Seeing their most impactful two-way player go down on the first possession of the postseason should have broken the Utah Jazz. But instead, it has done the exact opposite, much to the chagrin of their first-round opponents.
Speaking before Game 2 on Tuesday night, Los Angeles Clippers guard Raymond Felton said that the way Jazz center Rudy Gobert’s injury has lit a fire underneath his teammates almost has him wishing that Gobert would come back and play, per Aaron Falk of the Salt Lake Tribune.
Raymond Felton with a Rudy Gobert take Jazz fans will share. pic.twitter.com/3XM1xrHZ46
— Aaron Falk (@aaronfalk) April 18, 2017
Gobert was hurt in the opening 20 seconds of Game 1 on Saturday and did not return to the game, but Utah came roaring back to defeat the Clippers at the horn on a Joe Johnson buzzer-beater to steal away homecourt advantage. It’s a credit to Jazz head coach Quin Snyder for overcoming the loss of a world-class defender and rim-runner by going small and emphasizing floor spacing as well as to the team for rallying together in Gobert’s absence.
The seven-footer did get some good news on the injury but will still be sidelined for at least the second game of the best-of-seven series. However, it definitely doesn’t sound like the Clippers feel they’re catching a break with Gobert out of the lineup.
Image via FOX Sports San Diego on YouTube
