Utah Jazz stud: Donovan Mitchell
Remember we said that it appeared as though the Utah Jazz were back? Donovan Mitchell is back too. Those two facts feel like they’re pretty closely related.
Mitchell couldn’t get his three-pointers to drop last night. That’s something that comes and goes for the star guard. It’s also about the only criticism you could make of his performance last night.
Mitchell finished with 32 points on 13/26 shooting from the field. He shot 2/10 from three-point range, but optimists will observe that he shot 11/16 from two point range. Outside of missing 3s, Mitchell was unstoppable.
He didn’t just score either, as he contributed 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. He was all over the court, playing with the energy of a role player and the poise of a superstar. He gave the Utah Jazz whatever they needed.
The term “combo guard” is often associated with role players, but it’s open to interpretation. Last night, Mitchell looked the part of a star combo guard. As has previously been the case, one couldn’t deny that he looked like a point guard (especially by the modern standard) last night.
Whatever he is, it’s obvious that he’s integral to the success of the Utah Jazz. He is this team’s offensive engine. They’ve looked strong since his return.
Hopefully, once they get their defensive anchor back, they’ll look elite.