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Jazz

Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz will be going up against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight in a game that the national networks will be ignoring, which is puzzling because marquee matchups don&rsquo;t get much better than this.
Instead, we will get Peilcans-Mavericks and Grizzzlies-Lakers on ESPN, because those seemed like the two best games of the night back when the first half of the NBA schedule was released.
And as a result, Mitchell will again toil in relative anonymity as he tries to surpass 30 points for the fourth time in six games this month and as Utah goes for its 17th win in 18 games.
If the Jazz keep this up, they are going to become the NBA&rsquo;s &ldquo;it&rdquo; team &ndash; just like the Bucks were at this time a year ago. But they are not there yet, and Mitchell is on the board at 100-1 in the Most Valuable Player race at almost every sportsbook in the legalized U.S. sports gambling market.
Why?
&ldquo;Nobody has bet him except in drops and drabs,&rdquo; said Johnny Avello, the head oddsmaker at DraftKings Sportsbook. &ldquo;If someone wants to bet him at 100-1, there he is. But he is going to have to sustain what he has been doing, and is that going to continue?&rdquo;
DK has 12 players listed with lower odds, led by LeBron James at 5-2 and followed by Joel Embiid at 4-1. Both of those players have been having phenomenal seasons and are the alpha dogs for teams at the top of their conferences, and they have been drawing a lion&rsquo;s share of the wagers because they play in huge markets and have large fan bases.
That is not the case for Utah, which gets things done using a committee of three-point shooters with Rudy Gobert anchoring the middle. Mitchell&rsquo;s stats are very solid but not spectacular, but if the Jazz run the table in their next five games (Milwaukee, Miami, Philadelphia and then two straight on the road against the Clippers) he will not be on the board at 100-1.
Those 100-1 odds are also on the board at FanDuel, PointsBet and BetMGM, while William Hill has him at 80-1.
&ldquo;As a percentage of total handle on the market, we&rsquo;re holding 0.3% of handle on Donovan Mitchell for MVP (compare that to say LeBron who we are holding 30% of total handle on),&rdquo; FanDuel spokesman Kevin Hennessey said.
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Mitchell is having an excellent year, but his numbers are almost identical to last season. Mitchell is also a bit cursed by the team nature of Utah&rsquo;s great play, and while he&rsquo;s the offensive leader of the team, he doesn&rsquo;t need to shoulder a level of responsibility compared to some of the other top players in the MVP conversation.
"The Jazz look terrific and could very well be the No. 1 seed in the West this season, but it&rsquo;s more of a rounded team effort than other top-tier candidates who have their teams up [at] the top almost seemingly on their own," Hennessey added.
Indeed, Mitchell is 15th in the league in scoring (24.0 points per game), just ahead of James Harden (23.8) and just behind Paul George (24.4) &ndash; both of whom have shorter odds.
FanDuel Sportsbook and PointsBet.com have 13 players listed ahead of him, BetMGM.com has 14 players listed ahead of Mitchell.
&ldquo;Mitchell has not attracted much attention from bettors to win the NBA MVP. Despite Utah having the best record in the league, the Jazz&rsquo;s superstar is +10000 to win MVP,&rdquo; said Jason Scott, VP of Trading at BetMGM.
William Hill has just eight individuals listed ahead of Mitchell. They lowered his odds from 80-1 to 40-1 overnight Thursday for reasons that were not immediately known. (The company&rsquo;s communications director position is unfilled).
The Jazz&rsquo;s success has been the subject of humor from the TNT crew that has been broadcasting on Tuesday and Thursday nights and also will be broadcasting the All-Star game, and rest assured that Mitchell will be one of the 12 players selected to the West team. (He is currently fourth among Western Conference guards, according to the second All-Star voting returns released on Thursday).
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And while James certainly appears to be a worthy candidate, this is a crucial juncture of the season in terms of MVP voters starting to lean one way or another. As you may recall, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks had the award all but wrapped up by late February a year ago, although James was gaining a head of steam by the time the season was halted because of the pandemic.
Utah is 20-5, and if the Jazz run the table over their next five games, they will be 25-5. If that happens, we will not be seeing Mitchell at 100-1, because folks are going to bet on him.
For now, though, they are not.
&ldquo;While Mitchell is a phenomenal player and is certainly a valuable asset to the Jazz, he does not have the individual numbers and does not do enough outside of scoring to currently be considered a real threat to take home the MVP,&rdquo; said Patrick Eichner of PointsBet.
We shall see. The season is still young and Utah is a 1 &frac12; point favorite over Milwaukee tonight after the line opened at 2.

Why isn't Donovan Mitchell getting more love in the MVP race? Chris Sheridan asked oddsmakers about his 100-1 odds and lack of bets.

Oddsmakers on Donovan Mitchell's 100-1 MVP odds: 'Nobody has bet him'

The Jazz are entering Donovan Mitchell into concussion protocol, team says. Contact occurred in second quarter of loss to Lakers on Monday night.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1483591682876588034" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter)</a>
ANALYSIS: Wojnarowski added that Mitchell was experiencing symptoms following Monday night's game.

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell has entered concussion protocol, says the team.

Donovan Mitchell enters concussion protocol

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell has declined an invite to play for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics, reports ESPN's <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1407043581248933900" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski.</a>
While the blossoming star would've found himself right at home on the stacked roster, Mitchell will opt for rehab on his right ankle. Mitchell, 24, likely has plenty more opportunities to represent the country ahead of him &ndash; so it'll be a matter of when, not if.
The Jazz fell 4-2 to the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of the playoffs last week.

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell has declined an invite to play for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics, reports ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Donovan Mitchell declines Team USA invite

