2021 post season #1 seed in NBA!

So, when he gingerly got up and was walking around, hopping up and down in the huddle in the timeout that followed the foul, there was a reasonable amount of concern. That concern mounted when he checked out of the game 11 seconds later and went straight to the locker room. But Mitchell said there’s nothing to be worried about. “It wasn’t anything bad,” he said after the Utah Jazz’s Game 2 series tying 141-129 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. [URL="https://www.deseret.com/2021/5/27/22452074/donovan-mitchell-no-concern-over-ankle-after-first-game-back-utah-jazz-memphis-grizzlies-playoffs?utm_campaign=nbasarah&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter"]“It wasn’t anything to be weary of. I feel good.”[/URL]

– via [URL="https://www.deseret.com/2021/5/27/22452074/donovan-mitchell-no-concern-over-ankle-after-first-game-back-utah-jazz-memphis-grizzlies-playoffs?utm_campaign=nbasarah&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter"]Sarah Todd @ deseret.com[/URL]





[URL="https://*********.com/storyline/donovan-mitchell-injury/"] This rumor is part of a storyline: 147 more rumors [/URL] [URL="https://www.deseret.com/2021/5/27/22452074/donovan-mitchell-no-concern-over-ankle-after-first-game-back-utah-jazz-memphis-grizzlies-playoffs?utm_campaign=nbasarah&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter"]“Just trying to keep it warm,” Mitchell said. “I think that’s the biggest thing. I just haven’t played in five weeks, so all my stuff that I’ve been doing, the ankle is warm.[/URL] Every workout, there’s always a time where you’re warm. There’s never a time where you’re sitting and coming back in.”
– via [URL="https://www.deseret.com/2021/5/27/22452074/donovan-mitchell-no-concern-over-ankle-after-first-game-back-utah-jazz-memphis-grizzlies-playoffs?utm_campaign=nbasarah&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter"]Sarah Todd @ deseret.com[/URL]






[QUOTE] Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Rudy Gobert, on Donovan Mitchell’s return: “It’s been more than a month, so he was really antsy to get back out there. We missed him. We needed his energy, his positivity, his talent.[/URL] Tonight was a great night to have him back.”

– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]






Eric Walden: Donovan Mitchell acknowledged it was hard trying not to go all-out early on: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]“I had a moment before the game, I was talking to myself, trying to calm myself. … It’s easy to go out there and try to hit a home run early, but the game isn’t won in the first five minutes.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]






Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Donovan Mitchell: “Try to impact the game any way I can — tonight it was points. I didn’t have any assists tonight — that’s killing me right now.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]

[/QUOTE]
bet you're really losing sleep over it!





[QUOTE] SportCenter: [URL="http://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1397784941522571264"]Only LeBron, Luka, T-Mac and Magic had a 40-point playoff game at age 21 or younger in NBA history. Now Ja’s 47-point game tops the list[/URL] Fire

– via [URL="http://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1397784941522571264"]Twitter[/URL]






StatMuse: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Ja Morant has set the Grizzlies franchise record for points in a playoff game[/URL]. 47 PTS 7 AST 15-26 FG 15-20 FT It’s only his 2nd career playoff game.
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/statmuse"]Twitter statmuse[/URL]






Tim MacMahon: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Ja Morant’s 47 points in tonight’s loss to Jazz are the most in Grizzlies playoff history and most by a player 21 or younger in NBA history,[/URL] per @ESPNStatsInfo .
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/espn_macmahon"]Twitter espn_macmahon[/URL]







Michael Scotto: Utah Jazz All-Star [URL="https://*********.com/social/tweets/"]Donovan Mitchell on Ja Morant: “Give credit to Ja, he had 50 damn near. He’s a hell of a player. I respect the hell out of his game.”[/URL] (TNT postgame interview)
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/Money23Green"]Twitter Money23Green[/URL]






Eric Walden: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Mike Conley: “We can’t give up 30 points in six minutes, those kinds of runs Memphis is capable of.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/tribjazz"]Twitter tribjazz[/URL]

[/QUOTE]
horrible!





