Figured it was worth a quick #videothread to see how Utah completely stymied a decent offensive team w/ an All-Star center.

Indy has a smart O (#1 location eFG%, meaning they take smart shots) built around a lot of side P&R on an empty side. 1/x

Jazz played it by having Gobert shadow the ball throughout the play. Some teams won't try that for fear of Sabonis (an All-Star and 21ppg scorer) getting looks. So they'll bring help & sometimes wind up at a disadvantage. The Jazz don't have to. Because they have Gobert. 2/x

Gobert's able to wall off drives & still impact Sabonis. This is a transition play, but Rudy sprints back so he's in position to shadow the ball in empty side P&R. Brogdon has nowhere to go, esp after Royce gets back in front. Dumps it to Domas, but Rudy doesn't give an inch. 3/x

Little different here, because this is high P&R (not side) and the strong side isn't empty. But still you see that Gobert's priority is staying between the ball handler & the hoop. There are actually two screening actions here, and Rudy cuts Brogdon off both times. 4/x

The 1st screening action across the top, Gobert shadows Brogdon & deters him from coming in. On the second action, Oni "ices" Brogdon right into Gobert who is again shadowing the ball. But he still gets out to challenge DS, first on the closeout and then as he drives. 5/x

Same concept here, x3. Watch this one and then we'll dissect with a couple stills. 6/x

Holiday gets the DHO (again on side P&R on an empty side) but Gobert leans in to shadow him. He tries to juke the D off balance, but Gobert is fully focused on staying on a straight line between ball & basket. So both times Holiday tries to head middle, he has 2 guys to beat. 7/x

So Holiday gives it up, and the Pacers try some blind pig action. But again, Rudy's too focused on staying under the ball for that to work.

Watch Rudy's feet after the switch: keeps lower body perpendicular to Brogdon the whole way, moves laterally. Just great technique. 8/x

And because he spent the whole gm basically shadow-guarding the ball from the paint, he's able to easily sniff out stuff like this. Aware of time, he sees that Brogdon is prob going to go quick for the 2-for-1. And again, shifts behind the ball almost as if he's guarding 1x1. 9/x

Another fantastic scheme/game plan by Q and the staff to neuter a play type/action that generates a lot of offense for Indiana... but of course, it works so well because Rudy is Rudy. 10/end.

PS: Just wanna emphasize here, there are plenty ways you CAN guard that action & none of them are inherently wrong/right. Jazz guarded it this way because having Gobert gives them the option to play 2-on-2 and not compromise the defense elsehwere. In case that point got lost. ;)