After beating the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat back-to-back, the Utah Jazz are now 22-5 and they&rsquo;ve won 18 of their last 19 games. Add reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to the long list of people they have impressed, as he had nothing but praise for the Jazz after they defeated his Bucks.&nbsp;
"[They're] the best team in the West," Antetokounmpo said. "It just looks fun. Like when I watch them play, it looks fun, it looks easy. It looks simple. For sure, they look like us last year, and man, when you're at that point and you're playing with that confidence, you're hard to beat, for sure.&rdquo;
The Jazz are very well-rounded team. They had four players score 20+ points against the Bucks: Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles each had 27 points, while Donovan Mitchell poured in 26 (plus eight assists and six rebounds) and Jordan Clarkson contributed 25 off the bench. And in their victory over the Heat, five players scored in double-figures.
Now, let&rsquo;s revisit that awkward moment between Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal and Mitchell from the Jan. 21 episode of &ldquo;Inside the NBA.&rdquo;&nbsp;
During the post-game interview on TNT, Shaq told Mitchell: &ldquo;I said tonight that you are one of my favorite players, but you don&rsquo;t have what it takes to get to the next level. I said it on purpose, and I wanted you to hear it. What do you have to say about that?&rdquo;
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For context, Mitchell had just finished lighting up the scoreboard, dropping an efficient 36 points to lead Utah to their seventh-straight win. It was a very unexpected statement (to say the least) and the entire basketball world took a collective gasp.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Alright...&rdquo; Mitchell simply replied. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s it?&rdquo; Shaq asked. After a long, awkward pause and an attempt to shrug off the odd, untimely comment, Mitchell added: &ldquo;That&rsquo;s it. That&rsquo;s it. Shaq, I&rsquo;ve been hearing that since my rookie year. I&rsquo;m just going to get better and do what I do.&rdquo;
Shaq&rsquo;s comments were met with a great deal of criticism. Why would the NBA legend stoop to that level and try to publicly embarrass Mitchell? Was he trying to tear him down? Is Shaq an undeniable hater?
Some wondered if Shaq was attempting to motivate Mitchell. Was this some kind of 4D-chess, Zen-Master, Jedi-mind-trick move to light a fire under Mitchell and the entire Jazz team? Did he actually have good intentions, but the exchange was poorly executed? Maybe. 
Regardless, Mitchell and the Jazz have been proving Shaq wrong and making him eat his words.
Mitchell, 24, is averaging a career-high 24.2 points, 5.1 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game. Not only is his team sitting atop the Western Conference, they have the best record in the league. There have even been some whispers throughout the NBA that Mitchell should <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-mvp-most-valuable-player-odds-bets-oddsmakers-donovan-mitchell-utah-jazz-gambling-fanduel-betmgm-draftkings-award" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at least be mentioned on the list of MVP candidates</a>.
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However, the Jazz are far from a one-man show. This is a balanced offensive attack, with six players scoring in double-figures: Mitchell (24.2), Clarkson (17.4), Mike Conley (16.5), Bojan Bogdanovic (15.8), Gobert (14.0) and Ingles (11.3). Utah boasts historic three-point shooting, as they are making 16.7 three-pointers per game and shooting 39.5% percent from deep. This kind of efficiency is unprecedented; not even the Splash-Brothers-led Warriors or James-Harden-led Rockets shot the ball this well! Also, their terrific chemistry and impressive commitment to ball movement have been on display this season.
On the other end, the Jazz have the NBA&rsquo;s second-best defense, allowing just 104.5 points per 100 possessions. This team is committed to stifling opposing offenses and it helps that they have the NBA&rsquo;s premier defender locking down the paint. Gobert is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and the Jazz&rsquo;s anchor who sets the tone with his defense-first mentality.&nbsp;
Put this all together and you have a team that can dominate on both ends of the court, and that's exactly what they've done on most nights. At 22-5, this is the Jazz&rsquo;s best start in franchise history. Not bad for a team that Shaq said didn&rsquo;t have what it takes to win the championship.&nbsp;
Interestingly, during the Jazz&rsquo;s recent win over the Boston Celtics, Shaq took credit for Mitchell&rsquo;s play (although his numbers are almost identical to where they were prior to his public criticism).&nbsp;
&nbsp;"I never hate, I just try to give constructive criticism,&rdquo; Shaq said. &ldquo;My whole career I've been a leader and motivate my players a certain way. So, you're welcome Utah."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Shaq on Donovan Mitchell "I never hate, I just try to give constructive criticism. My whole career I've been a leader and motivate my players a certain way. So, you're welcome Utah." <a href="https://t.co/0BKUZ07EXa">pic.twitter.com/0BKUZ07EXa</a>
&mdash; gifdsports (@gifdsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/gifdsports/status/1359357636433620992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Perhaps people would've reacted differently to this exchange with Mitchell if this was the first time Shaq had done something of this nature, but he has developed quite a list of priors when it comes to hating. He has consistently taken shots at JaVale McGee, he&rsquo;s constantly bashing Dwight Howard, and he has repeatedly criticized Gobert ever since the big man signed his $200-million deal.&nbsp;
Recently, Howard was on <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-rumors-dwight-howard-los-angeles-lakers-philadelphia-76ers-free-agency-shaquille-shaq-oneal-married-championship-redemption-title" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my show, &ldquo;The Rematch,&rdquo;</a>&nbsp;and I asked him about Shaq&rsquo;s critiques. Why is Shaq always going after him? Is there some beef between them?
&ldquo;I have no clue! It's crazy,&rdquo; Howard said. &ldquo;When I first got to the [Lakers], me and JaVale was like, &lsquo;Yo, did you do something to Shaq?&rsquo; And he was like, &lsquo;Bro, I don't know, man! Like, he's always talking about us!&rsquo; And I'm like, &lsquo;Yeah, man, he is! It&rsquo;s crazy!&rsquo; Then, I was like, &lsquo;Man, let's jump him,&rsquo; and then we just laughed. (laughs) But I realize that you can't please everybody&hellip; The way you deal with that is kill him with kindness instead of going back and forth with him and saying things.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I still think he's probably the most dominant player to ever play the game. But if I had anything negative to say about him, I won't ever say that in the public eye or say it where people can hear it because I don't think it's necessary. He has family, has kids and people who love him, and I just wasn't brought up that way. So, I respect him for all the work he's done. I wish we could play each other again, so I could end this beef. (laughs) But I have a lot of love for him and the things he's done for the sport. And the way to beat him is to continue to play at a high level and not allow anything that's negative to get to my ears, and just stay focused.&rdquo;
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During BasketballNews.com&rsquo;s recent <a href="https://twitter.com/bballnewsdotcom/status/1353879647927332869">NBA Watch Party live-stream</a>, NBA All-Star Kenyon Martin shared how he would&rsquo;ve reacted if he were in Mitchell&rsquo;s position and Shaq made the same comment to him.
&ldquo;I would&rsquo;ve had a rebuttal and they would've had to go to commercial,&rdquo; Martin said. "I would've told Shaq exactly what he can do&hellip; Yeah, it would've been bad. Like, straight up: I just played my ass off out here and you got [something negative to say]? You don't know the work I put in. You don&rsquo;t know what I'm doing to enhance my game or make my team better. That&rsquo;s the problem, these dudes just be on TV [saying anything]... I don&rsquo;t need you to motivate me, Shaq. I can motivate myself. He basically told him he ain't getting it done.&rdquo;
Shaq may very well believe that he was &ldquo;motivating&rdquo; Mitchell by challenging him on live TV in front of the entire basketball world and telling him publicly that he didn&rsquo;t think he was good enough to lead the Jazz to a championship and then awkwardly asking for his reaction. But in reality, he could&rsquo;ve &ldquo;motivated&rdquo; him in a much different way. He could&rsquo;ve pulled him to the side as an OG who&rsquo;s held in high regard and respected throughout the league and challenged him behind closed doors instead of attempting to publicly embarrass him and crush his spirits on the NBA&rsquo;s biggest platform (&ldquo;Inside the NBA&rdquo;).
Best-case scenario? The Big Aristotle&rsquo;s strategy was to give the Jazz a villain or someone to hate, who they could then focus on proving wrong. But that may be giving Shaq too much credit. He may have simply transformed into the grumpy, old, get-off-my-lawn former player who gets his kicks by bashing younger players. We all hope it&rsquo;s not the latter. An apology to Donovan Mitchell and an admission that he was wrong would definitely help show that he isn&rsquo;t in that category. 
Everyone is wrong sometimes; it takes a big man to actually admit when that's the case.

Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz have been making Shaquille O'Neal eat his words, writes former NBA veteran Etan Thomas.

Shaquille O'Neal owes Donovan Mitchell a public apology

The NBA announced in a press release today that Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell has received the Offseason NBA Cares Community Assist Award.
The statement reads:&nbsp;
"Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell has received the Offseason NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente in recognition of his continued efforts to advance social justice and champion education between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 NBA seasons, the NBA announced today. This is the fourth year the NBA and Kaiser Permanente have presented the offseason award to an NBA player for his impactful work from the end of the regular season to the start of the following season.
"Mitchell is committed to providing educational access and support for young people of all backgrounds, particularly from communities of color.&nbsp; In December, the Mitchell family pledged $12 million to Greenwich Country Day School, Donovan and his sister Jordan&rsquo;s alma mater and the school where their mother, Nicole, taught for more than a decade.&nbsp; The contribution was the largest single donation in the school&rsquo;s history and will be used to create the Mitchell Family Scholarship Fund to aid students from pre-K-12th&nbsp;grade, the Nicole Mitchell Faculty Support Fund to assist teachers who demonstrate the same passion for teaching as Nicole, as well as the new D.O.N.! The Determination Over Negativity Mitchell Family Athletic Center.&nbsp; This past summer, Mitchell also donated the proceeds of his Adidas D.O.N. Issue #2 sneakers to support the education of Jacob Blake&rsquo;s children, students of color at the University of Louisville and teachers at preschools in Connecticut and the Bronx, totaling more than $300,000 in scholarships and academic assistance.
"Following his unwavering commitment to speak out against racial injustice during the 2019-20 NBA season restart, Mitchell continued the conversation during the offseason, joining then vice-presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, Portland&rsquo;s CJ McCollum and Philadelphia&rsquo;s Tobias Harris for a discussion on educational, economic and social inequities.&nbsp; Mitchell was also named to the inaugural board of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition, which will leverage the game&rsquo;s influence to raise awareness, educate and advocate for meaningful reform, and regularly gives back to those most in need through his SPIDACARES organization.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m honored to receive the NBA Community Assist Award.&nbsp; We, as athletes, have a responsibility to do our part to give back to our communities and raise the bar for the next generation,&rdquo; said Mitchell.&nbsp; &ldquo;Not too long ago I was one of those kids that looked up to professional athletes, and I recognize how blessed I am to be in this position to give back to the multiple communities that have contributed to my growth not only as an athlete but as a person.&nbsp; My goal is to continue to inspire and encourage youth, from coast to coast with an emphasis on the importance of education.&rdquo;

Mitchell and his family pledged $12 million to his former high school in December.

Donovan Mitchell receives NBA Cares Community Assist Award

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell has entered the NBA's concussion protocol and will be out Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks.
Source <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1354489037311135745" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marc Stein via Twitter</a>

Mitchell is averaging 23.4 points and 4.9 assists per game with the Utah Jazz.

