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Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert took a big hand and batted the ball into the air. Fighting with Meyers Leonard, he won the race for the offensive rebound, and watched as Alec Burks picked up the loose carom and finished at the rim.
It seems as if Gobert will have himself a role in the NBA game.
That was the question that followed Gobert into the past offseason. But he answered by playing well at the Las Vegas summer league, then followed up with a breakthrough performance at the FIBA World Cup. Now he's playing in new Jazz coach Quin Snyder's system, and Snyder likes what he sees going into the third week of the preseason.
"He's been playing well," Snyder said. "He's made himself a role defensively, and he made a great play to get that offensive rebound."
Snyder was referring to the waning minutes of Utah's 109-105 victory over the Portland Trailblazers on Thursday. Holding on to a slim lead, Gobert turned two missed free-throws by Burks into another possession and a lay-in in the final seconds.
It's clear that Gobert's length and athleticism have are making a difference. Chris Kaman — Portland's veteran center — offered words of praise for Gobert's defense following Tuesday's win in the preseason opener.
Still, Gobert is raw offensively, and there has been question as to whether that would keep him off the floor.
"He's been fine," Snyder said. "He's done what we've needed of him so far."
Through a pair of games, Gobert has been good enough all-around to be considered a hub in Snyder's second unit. He's rebounded well, and he's been a deterrent at the rim defensively. His best sequence Thursday came when he emphatically blocked a shot by LaMarcus Aldridge, ran the floor and finished at the other end via an alley-oop dunk.
It was one of the only times that a Jazz player did anything to stop Aldridge, one of the best power forwards in the league.
Roster trim
Utah waived point guard Dee Bost and shooting guard Kevin Murphy on Friday. Bost played with rookie Rodney Hood at Mississippi State — before Hood transferred to Duke — while Murphy served a previous stint with the Jazz two years ago. Utah's roster now stands at 17 players.
Hood sits again
Snyder didn't play Hood on Thursday, instead opting to give the rookie a bit more rest to heal from the strained hip flexor he suffered on Monday. Hood participated fully in Thursday shootaround, and is expected to practice on Saturday morning.
"I understand where coach is coming from," Hood said . "He wants to make sure I'm fully healthy. I just half to stay ready and make the most of my time when it comes."
Tale of two halves
Gordon Hayward scored all of his 14 points in the first two quarters on Thursday against the Blazers. That point total includes a highlight-reel dunk over Joel Freeland, a Portland seven-foot center.
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L.A. Clippers at Utah
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