Utah Jazz heart Rudy Gobert reacts to a name throughout a sport towards the Houston Rockets on the Vivint Area in Salt Lake Metropolis on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. These days Gobert has been reacting to feedback made by Corridor of Famer Shaquille O’Neal and pundit Skip Bayless. Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
This text was first printed because the Jazz Insiders e-newsletter. Signal as much as obtain the e-newsletter in your inbox every Friday.
What has the Utah Jazz’s three-time DPOY heart been as much as within the early days of this offseason? Nicely, he dyed his hair inexperienced — a transfer that I totally endorse (inexperienced is my favourite colour) — he spent just a few days buying and selling digital jabs with Shaquille O’Neal after which topped all of it off by calling out Skip Bayless.
The back-and-forth between Shaq and Gobert was innocent. On a podcast Spice Adams advised Shaq that if the 2 facilities have been to have performed towards each other, Gobert would maintain Shaq to 12 factors. Shaq responded by saying that it could be extra like 12 factors in three minutes.
Gobert responded through social media by saying that he would “lock” Shaq up — although the precise reply was extra flowery and included a padlock emoji.
Figuring out Gobert, I might say that he thought the alternate was humorous and lighthearted and nothing greater than each facilities being prideful.
Gobert stated as a lot through Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks when she interviewed Shaq after having reached out to Gobert.
“‘I don’t have beef with Shaq,’ he stated,” Rooks advised O’Neal. “‘Sure, I do suppose I might lock him up. I’m by no means going to have a look at somebody, whoever it's, and say, ‘Yeah, you'd rating 40 on me.’ That’s not my mentality.’”
Then got here Bayless, the notorious Fox Sports activities host.
“Rudy, you’ve bought to get up, you’ve bought to clever up and also you’ve bought to close up and provides it up,” Bayless stated on his present “Undisputed,” “Since you are nothing however a finesse defender. You're a pretend powerful man.”
When Gobert responded to Bayless, it didn’t appear as lighthearted or pleasant.
“Would u communicate to me that manner for those who have been standing in entrance of me @RealSkipBayless?” Gobert requested through Twitter. “I’m cool with the fixed disrespect and opinions about who I'm as a participant and I CHOOSE to let this stuff slide however it looks as if persons are getting option to comfy.”
Gobert added extra in a while.
“Solely two folks on this earth are allowed to speak to me that manner @RealSkipBayless,” he stated. “And also you’re not one among em.”
On the finish of all of it, I can’t assist however marvel, who're the 2 folks allowed to speak to Gobert in that manner. One needs to be his mom, however who's the opposite?
New with the Jazz
Stat of the week
The Memphis Grizzlies saved their postseason alive, beating the Golden State Warriors in an elimination Recreation 5 on Wednesday night time, in a 134-95 blowout. It was the most important margin of victory for a group dealing with elimination within the playoffs and it was the second largest Warriors loss in a sport the place Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Inexperienced have all performed collectively.
From the archives
This week in Jazz historical past
On Could 8, 2017, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Utah Jazz, 121-95, in Recreation 4 of the Western Convention semifinals, winnings the collection 4-0.
Find out how to move the time within the offseason
Now that the Jazz season has come to an finish, it signifies that I've a while to make amends for the issues that I really like however don’t have sufficient time for in the course of the NBA season. A whole lot of you might have requested how I fill my time. Nicely, I really like watching dwell sports activities so I’ll be taking in some Salt Lake Bees and Actual Salt Lake video games, however I’m additionally virtually at all times studying a e-book (or two, or three), engaged on a jigsaw puzzle, watching some form of binge-worthy TV present and listening to many podcasts. So I assumed this is able to be a very good place to recommend my newest option to move the offseason time and likewise take your ideas.
I solely simply came upon that the blokes from “It’s At all times Sunny in Philadelphia” have a podcast, so I began tearing via that this week. For these which might be a fan of the present, I feel that you simply’ll just like the pod. For these of you who usually are not a fan of the TV present, this most likely will not be the one for you.
It's alleged to be an episode by episode rewatch/dialogue of the present, however it usually turns into present creators Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton and Rob McElhenney laughing and simply speaking about no matter they need. It’s jumped up fairly excessive on my listing of pods I like listening to whereas cleansing or operating errands.
Additional factors
- Joe Ingles and Derrick Favors’ Twitter alternate that left Jazz followers emotional (Deseret Information)
- NBA Offseason Buzz: All Eyes on Utah Jazz Stars (Bleacher Report)
- Jazz icon Frank Layden got here to Utah a coach however turned way more (KSL.com)
Across the league
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant will miss the remainder of the postseason.
Denver Nuggets heart Nikola Jokic was named NBA MVP for second straight yr.
The NBA launched new awards and a redesign of the playoff trophies.
Up subsequent: NBA playoffs
Could 13 | 5:30 p.m. | Recreation 6 | Boston Celtics @ Milwaukee Bucks | ESPN
Could 13 | 8 p.m. | Recreation 6 | Memphis Grizzlies @ Golden State Warriors | ESPN
Could 15 | TBD | Recreation 7 if obligatory | Philadelphia 76ers @ Miami Warmth | TBD
Could 15 | TBD | Recreation 7 if obligatory | Dallas Mavericks @ Phoenix Suns | TBD
Could 15 | 1:30 p.m. | Recreation 7 if obligatory | Milwaukee Bucks @ Boston Celtics | ABC
Could 16 | 6:30 p.m. | Recreation 7 if obligatory | Golden State Warriors @ Memphis Grizzlies | TNT
The Japanese Convention Finals might be performed on:
- Could 15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29 if MIA-PHI, BOS-MIL, PHX-DAL all end in 6 video games.
- Could 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29 if any of these collection end in 7 video games.
The Western Convention Finals might be performed on:
- Could 16, 18, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 if each PHX-DAL and MEM-GSW end in 6 or fewer video games.
- Could 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 if both collection finishes in 7 video games.