Donovan Mitchell enters concussion protocol, out vs. DAL

Hi, hello, and welcome to yet another edition of Roaming The Baseline! This will be a weekly endeavor where I point out some things that caught my eye: a hot or cold streak from a player, a developmental flash, a well-run play, a funny tweet, who knows? There will be film -- it&rsquo;s me, so of course there will be film -- but this will also be a bit looser. It&rsquo;s an extension of my Twitter feed, if you will.&nbsp;
With that said, let&rsquo;s roam the baseline.
DONOVAN MITCHELL IS BECOMING SCHEME-PROOF
We're reaching the point where there is no good answer for Donovan Mitchell in a playoff setting.
The numbers speak for themselves: 32.9 points with a 60.9 True Shooting percentage through his first eight games of the postseason. A 43% clip on nearly 11 threes per game is patently absurd.
Beyond the numbers, the way that Mitchell is going about this has been eye-opening. Base schemes just haven't worked.
Drop coverage has invited Mitchell to pull-up at will. Straight drives into shots, screen rejects into open pockets. You name it, he's done it.
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Switching has also been futile. Mitchell has been diligent about hunting mismatches. Players at a speed disadvantage have been dusted by Mitchell. Not switching quickly enough has left wide enough windows for Mitchell to pull-up against.&nbsp;
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The Clippers have had to break character. Not only have they limited the amount of time they've had a traditional center on the floor with Mitchell, they've dialed up their aggression with their smaller units. They're sprinkling in doubles to throw off the rhythm of Mitchell's attacks.
It's a gambit that has succeeded -- at least compared to the other base schemes. It's also a gambit that Mitchell is starting to get comfortable with.
We're starting to see more possessions like this, where Mitchell sees where a double is coming from and attacks the opposite side. It's not just the method of attack, it's how quickly he's attacking.&nbsp;
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The Leap may be upon us, folks.
JEWELL LOYD SETTING THE TABLE
[Insert fancy intro about how Breanna Stewart isn't the only good player on the Seattle Storm here.]
We'll start with a couple of stats.
Jewell Loyd is one of two players -- the other being Liberty wing Betnijah Laney -- that ranks in the top-10 in scoring (19.2, eighth) and assists (4.2, 10th).
Among 32 players that have logged at least 50 pick-and-roll possessions this season (passes included), Loyd ranks eighth in efficiency (.904 PPP). Among the seven players above her in that ranking, only Skylar Diggins-Smith (15.6) is averaging more possessions than Loyd (12.4).
Put another way: Loyd is one of the best high-volume pick-and-roll threats in the sport.
Loyd's handle is tight. She combines that skill with superb footwork, allowing her to create space and fire on a whim. Watch how quickly she reads the coverage (ICE/"weak"), and how easily she flows into the jumper.
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Loyd is also a strong passer. I enjoy how quickly she recognizes passing windows, as well as her overall ball placement. She might just be the best entry passer in the sport because of it. She's also wildly good at hitting slips, an element that makes quick-hitting pick-and-rolls with Stewart impossible to defend.
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Loyd doesn't just get busy with the ball in her hands. She's a strong off-ball mover, able to cut into open space when attention is paid elsewhere. Her ability to balance herself carries over to her off-ball screen usage. Not only is she experiencing a career-year as a three-point shooter (39.5% on 5.8 attempts), that production is coming off a heavy dosage of looks like this.
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Combining that kind of off-ball utility with her on-ball chops is why Loyd is one of the most dangerous offensive players in the W.
JEFF GREEN, FILLING THE GAPS
Lost in the fun of Kevin Durant's historic night and the Milwaukee Bucks' insistence on playing stu-, er, less-than-optimal basketball, was Jeff Green lighting it up beyond the arc.
Green dropped 27 points on Tuesday night, joining Durant (49) and Blake Griffin (17) as the only Nets to score in double-figures. Green went 7-of-8 from deep; let's just say this is not a thing that Green, a career 34% three-point shooter, does with any regularity.
Beyond the hot shooting night, I was impressed with his defense. He found himself matched up with all three of the Bucks' star players at different points, either switching ball screens or defending (stagnant) isos. He more than held his own, particularly against Giannis Antetokounmpo in the second half.
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It's unreasonable to expect that kind of shooting performance from Green again, but it's important that he does offer some spacing. He has the ball skills to attack closeouts. Defensively, he has the mobility to hang when switching, and he has enough strength to make post-ups difficult.
The Nets have missed Green's versatility; Tuesday night's game was a great example of what he can bring to the table.
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO "HMMMM"
<ul>
<li>The Bucks</li>
<li>completely forgot</li>
<li>how to play</li>
<li>NBA basketball</li>
<li>and lost Game 5</li>
</ul>
Okay, in all seriousness:
<ul>
<li>Did you know that Tina Charles is leading the W in scoring (24.0) this season? Did you also know she's sandwiched between Kayla McBride (5.5) and Natisha Hiedeman (5.3) in three-point attempts per game (5.4)? It's not only a career-high, it's triple the volume she put up last season. I'm here for the game expansion.</li>
<li>A quick Aces update: the A'ja Wilson-Liz Cambage pairing has a plus-10.1 net rating in 230 minutes together. It still pales in comparison to Wilson and Dearica Hamby (plus-15.7 in 205 minutes), but it's nice to see the Twin-Towers look working well.</li>
<li>I can't get over Jordan Clarkson averaging 16.0 points off the bench, shooting 45% from three on 10 attempts per game, and having easily the worst plus-minus (minus-12.5) on the team during this Clippers series. The Jazz bench has been down bad, figuratively and literally.</li>
<li>Among 21 players that have logged at least 75 pick-and-roll possessions this postseason, only three have generated more points per possession than Kevin Durant (1.156 PPP). One of those players is Monte Morris (1.159). What a postseason run that guy had.&nbsp;</li>
<li>So, uh, there were some #things that went down on WNBA Twitter between Skylar Diggins-Smith and Jazmine Jones. Sydney Colson's <a href="https://twitter.com/SydJColson/status/1404572135906066434" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recollection of the timeline</a> was easily my favorite.</li>
</ul>
PLAYS I LIKED
Going Ghost
Some simple, yet effective stuff from the Hawks here.
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John Collins and Clint Capela set up like they're about to flow into Double Drag, but Trae Young calls for something different.
The something different: some screen-the-screener action involving Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Capela sets a screen for Bogdanovic to come off, then Bogdanovic "ghosts" the screen for Young. Since the Sixers don't want to switch Seth Curry onto Young, Curry simply shows. Ben Simmons stays home, which puts two to the ball. Bogdanovic ends up getting an open three out of it.
Cutting it Close
This is freaking beautiful execution.&nbsp;
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Kelsey Plum (glad to see her back!) flies off the baseline exchange, lifting to the left wing. Destiny Slocum pitches the ball inside to Hamby as Plum finishes the first part of her route, but peep the weak side. You'll notice that the same thing is happening. This is essentially an option play.
Slocum chooses the side with Hamby and Plum. As Hamby receives the ball, Plum flips the funk and goes backdoor. This feels like a variation of "Blind Pig" action. Not 100% sure, but I dig it either way.
Improvisin' in the Valley
I will never get tired of watching Chris Paul pull strings in the half-court.
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Much like the Hawks example up top, the Suns give a Double Drag look. The Nuggets are playing drop coverage with JaVale McGee (loosely defending Dario Saric), but are hedging hard on the first screen.&nbsp;
Oh, wait, are they playing ICE coverage? Look at the way JaMychal Green positions himself.&nbsp;
Wait,&nbsp;is Michael Porter Jr. hedging?
It may not be clear, but it ultimately doesn't matter either way. Paul sees an opening, so he cuts his route short and flips the ball ahead to Saric. Cameron Johnson reverses course immediately, and Saric acts in concert with Johnson by flowing into a handoff. With McGee below the free throw line, there's no hope for a contest.
THE READING LIST
There is plenty of high-level basketball content out here if you know where to look. I wouldn&rsquo;t be where I am as a writer without reading a ton of Zach Lowe or Chris Herring or Caitlin Cooper or Mirin Fader or... well, you get the point.&nbsp;
Anyway, here are some -- not all, but some! -- of the stories I&rsquo;ve read lately that I think you should check out. Their Twitter handles will be linked under their names, so click and follow if you don&rsquo;t already.
Gibson Pyper, also known as <a href="https://twitter.com/HalfCourtHoops" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Half Court Hoops</a> on Twitter and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/HalfCourtHoops" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/HalfCourtHoops/status/1404774427636781060?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote a breakdown</a> on Spain pick-and-rolls. If you thought I wasn't sharing this, you don't know me at all.
<a href="https://twitter.com/abovethebreak3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PD Web</a> goes deeeeeep with a <a href="https://twitter.com/abovethebreak3/status/1399850462157934597?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">breakdown of Jalen Green</a>.
Feels like <a href="https://twitter.com/jackfrank_jjf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jackson Frank</a> has been in here every week, but his <a href="https://twitter.com/jackfrank_jjf/status/1398345792050454528?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">feature on Mikal Bridges</a> is well worth your time.
<a href="https://twitter.com/wtevs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Katie Heindl</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/wtevs/status/1399084697691512845?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miami's abrupt end</a>, and the perceptions around it.
<a href="https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA">Zach Lowe</a>'s breakdown on the layers of the <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/1402631438399275010?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Suns' pick-and-roll attack</a> is tremendous stuff.
<a href="https://twitter.com/MSchindlerNBA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mark Schindler</a> wrote the most thorough <a href="https://twitter.com/MSchindlerNBA/status/1402370651172790277?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Bouknight breakdown</a> you'll read this year.
<a href="https://twitter.com/TylerRickyTynes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tyler Tynes</a> is one of the best feature writers on the planet. This one, <a href="https://twitter.com/TylerRickyTynes/status/1405181167234654209?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on Dawn Staley</a>, won't disappoint.
<a href="https://twitter.com/C2_Cooper" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caitlin Cooper</a> writes her farewell to the short-lived <a href="https://twitter.com/C2_Cooper/status/1402709890964017154?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nate Bjorkgren era</a> in Indiana.

