It’s happened before, but it still sometimes surprises. As Rudy Gobert sat the final 7:11 of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Derrick Favors helped guide the Jazz to an eventual 107-97 victory.
It wasn’t Gobert’s night. While he still had nine points and 10 rebounds, the 7-foot-1 center had been frustrated with Memphis’ physicality, had been on the officials to call more fouls, only took four shots. Favors seemed more engaged — he had four blocks to go with 10 points, and he finished plus-nine to Gobert’s plus-one.
But what has made the combination work between Utah’s two big men — despite doubts for years that they can share space on the roster, much less the floor at the same time — is that they’re not in competition.