[QUOTE] Ja [URL="https://*********.com/social/tweets/"]Morant: #ProtectOurPlayers[/URL]

– via [URL="https://twitter.com/JaMorant"]Twitter JaMorant[/URL]


[/QUOTE]

Donovan Mitchell looked into the sea of red and yellow in the stands of Vivint Smart Home Arena. He demonstratively pointed to the ground, then verbally threw the gauntlet down on Dillon Brooks. [URL="https://theathletic.com/2611288/2021/05/27/we-missed-him-donovan-mitchell-re-energizes-jazz-in-game-2-win-over-grizzlies/"]“I’m on his ass,” Mitchell yelled. “I’m on his ass!” This was only the first quarter of what would be a 141-129 Game 2[/URL] win over the Memphis Grizzlies for the Utah Jazz. And the Jazz would have to survive building a 20-point lead and watching it melt to a single basket, a Mitchell re-injury scare, 47 points from Ja Morant and some anxious moments. But it was in this moment, early in the first quarter after a four-point play, when Mitchell showed everyone what the Jazz have been missing most from him with his sprained ankle.
– via [URL="https://theathletic.com/2611288/2021/05/27/we-missed-him-donovan-mitchell-re-energizes-jazz-in-game-2-win-over-grizzlies/"]Tony Jones @ The Athletic[/URL]

[url]https://www.ksl.com/article/50174543/donovan-mitchell-returns-with-25-points-as-jazz-even-up-series-with-grizzlies[/url]

[QUOTE]After mostly a dud of a performance in Game 1, it felt like the Jazz finally showed up for the playoffs Wednesday. The team played with an energy that was completely absent from the series-opener on Sunday.

[/QUOTE]

With their worst defensive quarter and half of the year?

[QUOTE]"They're gonna be wired and geeked up for Game 3," Mitchell said. "We gotta be able to continue to play this way because when we play this way — outside of the few mistakes we made in third to kind of let them come back — we're tough to beat."

[/QUOTE]

129 points :facepalm

[url]https://kslsports.com/460176/jazz-all-stars-outduel-morant-in-game-two-victory/[/url]

[QUOTE]Despite Mitchell’s brilliance, there were several scary moments when the All-Star appeared to favor his injured ankle after attacking the basket.

[/QUOTE]

8-19?

[QUOTE]When attacking the rim, the guard didn’t have his typical bounce near the rim, shooting just 3-9 inside the arc and landing hard on the floor on several trips into the paint.

[/QUOTE]

he's not good around the rim

[QUOTE]Mitchell’s hot three-point shooting was key in his return, but how can he impact the game if his shot abandons him? Does the injured guard have the ability to get downhill and attack the paint, or will he be relegated to the three-point shooter for the remainder of the series?

[/QUOTE]

I'd love to see him spotting up from 3 with Conley and Ingles running the offense like we saw at the first of the game. Ball was moving. Pitck and roll couldn't be stopped. Unfortunately we'll get more of Clarkson and Mitchell ISO

[QUOTE]Those are questions Mitchell and the Jazz will have to find the answer to in the coming days, and they might ultimately determine who emerges victorious from the series.

[/QUOTE]

defense will not how many Mitchell and Clarkson put up

[url]https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2021/05/27/triple-team-mike-conley/[/url]

[QUOTE]And yet, it hasn’t been the domination you’d expect to see out of a No. 1 seed against a youthful No. 8 seed that they really do match up well against. The Jazz made 48.7% of their threes tonight, for example, and that’ll be difficult to replicate. At one point, the Jazz allowed the Grizzlies to score on 15 straight possessions — is that the mark of an NBA champion? You’d have to say no.

[/QUOTE]

I don't think their D has been consistently great all year yet they were 1st in the league. Says a lot about the league right now

[QUOTE]But I think there are still definite items of improvement that we know the Jazz are capable of. Mitchell’s presence is one of them — he played very well tonight, but only in 26 minutes. What if he plays 36; aren’t the Jazz better? What if Clarkson, to be frank, starts using his brain when making decisions? He’s actually shown himself to be capable of that this season, and he would be really helpful.

[/QUOTE]

less Conley pick and roll and more Mitchell Clarkson ISO will make them better?

[QUOTE]Their potential to win a second-round series looks pretty good right now, too; the Mavs have throttled the Clippers in the first two games on the road, and I think the Jazz actually match up relatively well against Dallas. Yes, stopping Luka Doncic would be a huge challenge, and one they’ll only be able to do semi-successfully, even if they do well. But Kristaps Porzingis has been a liability against the Jazz in the past, and Dallas’ defense hasn’t been strong enough to consistently get stops, either.

