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Save for a relaxing Thanksgiving, the past few days haven't been all that kind to Derrick Favors.
It began on Monday with the Utah Jazz power forward facing off against Serge Ibaka, the Oklahoma City Thunder's shot blocking, jump shooter. Wednesday brought Blake Griffin, who has improved so much with the Los Angeles Clippers that he may actually be one of the top five overall players in the league.
Favors said he enjoyed his holiday, which is good, because it doesn't get any easier. When the Jazz face the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, Favors gets to lock horns with Anthony Davis, who is only one of the top all-around players in the NBA.
So how has your week been, Mr. Favors?
"My week has been fine," Favors said through a smile. "I don't know how those guys have been but I've been good. It's the NBA, and I'm aware of that. I know that I'm going to have to go against a lot of good big guys. These three are all different players who do different things. Anthony Davis shoots the ball well, and he's someone who makes a lot of plays on both ends of the court, so containing him is going to be a challenge."
In Davis, Favors is facing a hybrid flashback of the past week, all in one 48 minute package. Ibaka is long and athletic, one of the best rim protectors in the league and able to stretch you out to 3-point range with his jumper. Still, the Oklahoma City offense doesn't run through him. Ibaka gets open looks off pick-and-pop action, and scores when he converts offensive rebounds. But on a Thunder team that is one of the most explosive in the NBA, Ibaka is probably the fourth option.
Griffin, though, is one of the best offensive talents in the league, able to score in the paint and on the perimeter. In the Jazz's victory over the the Clippers, Griffin carried Los Angeles with a game-high 40 points, on a mixture of jumpers and forays to the hoop. Defensively, though, Griffin is only ordinary.
Davis is considered one of the best two-way players in the league. He averages 23 points, almost 11 rebounds and over two blocked shots a night. He's a 6-foot-11 athlete with the skill level to match his physical attributes. Davis can score on the perimeter. He can post up and get buckets close to the hoop. He runs the floor in transition as good as any big man in the league, and he's a great rebounder.
Jazz coach Quin Snyder knows Favors will be Davis' primary defender. He also knows guarding Davis will take a village, meaning he's prepared to switch up on Davis. He's willing to run double-teams at him, and to shade his defense towards Davis whenever he has the ball.
"There's a lot to think about with Anthony Davis because he's so multi-dimensional," Snyder said. "He's another one of those guys in the same conversation as LeBron James and Chris Paul, one of the best players in the league at his position. There's so many things that he can do, he can shoot, he can post up and he can score in a number of ways. There's no way you're going to be able to completely stop a guy who's that good."
So what do the Jazz do against Davis?
One option is letting him have his points, minimizing the impact of his teammates while trying not to allow him to completely take over the game.
The Pelicans were just 4-11 as going into Friday, and one reason is that Davis' supporting cast is missing Tyreke Evans. And while Jrue Holiday is healthy, he's still on a minutes restriction.
As a result, Davis has had to do a lot by himself, especially without Evans, who provides a lot of the perimeter offense. Davis has gotten used to the extra defensive attention he's received, and has increased his production as of late. It's a big reason New Orleans has won three consecutive games and is looking more like the playoff contender it was projected to be when the season began.
"Davis is just a great player," Utah forward Gordon Hayward said. "He's big, he's athletic, he can shoot it, pass it and handle it. He's talented enough that we're all going to have to guard him, it's not going to be all on one person. We just have to be ready, and we have to figure out a way to play well."
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About Anthony Davis
• Center signed a max contract extension this summer, which will keep him in New Orleans for the foreseeable future
• Is averaging 23 points and over 10 rebounds a game. Played his college basketball at Kentucky and has quickly established himself as one of the best players in the NBA
• Has led the Pelicans to three consecutive wins over the past week, including a victory over the San Antonio Spurs