The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Three positives and three negatives about Donovan Mitchell in FIBA group play

By Jared Woodcox

SHENZHEN, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 9: Donovan Mitchell #5 of Team USA shoots free throws against Team Brazil during the FIBA World Cup on September 9, 2019 at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center in Shenzhen, China. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
SHENZHEN, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 9: Donovan Mitchell #5 of Team USA shoots free throws against Team Brazil during the FIBA World Cup on September 9, 2019 at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center in Shenzhen, China. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SHENZHEN, CHINA – SEPTEMBER 9: Kemba Walker #15 and Donovan Mitchell #5 of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team chats against Team Brazil during the 2019 FIBA World Cup Classification Round at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center on September 9, 2019 in Shenzhen, China. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
SHENZHEN, CHINA – SEPTEMBER 9: Kemba Walker #15 and Donovan Mitchell #5 of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team chats against Team Brazil during the 2019 FIBA World Cup Classification Round at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center on September 9, 2019 in Shenzhen, China. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Negative No. 3 – Absence of a Statement Game

Team USA’s bout against the Czech Republic was easily Mitchell’s best contest from a pure scoring output standpoint. Not only was it his highest scoring game at 16 points, but it was also a superbly efficient outing of 7-of-11 from the field.

However, one thing that I’m certain many Jazz fans would have liked to see from Donovan by this point is more of a statement game. For the most part, Mitchell has blended in with the rest of his Team USA peers as yet another good, but perhaps not a dominant talent. Kemba Walker, as expected, has easily been Team USA’s best player, but many thought that Mitchell could use FIBA play to assert himself as the next rising star of the bunch.

After all, considering how much talent Team USA lost this summer due to invite declines and dropouts, Mitchell is widely considered one of the most skilled and already more-decorated players on the roster. As such, it would be nice to see him set himself apart with a huge outing where he goes off to the tune of several points on high efficiency, kind of like we’ve seen out of international players like Patty Mills, Evan Fournier, Bogdan Bogdanovic and even to some extent Ricky Rubio and Joe Ingles.

The good news is that the tournament is far from over. In fact, most would say it’s only just now heating up as the USA will play France, then (if they win) Argentina, then (if they win again) one of either Spain, Australia or, with a miracle, the Czech Republic.

Those are tough squads in high stakes situations. Fortunately, Utah Jazz fans have seen what Mitchell has been capable of when his team has needed him most such as incredible comeback victories, 40-plus point explosions and the ever-memorable 2018 playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Donovan has yet to log a statement game in FIBA play that has made him truly stand out from his peers, which is somewhat a negative as it’s something Jazz fans would like to see in his progression as both a star and a leader. But with up to three incredibly competitive and challenging games ahead, we may very well see him put Team USA on his shoulders and carry them to a decisive victory.

Next. Utah Jazz: Quin Snyder officially axes outdated headband rule. dark

Donovan Mitchell and Team USA will hit the court next on Wednesday at 5:00 AM MT against Rudy Gobert and France.

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