests. Long-term, the hope is that Lyles can grow into a capable stretch big man, giving Utah the option of sliding Favors to center for more minutes.
For now, though, he'll continue to sacrifice for the good of the Jazz while still posting numbers that only four others in the entire league can match. Like many talented, but selfless players before him, Favors will only get his due when he and his team achieve postseason success. Until then, he will continue to be the league's most underrated player.