In Nekias Duncan's weekly notebook, he shares things that have caught his eye. He breaks down players, teams, plays and stats.

Roaming the Baseline: Donovan Mitchell, Jewell Loyd, Jeff Green

Donovan Mitchell scored 45 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 112-109 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals series on Tuesday night.
Mitchell did most of his work in the second half, scoring 32 points to rally the Jazz from a double-digit deficit. Jordan Clarkson and Bojan Bogdanovic chipped in 18 points apiece. Mitchell and Clarkson combined for 12 3-pointers.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Donovan Mitchell TOOK OVER in the second half to propel the <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@utahjazz</a> to a series-opening W 🎷 45 PTS - 5 AST - 3 REB - 59.1 FPTS <a href="https://t.co/ee0Ofux4n0">pic.twitter.com/ee0Ofux4n0</a>
&mdash; NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAFantasy/status/1402490216301088770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points to lead Los Angeles. Paul George chipped in 20 points and 11 rebounds. Luke Kennard added 18 points while making a team-high four 3-pointers.
Utah and Los Angeles will play Game 2 on Thursday in Salt Lake City.
The Jazz trailed by as many as 14 points before rallying and overtaking the Clippers in the fourth quarter. Utah took the lead for good on a 21-9 run bookended by 3-pointers from Bogdanovic. His second one gave the Jazz a 103-93 lead with 5:22 remaining.
George hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 112-109 in the final minute. But Rudy Gobert <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1402490536452370432">blocked a potential game-tying shot</a> from Marcus Morris with a second left to preserve the victory.
The Jazz were ice cold on offense during the first quarter. Utah jumped out to a 10-2 lead after Mitchell made a pair of 3-pointers. Over the next 8 1/2 minutes, the Jazz missed 20 consecutive shots. 15 of the 20 shots were contested by the Clippers. Utah started 3-of-25 from the field before Clarkson buried a corner three to break the ice.
Los Angeles capitalized on the lengthy drought with a 22-2 run. Kennard buried three 3-pointers to put the Clippers in front 24-12 late in the quarter.
Hot outside shooting buoyed Los Angeles in the second quarter and kept Utah at arm&rsquo;s length. The Clippers went 7-of-12 from 3-point range during the quarter. Four of those baskets came during a stretch where they scored on six straight possessions, culminating in Rajon Rondo&rsquo;s outside basket, to extend their lead to 51-37.
Mitchell took over early in the third quarter. He scored four straight baskets to open the quarter and totaled 16 points in nine minutes. His effort helped the Jazz regain a 72-71 lead at the end of a 13-4 run. Mitchell scored back-to-back baskets to fuel the run and assisted the go-ahead layup from Royce O&rsquo;Neale.
TIP-INS
Clippers: Serge Ibaka (back spasms) did not play. &hellip; DeMarcus Cousins made his postseason debut and finished with six points and three rebounds in four minutes. Cousins did not appear in any of the first-round games against Dallas. &hellip; George went 4-of-17 from the field.
Jazz: Mike Conley (right hamstring strain) did not play. &hellip; Mitchell shot 11-of-17 from the field in the second half. &hellip; Gobert and O&rsquo;Neale combined for 23 rebounds. &hellip; Utah did not score a two-point basket during the first quarter, going 0-of-8 inside the 3-point line.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Donovan Mitchell scored 45 points to lead the Jazz to a 112-109 victory over the Los Clippers in Game 1 of their semifinals series.

Donovan Mitchell scores 45, rallies Jazz past the Clippers

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 45 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 112-109 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals series on Tuesday night.
Mitchell did most of his work in the second half, scoring 32 points to rally the Jazz from a double-digit deficit. Jordan Clarkson and Bojan Bogdanovic chipped in 18 points apiece. Mitchell and Clarkson combined for 12 3-pointers. 
Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points to lead Los Angeles. Paul George chipped in 20 points and 11 rebounds. Luke Kennard added 18 points while making a team-high four 3-pointers.
Utah and Los Angeles will play Game 2 on Thursday in Salt Lake City. 
The Jazz trailed by as many as 14 points before rallying and overtaking the Clippers in the fourth quarter. Utah took the lead for good on a 21-9 run bookended by 3-pointers from Bogdanovic. His second one gave the Jazz a 103-93 lead with 5:22 remaining.
George hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 112-109 in the final minute. But Rudy Gobert <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1402490536452370432">blocked a potential game-tying shot</a> from Marcus Morris with a second left to preserve the victory. 
The Jazz were ice cold on offense during the first quarter. Utah jumped out to a 10-2 lead after Mitchell made a pair of 3-pointers. Over the next 8 1/2 minutes, the Jazz missed 20 consecutive shots. 15 of the 20 shots were contested by the Clippers. Utah started 3-of-25 from the field before Clarkson buried a corner three to break the ice. 
Los Angeles capitalized on the lengthy drought with a 22-2 run. Kennard buried three 3-pointers to put the Clippers in front 24-12 late in the quarter. 
Hot outside shooting buoyed Los Angeles in the second quarter and kept Utah at arm’s length. The Clippers went 7-of-12 from 3-point range during the quarter. Four of those baskets came during a stretch where they scored on six straight possessions, culminating in Rajon Rondo’s outside basket, to extend their lead to 51-37. 
Mitchell took over early in the third quarter. He scored four straight baskets to open the quarter and totaled 16 points in nine minutes. His effort helped the Jazz regain a 72-71 lead at the end of a 13-4 run. Mitchell scored back-to-back baskets to fuel the run and assisted the go-ahead layup from Royce O’Neale. 
TIP-INS
Clippers: Serge Ibaka (back spasms) did not play. … DeMarcus Cousins made his postseason debut and finished with six points and three rebounds in four minutes. Cousins did not appear in any of the first-round games against Dallas. … George went 4-of-17 from the field. 
Jazz: Mike Conley (right hamstring strain) did not play. … Mitchell shot 11-of-17 from the field in the second half. … Gobert and O’Neale combined for 23 rebounds. … Utah did not score a two-point basket during the first quarter, going 0-of-8 inside the 3-point line. 
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

The Utah Jazz beat the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, 112-109.

With the NBA All-Star game taking place on Sunday night, the league held media availability for each player participating on Sunday afternoon. One of the more interesting moments was during Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell's session, when he was asked about he and teammate Rudy Gobert being the last two picks in the All-Star Draft.&nbsp;
Kevin Durant selected Mitchell second-to-last, and LeBron James was given Gobert with the final selection. James then had interesting comments regarding why the Jazz players weren't highly sought after.&nbsp;
"There&rsquo;s no slander to the Utah Jazz. You&rsquo;ve got to understand, just like in video games growing up, we never played with Utah," James told the TNT crew during the draft. "As great as Karl Malone and John Stockton was, we would never pick those guys in video games."
On Sunday afternoon, Mitchell was able to respond to those comments.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Donovan Mitchell on LeBron James&rsquo; Utah comments during All-Star draft - &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to be rude but I really don&rsquo;t care....people have been talking s*** about me for a while...we&rsquo;re not doing this to seek the approval of him.&rdquo;
&mdash; Sarah Todd (@NBASarah) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBASarah/status/1368626372537581569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Mitchell will be coming off the bench for Team Durant in his second career All-Star appearance.&nbsp;

Mitchell had his own thoughts on the comments LeBron James made this week.