[/QUOTE]

Dallas is certainly who they want

[url]https://www.deseret.com/2021/5/27/22451334/analysis-jazz-improve-in-just-about-every-area-to-beat-grizzlies-in-game-2-tie-series[/url]

[QUOTE]Donovan Mitchell is back, and he made an immediate difference. He didn’t try to do too much and was effective with his limited minutes. He finished with 25 points on 8-of-19 shooting, including going 5 of 10 from 3-point range and a perfect 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. He did it all in limited time, playing just under 26 minutes for the night.

[/QUOTE]

3 of 9 from 2 not really effective

[QUOTE]Most of the things the Jazz did poorly in Game 1 they cleaned up in Game 2. They didn’t turn the ball over as much, they kept the Grizzlies off the offensive boards better, they played better defense, they spaced the floor with more intention and they won the game.

[/QUOTE]

the D was a lot worse in the 2nd half and especially in the 3rd quarter. Maybe the worst of the year

[QUOTE]The unselfishness of the Jazz was really impressive. Even with Conley racking up most of the assists, Royce O’Neale, Joe Ingles and Gobert each had three apiece. The Jazz were looking for the open man and doing what they do best when the defense collapsed.

[/QUOTE]

except for their two ISO specialists anyway

[QUOTE]The Jazz’s third quarter was not good. They were outscored 43-29 with Morant and Brooks combining for 24 points. They didn’t get stops, the offense got stagnant, and they let the Grizzlies dictate everything. Memphis had five of its nine offensive boards in the third quarter. More than anything though, the Jazz just looked flat and disinterested in the third quarter. File this under a silver lining. The Jazz can do better. The Grizzlies are going to go on their runs, but the Jazz have to match the intensity for 48 minutes, not 36.

[/QUOTE]

they scored 29. Nothing wrong with that

[url]https://www.slcdunk.com/2021/5/26/22456177/utah-jazz-get-decisive-victory-in-game-2-over-the-memphis-grizzlies-nba-playoffs[/url]

[QUOTE]Having Mitchell on the floor does so much more than get inferior defenders in foul trouble, though. Mitchell is the catalyst to everything the Jazz do on offense. He is what bends the defense more than anyone else on the floor. His penetration forces defenses into rotations and because he makes the right play, it creates much more open, comfortable looks for his teammates than they would get otherwise.

[/QUOTE]

you watched a different game than me. Memphis had no answer for the pick and roll and ball movement. Not Mitchell's strong suit

[QUOTE]But on top of that Mitchell brings an intensity and fire that this team was seriously lacking without him. That courage and leadership was palpable to start the game and you could see the swag was completely taken out of the Grizzlies from the beginning of the game. The Jazz need to be a tougher team. There are too many instances where they get lackadaisical on defense watching Rudy, or pull their foot off the gas with big leads. Having Mitchell come on the floor and lead them emotionally is something that doesn’t get enough credit. The incredible scoring and facilitating obviously is the most important part, but his demeanor is invaluable.

[/QUOTE]

yeah thanks for your D!

[QUOTE]Rudy Gobert was god-like at times tonight. He was 9/11 from the field for 21 points, 13 rebounds, 4 block and 3 assists. There are so many times that Gobert changes everything. He comes in and the Memphis offense just stalls. But that’s what happens every game. The only thing you could complain about with Gobert is that he didn’t play enough, but that’s not his fault. For the game, Gobert played just under 36 minutes and that was having played the entire 4th quarter. Gobert has to be on the floor more and Snyder has to recognize that. Derrick Favors has looked really solid this series, it’s a great sign, but even good Favors pales in comparison to what Gobert is doing this season. You play your stars in the playoffs, and Quin Snyder needs to play Gobert more, especially if they want to steal games in Memphis.

[/QUOTE]

But they don't lose anything with Favors! Rudy shouldn't have to play huge minutes against this team

[url]https://thejnotes.com/2021/05/27/utah-jazz-best-9-man-rotation-display/[/url]

[QUOTE][h=1]Utah Jazz: NBA’s best 9-man rotation now on full display[/h][/QUOTE]

unfortunately not the Jazz's best 9

[url]https://sports.yahoo.com/donovan-mitchell-sparks-jazz-past-051120742.html[/url]

[QUOTE]Beyond [URL="https://nba.nbcsports.com/2018/02/16/overlooked-no-more-donovan-mitchell-ready-for-his-time-in-all-star-spotlight/"]swagger[/URL], Mitchell (25 points in 26 minutes) provided much-needed offensive creation. Utah’s system is designed for him to be the centerpiece. His presence allowed everyone to move back toward more-comfortable roles.

