It has taken a while longer than expected, but Utah has become the defensive monster everyone expected to see after the Jazz dominated on that end of the court last season.

During January, the Jazz lead the NBA with a 101.7 defensive rating. Utah is averaging 39.6 defensive rebounds, 7.0 steals, and 6.3 blocks per game. The Jazz are limiting opponents to a league best 9.7 second-chance points per game in January and just 10.8 fast-break points per game in the same stretch.

It's a major reason why Utah enters Monday's clash with the visiting Portland Trail Blazers riding a six-game winning streak.