Donovan Mitchell responds to LeBron's All-Star Draft comments

Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell has agreed to the five-year, $195 million designated rookie maximum extension to stay with the franchise. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, the fifth year will be a player option.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1330559384070578178" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski/Twitter</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;Mitchell has emerged as one of the best under-25 players in the league as the go-to scorer in Utah. In his third season, the shooting guard averaged a career-high 24.0 points per game on career-best shooting splits (44.9 FG%, 36.6 3P%, 86.3 FT%).&nbsp;
Mitchell becomes the second rookie of the 2020 offseason to agree to a maximum extension, joining De'Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings.

The rising star agreed to a five-year, $195 million extension.

Donovan Mitchell agrees to max rookie extension with Jazz

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) &mdash; Donovan Mitchell dribbled out the clock in the backcourt, dodging Dallas&rsquo; last-ditch efforts to foul before letting out a triumphant yell and throwing the ball high in the air.
Mitchell celebrated Chrismas Day with 33 points and the Utah Jazz beat the COVID-19-depleted Mavericks 120-116 on Saturday night.
&ldquo;I grew up watching these games and wanting to be in this position. To play on Christmas is special &hellip; it&rsquo;s an honor and a blessing,&rdquo; said Mitchell, who overcame a back strain sustained in the first quarter.
Bojan Bogdanovic scored 25 points and Mike Conley had 22 to lift the Jazz (23-9) to their 13th win in their last 15 games.
It wasn&rsquo;t the Christmas night matchup the NBA hoped for with Luka Doncic among the Mavs stuck in the league&rsquo;s health and safety protocols. Still, it was competitive to the end despite several new signees getting significant minutes for Dallas.
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&ldquo;Even with guys out, it&rsquo;s what you ask for. It&rsquo;s extra emotion, extra drive, just one step below the playoffs. Everybody&rsquo;s excited and locked in,&rdquo; Mitchell said.
Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber, Reggie Bullock, Trey Burke, JaQuori McLaughlin and Josh Green were also sidelined in the health and safety protocols for the Mavericks. In addition, Willie Cauley-Stein was out for personal reasons and Dorian Finney-Smith missed the game with a non-COVID illness.
The Jazz still have not lost a player to the coronavirus, and the depth and experience showed as Utah took over in the fourth quarter.
&ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t play our best and got behind by 16 points, but this time we didn&rsquo;t let it slip away. We&rsquo;re getting better and maybe learning some lessons,&rdquo; said Rudy Gobert, who had eight of his 10 points in the final period.
Jalen Brunson scored 27 points and Porzingis returned after two games out with a sore toe to tally 27 points for Dallas. Frank Ntilikina had a season-best 17 points, marking the first time he&rsquo;s scored in double figures in back-to-back games this season.
&ldquo;No matter who&rsquo;s on our side or who&rsquo;s on that side ... you got to be aggressive. You got to be locked in. You got to have that mindset of playing, whatever the defense,&rdquo; Brunson said.
Guarded by Royce O&rsquo;Neale &mdash; who is nine inches shorter &mdash; Porzingis scored six straight points to give Dallas an 84-75 lead with 4:45 left in the third quarter.
Dallas led 94-92 in the fourth quarter before the Jazz went on a 10-0 run punctuated by Jordan Clarkson&rsquo;s one-handed alley-oop to Gobert that made it 102-94 for Utah. The Jazz never trailed the rest of the way.
Mavericks (15-17) have lost four of five but started strong. Porzingis powered Dallas to a 26-11 lead with a jumper, a dunk and five throws while the Jazz went 5 for 17 and had five turnovers.
&ldquo;The frantic part of it was us fouling. That really hurt us, particularly in the first quarter, because it slows the game down and allows them to change their defense,&rdquo; Utah coach Quin Snyder said.
The Mavericks&rsquo; zone defense flustered the Jazz early, but the Jazz started hitting perimeter shots and getting to the basket. Mitchell scored 16 points in the second quarter to spur the Jazz to a 65-63 lead at the half.
The Mavericks&rsquo; aggressiveness kept the team neck-and-neck with Utah, and Dallas was 30 of 35 at the foul line, their highest number of free throws made and attempted this season. The teams combined to shoot 72 free throws.
&ldquo;That was one of the best teams in the league &mdash; not just the Western Conference,&rdquo; Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. &ldquo;I thought those guys in our locker room fought all the way to the end. The ball just didn&rsquo;t bounce our way tonight in that fourth quarter. We had some good looks.&rdquo;
BOGEY FOR 3 IS A KEY
Bogdanovic made a 3-pointer with 2:01 remaining to lift the Jazz to an eight-point lead, a cushion Utah needed as the Mavericks made a final charge at the end of the game.
It&rsquo;s a familiar occurrence as the Jazz have hit their stride the last few weeks. Bogdanovic has gone 37 for 73 over the last 11 games from 3-point range and scored more than 14 points in every contest.
Bogdanovic&rsquo;s consistency from the outside, along with his post-up and transition scoring, has prevented defenses from helping on Mitchell&rsquo;s drives and Gobert&rsquo;s rolls to the rim.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: Dallas shot 21 first-half free throws (and the Jazz shot 20). ... Porzingis missed both technical free throws he attempted, one in each half. ... Porzingis and O&rsquo;Neale wrestled to the ground on a boxout late in the game.
Jazz: Mitchell notched his ninth 30-point game of the season. ... Mitchell went to the locker room in the first quarter but returned in the second period for a flurry of offense, though a bit hobbled. ... The Jazz have outscored their opponents in 12 straight games while Conley has been on the court. ... Joe Ingles got a technical for the second straight game.
UP NEXT
Mavericks: Visit Portland on Monday night.
Jazz: Visit San Antonio on Monday night for first road game in 16 days.
___
More AP NBA:&nbsp;<a class="" href="https://apnews.com/hub/NBA">https://apnews.com/hub/NBA</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="" href="https://twitter.com/AP_Sports" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://twitter.com/AP_Sports</a>

Mitchell scored 33 points, Bojan Bogdanovic scored 25 points and Mike Conley had 22 in the win.

Donovan Mitchell, Jazz rally past short-handed Mavs 120-116

CLEVELAND (AP) &mdash; Once the shot left Darius Garland&rsquo;s hands, the Utah Jazz couldn&rsquo;t do anything but hope it didn&rsquo;t drop.
Sometimes, defense comes down to a simple wish.
Garland missed a potential game-winner with 2.9 seconds left as the Jazz, who got 35 points from Donovan Mitchell, survived Cleveland&rsquo;s late surge for their fourth straight win, 109-108 over the Cavaliers on Sunday.
Rudy Gobert had 20 rebounds and five blocks, Bojan Bogdanovic added 16 points and Rudy Gay had 15 for Utah, which made 20 3-pointers and gave away a 15-point lead in the fourth.
The Cavs had a chance to win, and coach J.B. Bickerstaff put the ball in Garland&rsquo;s hands. But his 28-footer was long, and Jarrett Allen couldn&rsquo;t get his tip to drop as Cleveland had its winning streak stopped at four.
&ldquo;That last possession, I knew it was going to go to him because I&rsquo;ve known J.B. as a head coach for quite a while,&rdquo; Jazz guard Mike Conley said. &ldquo;I just tried to stay up as high as I could and make sure it was contested. I told him (Garland), it was like playing against myself.&rdquo;
<div class="Component-dfp-0-2-142">&nbsp;</div>
Bickerstaff didn&rsquo;t second-guess his decision.
&ldquo;If I could do it over again, I would do the same thing and let him make a play,&rdquo; he said.
Garland scored 31 points, Allen added 17 points and 11 rebounds and rookie Evan Mobley had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavs, who were back at home after beating Dallas, Miami and Washington. It was the first time since 1975 that the Cavs won three straight on the road over teams with winning records.
&ldquo;That&rsquo;s a really good team and they made some shots,&rdquo; Jazz coach Quin Snyder said as his squad opened a four-game trip. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a really good win for us &mdash; starting the trip with an early game in the East is not easy.&rdquo;
Utah opened its 15-point lead in the early moments of the fourth on Conley&rsquo;s 3-pointer and seemed poised to put the Cavs away.
However, as has been the case all season, Cleveland fought back.
The Cavs reeled off 15 straight points to tie it 97-all on Ricky Rubio&rsquo;s scoop shot with 8:43 left. Cedi Osman contributed to the flurry with a dunk, 3-pointer and steal.
&ldquo;We never gave up,&rdquo; said Rubio, who finished with 15 points. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been in every single game this season.&rdquo;
Mitchell had a chance to put the Jazz ahead by three, but Mobley came across the lane and blocked his layup with 22 seconds to go. The Cavs corralled the ball and called time to set up a final shot.
Garland initially drove the lane, but got turned away. He wound up with the ball at the top of the key and launched his deep 3 that was long, and the Jazz survived Allen&rsquo;s follow attempt.
&ldquo;I work on that shot every day,&rdquo; said Garland, who has scored 30 points in consecutive games for the first time. &ldquo;It felt good. I was open.&rdquo;
TIP-INS
Jazz: C Hassan Whiteside (left glute bruise) missed his first game. ... Snyder said it doesn&rsquo;t take long watching film for Mobley to stand out. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s going to be a star in this league, really soon,&rdquo; Snyder said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a rare combination of size, length, quickness and skill.&rdquo; ... Gay, who underwent right heel surgery in the offseason, isn&rsquo;t technically on a minutes restriction. Gay is averaging 18.7 minutes coming off the bench. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s the challenge of getting back into game shape,&rdquo; Snyder said. &ldquo;Fatigue can be an issue, especially the way we want to play.&rdquo; ... Gay topped 17,000 career points.
Cavaliers: Didn&rsquo;t get called for a foul in the first 17 minutes and finished with just eight, tying the league low this season. ... F Kevin Love entered the day leading the NBA with a .949 free throw percentage (37 of 39). The five-time All-Star is an 83% career shooter from the line, finishing above 90% just once. ... Garland and Atlanta&rsquo;s Trae Young are the only players averaging at least 19 points, seven assists and shooting over 45%.
BIG BOYS
Gobert&rsquo;s size troubles most teams, but not the Cavs.
J.B. Bickerstaff countered the 7-foot-1, shot-swatting center by starting 6-foot-11 Allen along with 7-footers Mobley and Lauri Markkanenen, a &ldquo;tall ball&rdquo; lineup that has been a revelation for the Cavs.
&ldquo;There were some moments when we were discombobulated because there was a lot going on in that game with Allen, Mobley and Markkanen,&rdquo; Snyder said.
GOOD COMPANY
Garland added five assists, four rebounds and four steals. He&rsquo;s the first Cleveland player to score 30 points while reaching those other marks since LeBron James in 2018.
&ldquo;Garland is going to be a hell of a player,&rdquo; Mitchell said. &ldquo;I was trash talking him all day, but l will say I respect his game.&rdquo;
UP NEXT
Jazz: Continue a four-game trip Wednesday at Minnesota.
Cavaliers: Visit the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.
___
More AP NBA:&nbsp;<a class="" href="https://apnews.com/tag/NBA">https://apnews.com/tag/NBA</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class="" href="https://twitter.com/AP_Sports" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://twitter.com/AP_Sports</a>

Darius Garland led Cleveland with 31 points, but it wasn't enough against Utah.

Donovan Mitchell scores 35, Jazz hold off Cavaliers 109-108

Mike Conley is questionable for tomorrow&rsquo;s game (mild right hamstring strain). Donovan Mitchell is also questionable (right ankle soreness).
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1405678342288809984" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Utah Jazz (Twitter)</a>
ANALYSIS: Conley has yet to play in this series, but the Jazz desparately need him down 3-2 and headed back to Los Angeles for Game 6. Mitchell, meanwhile, has been limited by an ankle injury for much of the series, but has continued to lead the Jazz on the floor.
If both are available, it may just prove the extra punch the Jazz need to get the series back to Utah for a winner-take-all Game 7.
&nbsp;

Utah Jazz guards Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell have both been listed as questionable for Friday's Game 6 match up with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Mike Conley (hamstring), Donovan Mitchell (ankle) questionable for Game 6

The Utah Jazz announced that Donovan Mitchell will be available for Wednesday's Game 2 against the Memphis Grizzlies.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Donovan is available to play in Game 2.
&mdash; utahjazz (@utahjazz) <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1396919034172506113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Mitchell was held out of Game 1 as he recovers from a right ankle sprain, and the Utah star was <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/donovan-mitchell-upset-with-jazz-for-late-decision-to-sit-him-in-game-1-loss" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly frustrated with the team's decision</a>. The Jazz lost that game 112-109, and will play Game 2 on Wednesday at 10:00 p.m. ET.
In the regular season, Mitchell averaged 26.4 points, 5.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game for the top-seeded Jazz.

Mitchell was a late scratch for Utah in the Game 1 loss to Memphis.

