Utah Jazz Unsung Hero Is Derrick Favors
Mar 28, 2019, 3:45 PM
Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) puts up a shot as the Utah Jazz and the Las Angeles Lakers play at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz are heading down the home stretch of the regular season. It looks like they are getting better as they get closer to the postseason. While Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert are playing at a high level, but the player that isn’t getting enough recognition is Derrick Favors.
He has been putting up numbers that are not getting talked about and is posting great performances when the Jazz need them the most.
Even though he is averaging 11.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 58 percent from the field in just 23.4 minutes per contest, his impact is bigger than that.
Improving Each Month
Much like the entire Jazz team, Favors struggled in the month of October. He averaged 10.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.2 blocks on 48 percent field goal shooting. The Jazz posted a 3-3 record during that stretch.
In November, he recorded 10.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 64 percent shooting, as Utah went 7-9. Favors didn’t record any 20-point games and had just one double-double.
December was the month that Favors started to rise significantly and putting his stamp on the Jazz. He averaged 11.6 points, 7 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and shot 61 percent from the field. The Jazz went 7-7 during the month of December. He recorded two 20 point games in December and had just two double-doubles.
January was slightly less productive for Favors, but not by much. The veteran big man posted 11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds 1.2 blocks and shot 51 percent from the field. Utah recorded 11 wins and suffered 4 losses during that month. Favors reached 20 points once and had 4 double-doubles.
February was a much better month for Favors as he collected a 12.7 point, 8.1 rebound and 2.3 blocks per game average while making 57 percent of his shots. The Jazz were 6-3 in February, with Favors scoring 20 points or more in one game, but recorded four double-doubles.
So far in March, Favors has had his best month with 14.3 points, 8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks on 63 percent shooting. The Jazz are 10-4 in March. He has reached 20 points three times and posted four double-doubles.
The key here is that the Jazz are 12-3 this season when Favors records a double-double.
📹| @dfavors14 ⤵️
20p | 6r | 1b | 1s pic.twitter.com/obOCL4SAFP
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 28, 2019
Staying Healthy
Throughout his career, Favors has had a hard time staying healthy. He has never played in all 82 games during the regular season and has played 70 or more games in a single season in six seasons of his nine year career.
This season, Favors has only missed one game.
He is playing for his contract this season as well. Favors signed a two-year deal this past off-season, but the second year isn’t guaranteed.
If the Georgia Tech product can keep this steady climb in his productivity and Gobert and Mitchell stay consistent, the Jazz will be dangerous in the postseason.
Derrick with 13 points early!#TakeNote | #LALatUTA pic.twitter.com/P1v6NhFr3n
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 28, 2019
