Utah Jazz stud: Donovan Mitchell
It might be misleading to say that Jordan Clarkson has been inconsistent this season. He’s actually been consistently bad. If you’re looking to identify a Utah Jazz player who has embodied inconsistency, it’s probably Donovan Mitchell.
Last night, Mitchell reminded the world why he’s one of the best shooting guards in the National Basketball Association. He finished this game with 30 points on 12/20 shooting from the field and 3/8 shooting from three-point range, chipping in 5 assists and 4 steals as well.
We mentioned that Clarkson may have been the primary beneficiary of the Jazz’s increased ball movement. Mitchell, on the other hand, was one of the main reasons for it. His 5 assists, while a solid number, may undersell how frequently Mitchell looked to dish to teammates out of pick and roll situations. He was responsible for several secondary assists throughout this contest.
He also got his 30 points entirely within the flow of this increasingly egalitarian Utah Jazz offense. With Mike Conley having a quiet night (more on that later), Mitchell functioned as a de facto point guard throughout this contest. He was the head of the Jazz’s attack in many pick-and-roll situations, and his ability to see the floor or generate his own basket paid dividends.
By virtue of his role with this team, we can anticipate more inconsistency from Mitchell. He is by far the most talented offensive player on this team: opposing defenses gameplan for him first, second and third. It’s worth noting that this Portland Trail Blazers team has the NBA’s second-worst Defensive Rating at 112.6.
Nonetheless, Mitchell’s ability to shred an NBA defense is a blessing to this Utah Jazz club. It was a large part of their 22 point victory over a decent Blazers squad.