Donovan Mitchell has Pelicans Game 2.0
There were a lot of moments last year when you could have argued that Donovan Mitchell had “arrived”. As he just continued to exceed expectations time after time after time, there was seemingly no end to what he could accomplish. But for me, THE moment where I literally hurdled over the fence of doubt and declared that Donovan Mitchell was the real deal was his 41-point outpouring against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 1.
It was a game where it just felt like the Jazz had no business winning. Try as they might, they just couldn’t seem to get over the hump after taking a 12-point deficit into halftime.
Then, Donovan Mitchell happened. Mitchell just went off scoring time and time again as he exploded for 41 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, and shouldered the load for the Jazz on their way to victory. It was an awe-inspiring performance that let NBA fans across the world know that Mitchell had arrived.
But guess what? I have a feeling that 41 points won’t be his career-high for long. Some game in 2018-19, I expect him to go off once again and reach an even higher level. After a full offseason in the NBA system to work on his game and improve, Mitchell ought to be even more electrifying than last year (as hard as that is to believe).
As such, he figures to be more effective all year long. And on that night (or nights) when it absolutely clicks, we’re going to be graced with an extremely special Mitchell performance.
I’m licking my chops just thinking about it.