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The Utah Jazz got some good news Friday when the team found out its star center, Rody Gobert, will play tonight, per Eric Woodyard of the Deseret News.
Jazz center Rudy Gobert is cleared to return tonight after missing 15 games.
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) January 19, 2018
Gobert had missed the previous 15 games due to a PCL sprain and bone bruise in his left knee. Jazz head coach Quin Snyder said Gobert will be under a minutes restriction but is happy the team will have its center back in the fold, per Woodyard.
Article Continues Below“Any time you get a player that's been out it's good to get him back,” Snyder said. “There's kind of an integration process when they're coming off an injury. But obviously Rudy is a key guy for us and we've been playing without him for a while. So it's good to have him back. I know he's excited to play.”
Jazz coach Quin Snyder is happy to welcome Rudy Gobert back but there will be a minutes restriction. Unclear on whether he’ll start. pic.twitter.com/2jCkNlKeZl
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) January 19, 2018
The Jazz have underperformed this season and are only 18-26, good for 10th place in the Western Conference. Gobert is the team's best defensive player and makes a huge impact offensively by being able to roll to the rim and get offensive rebounds.
The Jazz are just 4-11 since Gobert went out the injury. Getting him back will pay huge dividends not only for the team's record but also in its collective confidence — not to mention the fact that Gobert's confidence will rise too.
The minutes restriction will be good for Gobert. With the type of injury he had, there's no reason to rush him back to playing big minutes.
It'll give him the opportunity to work himself back into game shape. The Jazz should bring him off the bench until he's had a couple of games under his belt.