[/QUOTE]

actually it's not as we saw with the pick and roll and ball movement

The Utah Jazz have banned three fans indefinitely for their behavior at Wednesday’s playoff game against the Memphis Grizzlies. [URL="https://dailymemphian.com/section/sportsmemphis-grizzlies/article/22227/three-fans-banned-by-jazz-after-grizzliess-playoffs-game-2"]At least one of the fans was ejected from the arena for making an offensive sexual comment directed at Ja Morant’s mother, a source said Thursday[/URL].
– via [URL="https://dailymemphian.com/section/sportsmemphis-grizzlies/article/22227/three-fans-banned-by-jazz-after-grizzliess-playoffs-game-2"]Drew Hill @ Daily Memphian[/URL]




Tim MacMahon: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]The banned Jazz fans made separate vulgar or racist comments to Ja Morant’s parents, his father Tee Morant told ESPN. “I know heckling,” Tee Morant said. “But that’s different than heckling. That’s straight up disrespectful.”[/URL]
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/espn_macmahon"]Twitter espn_macmahon[/URL]

Adrian Wojnarowski: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]A Utah judge tossed out a $100M suit against Russell Westbrook and the Utah Jazz filed by two fans banned from Jazz games after taunts toward Westbrook in a March 2019 game, per court documents. Shane Keisel and Jennifer Huff claimed defamation and infliction of emotional stress[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/wojespn"]Twitter wojespn[/URL]





Tim Reynolds: [URL="https://*********.com/social/"]Utah Jazz announce they banned three fans for incidents at their game last night[/URL].
– via [URL="https://twitter.com/ByTimReynolds"]Twitter ByTimReynolds[/URL]

[url]https://www.ksl.com/article/50175036/donovan-mitchell-says-he-felt-better-than-i-anticipated-after-return-in-game-2[/url]

[QUOTE]"I feel good," the All-Star guard said. "I have put myself in kind of treacherous situations to come back to be ready for playoff intensity. I felt better than I anticipated."

[/QUOTE]

you and your private staff thought you were ready for weeks. Which is it?

[QUOTE]"Any time you've been out for a significant period of time, I think there's a tendency to try to really put a stamp on the game," coach Quin Snyder said. "I thought he really let the game come to him. He was patient. He got a few catch-and-shoot 3's early where he got good looks, got off the ball and kind of made a simple play.

[/QUOTE]

started that way anyway before delving into his old ways

[URL]https://kslsports.com/460223/breaking-down-the-grizzlies-third-quarter-against-the-jazz/[/URL]

[QUOTE]The Jazz were burned on three consecutive possessions when they went under the screener.

[/QUOTE]

that was the game plan I imagine. Memphis isn't a good 3 point shooting team though Morant was hitting it down the stretch

[QUOTE]These are the types of plays defensively that make it look like Mitchell’s ankle isn’t at 100 percent.

[/QUOTE]

seriously? When has Mitchell ever played D? His personal staff says he's ready so he's ready! :roll:

[QUOTE]With Bogdanovic going under the Valanciunas screen, Morant hits Jackson Jr. for a good look from three. Jackson Jr. is shooting 28 percent from three in the series, so this is a look the Jazz can probably live with.

[/QUOTE]

another negative defender

[QUOTE]Mitchell’s help here (he does have to be mindful of Morant) makes me wonder how much he actually trusts his ankle right now. [URL="https://t.co/jf0EbNOcyL"]pic.twitter.com/jf0EbNOcyL[/URL]

[/QUOTE]

:facepalm

[QUOTE]Morant easily displaces the flatfooted (injured) Mitchell of the dribble in isolation, forcing Gobert to rotate as the helper.

[/QUOTE]

can't wait until he's 100% and making defensive stops again!

[QUOTE]On another Valanciunas pick and roll, Conley gets caught up on the screen as Derrick Favors switches onto coverage against Morant.

