This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Derrick Favors has come to grips with his current reality.
Utah's starting power forward and the Jazz organization know Favors' left knee — chronically sore because of a nagging bone contusion — continues to give him issues. While it will not require surgery, Favors said, the rigors of the NBA probably will not allow him to be at 100 percent before the offseason.
"It's been frustrating, because I'm a competitive guy and I want to be at my best," Favors said. "At this point, I have to do what I gotta do to get healthy and stay healthy. I have to be healthy going into the offseason."
Favors, 25, is normally one of the most athletic power forwards in the league, but is lacking explosiveness because of the knee. He is averaging only 23 minutes per game, averaging 9.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game — the scoring average is his lowest since the 2012-13 season.
Favors is still gutting it out, though. He has missed 18 games overall, including two this past week before playing 10 minutes in Saturday's victory against the Charlotte Hornets. All indications point to the Jazz resting him in spots for the remainder of the regular season to keep him as healthy as possible for the playoffs.
Playing through the pain, as much as he can, is something Favors' teammates have watched with admiration.
"I don't think anyone understands what he's been going through with his body," Jazz forward Gordon Hayward said. "I know he's been banged up, trying to fight through it, trying to get 100 percent healthy. It's tough when you're sitting out games and not being able to practice, not being able to get out there with the guys. We're trying to get him back to 100 percent. Because when he's 100 percent, he's obviously really effective for us."
Favors hasn't talked about his injury publicly, but the knee has been bothering him since the summer — which altered his typical offseason preparation.
"I've been playing catch up all year," Favors said.
Ideally, the Jazz would love for Favors to be able to play a full load of minutes as the postseason approaches. The Jazz are a unique team defensively because Favors and Gobert complement each other so well. The Jazz know they are going to need Favors to be as healthy as possible in order to have postseason success.
"The biggest thing for us is to think about the big picture," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "We want to get out in front of things. In Derrick's case, that's meant missing a little time. I know all of us wish that he's playing all of the time. The main thing is to figure out how to help the team. Maybe you aren't in the same rhythm because you haven't been able to get shots up. But defense is where you can always help and that's what Derrick has been able to do."
Twitter: @tribjazz —
Jazz at Hawks
P At Phillips Arena, Atlanta
When • 5:30 p.m. MST Monday
TV • ROOT
Radio • 1280 AM, 97.5 FM
Records • Utah 32-19, Atlanta 30-21
Last Meeting • Utah 95, Atlanta 68 (Nov. 25, 2016)
About the Jazz • Shooting guard Rodney Hood is expected to miss his second consecutive game with a knee contusion. … Forward Gordon Hayward scored 24 points in Utah's win over Atlanta in November. … The Jazz have sole possession of fourth place in the Western Conference. … Utah has won nine of its past 12 games.
About the Hawks • Former Jazz power forward Paul Millsap is again an All-Star. … Hawks center Dwight Howard has 33 double-doubles this season. … Hawks rookies Taurean Prince was fined $25,000 for his role in a scuffle with Miami Heat forward James Johnson this week. … The Hawks are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference.