When the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed play-in game, many thought the Utah Jazz were in for a relatively smooth ride into the second round of the playoffs. That may not be the case anymore, and Donovan Mitchell can tilt the odds either way.
Initially reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, it was announced on Sunday afternoon that Mitchell wasn’t expected to play in Game 1 of the team’s series against Memphis. Mitchell, a two-time All-Star who averaged a career-high 26.4 points per game in the regular season, has missed over five weeks with a sprained right ankle. After a Sunday shootaround, he told media that he was “ready to go” for the contest. The Jazz decided to hold Mitchell out and, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, he wasn’t pleased with the team’s final ruling. He then tweeted the following on Monday morning:
“Soon” is a subjective term but for the sake of the Jazz, it ideally means early in the series. In Game 1’s 112-109 loss, Utah struggled with shot creation in isolation situations. Jordan Clarkson, a candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award and one of the best isolation players on the team, shot 5-of-16 from the floor and struggled to make his usual impact. Point guard Mike Conley finished with 22 points, but made just six of his 18 shot attempts. While Conley is a superb pick-and-roll playmaker, Mitchell’s dynamic presence was sorely missed on offense.
Mitchell is the straw that stirs the drink that is the Jazz. He’s a star. His ability to play off the ball as a catch-and-shoot marksman makes keeping track of him a constant necessity. As an on-ball scorer, his bag of tricks includes just about any shot a player of his size can have. His ability to make advanced reads in year four keeps defenses honest, as does his pick-and-roll chemistry with lob threat Rudy Gobert. Gobert may raise the team’s floor by being a top defender in the game, but it’s Mitchell who raises the ceiling. Without him, Quin Snyder’s bunch is in for a tough test.
On the defensive end, there wasn’t a ton that Mitchell could have done to change the outcome of the game. Sure, perhaps he matches Ja Morant‘s quickness and explosiveness in the halfcourt. The budding star point guard finished with 26 points while making over half of his attempts from the field. With that said, it was forward Dillon Brooks who had a coming-out party for the Grizzlies. On 26 shots, the fourth-year wing had a game-high 31 points. He served as an energizer, jolting confidence into the Memphis lineup. Utah needed someone capable of matching that intensity. It needed Mitchell.
The Grizzlies are young and hungry. They have a chip on their shoulder as a collective unit. If Mitchell isn’t able to return for Games 2 or 3, Memphis could easily steal another win from the West’s highest-seeded team. There’s no question about which squad matches up better when Mitchell is healthy, though. He can quickly inject shot creation, playmaking, athleticism and additional leadership into a lineup that needs it. His playoff resume speaks for itself. After what was a bumpy Game 1 for the Jazz, Mitchell can be the stabilizer. It will all come down to when they feel their young star is ready to get back out on the court.