[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE]Valanciunas posts up against Favors again and hits a tough contested turnaround baseline fade away with the shot clock expiring.

[/QUOTE]

maybe stick with Gobert when the D is struggling?

[QUOTE]Off a missed Valanciunas, Conley fails to put a body on Morant who corrals the long rebound and easily finishes at the rim.

[/QUOTE]

no PF

[QUOTE]The Grizzlies have now gone at Favors on five straight sets. As soon as Gobert subbed out of the game, Morant attacked Favors for a push shot, then Valanciunas tried a hook shot, before making a mid-range fade away. Valanciunas then attempts a top of the key three, and finally another hook shot.

[/QUOTE]

same old story. But it was all Bradley's fault! :lol

[QUOTE]Brooks kicks the ball back to Anderson to steps back for a three as Ingles fights to recover on the closeout after defending the rim.

[/QUOTE]

not a great shooter. Live with that one

[QUOTE]First, while Morant was dominant, scoring 11 points on 5-5 shooting, he was matched identically by Brooks who also had 11 points on a perfect 5-5 shooting. That’s the payoff Taylor Jenkins got for leaving Brooks in the game even after he picked up his fourth foul early in the second half.

[/QUOTE]

good gamble. Jazz needed to go hard at Brooks during that time

[QUOTE]Ultimately, the Grizzlies’ rare and impressive run resulted from a perfect storm of defensive errors by the Jazz, strong execution by Morant, Brooks, and Valanciunas, and hot shooting from the entire lineup.

[/QUOTE]

looks like a lot of it was their bad defenders Mitchell, Bojan and Favors being left on the floor because COTY won't bench them no matter what. As I've said for the past month plus they are a better defensive team without their best player Mitchell as they were in the bubble last year without their difference maker Bojan

[url]https://www.deseret.com/2021/5/27/22454934/utah-jazz-donovan-mitchells-relaxed-approach-in-nba-playoffs-just-what-team-needed[/url]

[QUOTE]Reserved and unselfish attitude made Mitchell’s transition back into the rotation seamless for the No. 1 seed Jazz

[/QUOTE]

0 assists! Very unselfish to force your way back on to the court!

[QUOTE][URL="https://www.deseret.com/sports/2021/1/13/22217489/utah-jazz-donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert-nba-max-contracts-pressure-expectations"]Donovan Mitchell[/URL] is capable of scoring 50 points in the playoffs. [URL="https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/8/17/21371976/utah-jazz-donovan-mitchell-57-points-denver-nuggets-nba-playoffs-jamal-murray"]We’ve seen it before[/URL].

[/QUOTE]

no more bubble. He can certainly help give up almost 50 outside the bubble

[QUOTE]It would have been understandable if Mitchell, frustrated that he didn’t play in Game 1, came out of the gate guns blazing, looking to beat every man in front of him. But the Jazz are at their best when they are playing team basketball and not relying on one player to win in isolation.

[/QUOTE]

yes they are. Too bad Mitcehll and Clarkson don't understand that

[QUOTE]He would go on to score 25 points in just under 26 minutes — a restriction made by the Jazz medical and training staff — including shooting 5 of 10 from 3-point range.

[/QUOTE]

lucky he and his personal staff agreed!

[QUOTE]The Jazz’s spacing and ability to swing the ball to open shooters improves just by having Mitchell on the court. Additionally, the trickle-down effect of having Mitchell back in the rotation, gives Conley more options and allows some relief for Joe Ingles.

[/QUOTE]

all true but he has to give up the ball. They looked great when Conley brought the ball down, ran the pick and roll and the ball moved. Mitchell go wide open looks. Much better than Mitchell or Clarkson bringing it down and no one else involved in the play

[QUOTE]It’s no secret that the Jazz are a better team with Mitchell on the floor, but that doesn’t mean that he has to score 50 in order for them to win. Sometimes, with Wednesday’s game serving as the perfect example, it’s smarter for him to play with a slower and more deliberate approach.

[/QUOTE]

it's debatable

[url]https://www.deseret.com/2021/5/27/22456657/would-the-utah-jazz-prefer-the-dallas-mavericks-or-la-clippers-in-the-2nd-round[/url]

[QUOTE] [h=1]Would the Jazz prefer the Mavericks or Clippers in the second round?[/h]
[/QUOTE]

Mavs certainly