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Weekly Run: Looking at the Jazz’s schedule, plus breaking down the Utah big men

(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) talks with Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) after a first half time out. The Thunder led the Jazz 22-18 at the end of the 1st quarter during Game 6 of the first round playoff game, Friday, April 27, 2018.

For NBA beat writers, the schedule release is a big occasion: it determines where we’ll be every day for at least six months.

In this week’s edition of the Weekly Run podcast, Tony Jones and new Salt Lake Tribune Jazz beat writer Andy Larsen break down Utah’s 2018-19 schedule. Will the Jazz be able to navigate the early schedule better than last year? What are some of the best and worst trips?

We also talk about Rudy Gobert. Will he take on more of a leadership role, or will he allow Donovan Mitchell to do that? Can he play the way he did in the second half of the year all year long? And what’s next in his development?

And how does Derrick Favors handle his role, now that he’s signed a new contract? Can he develop a corner 3-point shot? Of course, we also discuss Ekpe Udoh and Tony Bradley.

Here’s a rundown of this week’s podcast:

At 3:10 • Is the schedule easier or more difficult than expected?

At 7:05 • How will the Jazz handle the early road-heavy slate?

At 14:55 • Will Rudy Gobert be able to stay healthy and play with full focus all season long?

At 18:10 • What is the worst trip on the schedule? What’s the best trip?

At 22:30 • More Rudy Gobert talk.

At 29:25 • Derrick Favors embracing his role after a new contract.

At 35:45 • What does Ekpe Udoh bring?

At 37:25 • What role will Tony Bradley play in year 2?

You can subscribe and listen on iTunes. Or, hey, just listen below on SoundCloud: