Utah Jazz: Offense Has to Be Run Through Underachieving Derrick Favors

By Ryan Heckman

November 6, 2013

This season has started, well, probably just the way most anticipated for the Utah Jazz. At 0-4, the Jazz are searching for their first win of the season and are having a tough time scoring points. Currently ranked 27th in points per game with just 90.8, the Jazz need an offensive identity.

One of the guys thought to be the answer to offensive problems this year was power forward Derrick Favors, who just got paid a pretty penny before the season started. So far, Favors is averaging just 11.8 points per game. Now, the positives? He’s shooting 44.5 percent and averaging 9.3 rebounds per game to go along with a block.

If Favors has been relatively consistent in scoring the basketball, he should be getting more looks. First and foremost, the offense has to be run through both him (first) and center Enes Kanter (second) who is averaging almost 18 points per game this year. The post is where the Jazz will win the battle. From there, things will be opened up a bit more for the shooters.

Speaking of shooters, Alec Burks is shooting 44.4 percent from the field. Getting both he and Gordon Hayward the ball in the right situations, for example on a kick-out or pick and roll, will benefit the offense greatly. This has to be done through Favors, though. He was clearly made the centerpiece of this team during the offseason and has to be given more opportunities to shine.

The Jazz could be a very solid, young team if they worked from the inside out with Kanter and Favors. Both of these guys have a lot to offer and so far aren’t playing bad basketball. Utah absolutely must work their offense 100 percent through them though, otherwise the rest of the team won’t be able to succeed in their roles.

Utah doesn’t have a guy that can consistently create his own shot who is also as confident to knock it down on a regular basis, therefore getting Favors more touches will take less pressure off of them, giving the rest of the team more confidence in their open looks. Get Favors involved a lot more, and this team might find themselves heading in a different direction soon.

Ryan Heckman is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmheckman, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.