Tough Test Awaits Gobert With Either Valanciunas Or Green

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Regardless of who wins tonight between Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert will have a tough individual matchup when the playoffs open on Sunday night.

If the Grizzlies win, Gobert will be matched up with Jonas Valanciunas, a bruising but skilled traditional big man who recorded an eye-popping 23 point, 23 rebound performance in Memphis’ win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.

If the Warriors win, Gobert will find himself matched up against Draymond Green, a former Defensive Player of the Year, and a five-time member of the NBA’s All-Defensive Team.

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To make matters more difficult, the Jazz will have just one full day off between the Grizzlies and Warriors meeting before facing either of the talented big men on Sunday.

Despite the short turnaround, Gobert said he’s ready for the competition.

“Those two guys are both really good players, both physical players, and both winners,” Gobert said of Valancius and Green. “It should be a fun challenge for me and for them.”

In addition to the advantage of having the week off while both Valanciunas and Green have been playing high-stakes play-in games, Gobert can rely on his history of experience to prepare for his frontcourt opposition n a short turnaround.

“I’ve been playing against Valanciunas since I was 18 years old, so we know each other very well,” Gobert said. “Draymond, we’ve been playing each other for years now, one playoff series against one another, too.”

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The Jazz were swept by Green and the Warriors 2017, though Gobert strung together an impressive four games, despite playing injured.

“We had just come out of a seven-game series against the Clippers, I was playing on one foot,” Gobert said, referring to an injury he suffered in the opening seconds of the Jazz first-round series. “I embraced the challenge. I thought it was a fun challenge being against a team that was a championship team.”

Gobert averaged 15.5 points and 13.0 rebounds while shooting 66 percent from the floor in the Jazz four-game loss to Golden State.

Green was also spectacular in the series, averaging 16.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 7.0 assists while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 47 percent from the three-point line.

Though Gobert has never faced Valanciunas in the playoffs, the two players have had their fair share of battles.

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In 19 career matchups, Gobert averages 12.7 points, 10.8 rebounds, while shooting 61 percent from the floor. Valanciuas averages 15.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, and shoots 57 percent from the floor.

Valanciuas’ teams have won 11 of the 19 career matchups, though the Jazz have won six straight games against the Lithuanian center.

Though the Jazz will be favored in either playoff matchup, the performances of either Valanciunas or Green will play a major role in the opening series outcome.