Donovan Mitchell available to play in Game 2 on Wednesday

In advance of Utah&rsquo;s final three games of the regular season, Donovan Mitchell was re-evaluated by the team's medical staff on Tuesday for a sprained ankle he sustained on April 16. He continues to make progress towards a return but will be out for Utah&rsquo;s final three contests.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1392261261899964417" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Utah Jazz Press Release (Twitter)</a>
ANALYSIS: The Jazz will continue to proceed with caution and keep Mitchell out of the lineup until playoffs as the team tries to clinch the No. 1 seed in the West. Mitchell has been the catalyst for Utah this year, averaging 26.4 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.4 rebounds in 33.4 minutes per game. Look for Mitchell to be ready to go once playoffs begin May 22nd.

The Jazz announced that Donovan Mitchell (ankle) will miss the team's remaining three regular season games.

Jazz announce Donovan Mitchell out until playoffs with ankle injury

Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert both blasted the way the Jazz are officiated after losing to the Sixers in OT, saying the Jazz are treated differently as a small market team compared to more glamorous opponents.
"It's f---ing ridiculous." - Donovan Michell.
Source: <a style="color: #ffffff;" href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31000780/donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert-blast-officiating-utah-jazz-games" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tim Bontemps of ESPN</a>
ANALYSIS: Mitchell, who was ejected during the final minutes of Utah's second-straight loss, went on a lengthy rant during the post-game presser. Here is the full transcript:
"First off, you know, give the 76ers credit. They played a hard game. Joel [Embiid] did what he does, and at the end of the day, they're a good team. We competed. But it's tough. It's tough to go out there and see how we fight and compete, and to have a game like that taken from us.
"Now, I'm never ever one to blame a ref, to blame an official -- I can say I could have done more -- but this is getting out of hand. There have been games like this that we've won, there have been games like this that we've lost. But this whole refereeing stuff. ... We're nice, we don't complain, like, we don't get frustrated, we fight through things, and the fact that we continually get ... screwed, in a way, by this. You know?
"We won this game, in my personal opinion. You know? But like I said, I'm going to give them credit. They won. Whatever. Cool. But it's been a consistent thing, and the question is, 'Can we do it? Can we sustain it? Are we for real No. 1? And, yeah the hell we are. And it's getting f---ing ridiculous, that this is what is happening.
"We have a whole second half of the season to go and get ready for, and I'm sick of it, to be honest with you," Mitchell said. "We all are. This is something that just it eats me. It eats at me, man. Y'all know what it is. We all know what it is. But it's really getting out of hand. It's really, really, really getting out of hand. And the league needs to do something about this. I want to see the last two-minute report. I want to see it. But it's getting out of hand."
All-Star big man Rudy Gobert backed Mitchell's comments, saying: "Our guys are not able to get calls everybody else in the f---ing league gets. We know we are the Utah Jazz, and maybe some people don't want to see us go as far as we can go, but it's disappointing.
"Three times in a row, Mike Conley is going to the rim, and they're grabbing him right in front of the officials and there's no calls. And, on the other end, there are calls that are invisible that are being made.
"I think it's disrespectful, to be honest, to the game of basketball and to our team, and hopefully they're going to watch the game when they get home. ... Hopefully they feel ashamed when they watch the game."
The Jazz will head into the All-Star Break with the league's best record at 27-9.

Utah's Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert sounded off on officials following the team's OT loss to Philadelphia Wednesday night.

Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert criticize officiating following loss to 76ers

The NBA announced that Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid have won Player of the Month honors for the month of December.
Here is the official release from the NBA:
"Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid have been named the NBA Players of the Month for the month of December.
The dynamic guard (Donovan Mitchell) powered Utah to a dominant 12-2 December with averages of 30.2 points, 5.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals over 12 games. Mitchell capped off the month with a season-high 39 points against the Timberwolves on Dec. 31. The Jazz (27-10) are currently the 3rd seed in the West standings.
The All-NBA center (Joel Embiid) led Philadelphia in December with averages of 29.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks over 13 games. Embiid tallied eight double-doubles that month and scored a season-high 43 points with 15 rebounds and seven assists in a win against the Hornets on Dec. 6. The Sixers (20-16) are currently the 6th seed in the East standings."
Other nominees included:
West: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) and LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
East: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), DeMar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls), Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets), Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kyle Lowry (Miami Heat) and Fred VanVleet (Toronto Raptors)

The NBA named Donovan Mitchell and Joel Embiid players of the month for December.

Donovan Mitchell, Joel Embiid named Players of the Month for December

Chris Brickley trains some of the world's greatest basketball players, including James Harden, Kevin Durant&nbsp;and Cade Cunningham, to name just a few of the notable stars on his list of current clientele.&nbsp;
However, last week, Brickley set aside some time and teamed up with BODYARMOR to host a hoops clinic for local Harlem-area kids at the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club at the corner of Bradhurst Ave and 155th Street, just a block away from the famed Rucker Park.&nbsp;
After the clinic, BasketballNews.com caught up with Brickley to talk about one of his most valued clients, Utah Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell, discussing how the trainer and the hooper plan to prepare for the 2021-22 NBA season.&nbsp;
Is there one particular skill, or a couple of drills, that you will primarily focus on with Donovan Mitchell this summer?&nbsp;
Chris Brickley: "Basically, there's always been stages. So when I first started working with him before his freshman year of college, it was one thing. Then, we moved on to another thing. Now, he's kind of figured out how he gets his baskets in the league. He's figured out his niche. So what we do is work on his strengths, but we also want to improve his three-point shot off-the-dribble and off-the-catch. He already has a few go-to moves, but we want to add a few more. And being able to finish around the rim, with floaters and runners, is such a big part of his game, so we want to perfect those also."&nbsp;
Both of you have Louisville ties. Have you had a relationship with Mitchell since college? Is that when you guys first started working together?&nbsp;
Brickley: "Actually, when I was an assistant coach under Rick Pitino for the Puerto Rican national team, we held training camp at the University of Louisville in the summer. That year, Mitchell was an incoming freshman, so we started getting work in then, and that was almost six years ago. We've had a really close relationship for a lot of years, so it's been cool to watch him develop into a superstar.&nbsp;
Considering he was the 13th overall pick in the draft, were you surprised by how productive he was as soon as he set foot on an NBA court as a rookie averaging 20 points a night? Or were you confident he could make an impact right away?&nbsp;
Brickley: "To be honest, I always knew. Even after his freshman year at Louisville when he didn't play much, I'd be working him out, and he was a knockdown shooter. He understands pace; he's a super athlete. His worth ethic is on 1,000. He's just one of those guys. He has that "it." So, I've always known it, and I've always known that once he got an opportunity to show it, he would show it."
Some players prefer to rest and recover during the offseason instead of working out multiple times a day. Is Mitchell one of those guys who needs the summer to have his body recuperate, or is he one of those players that you have to lock out of the gym?&nbsp;
Brickley: "When we started off, he was one of those guys you had to lock out of the gym. His first year or two in the league, those offseasons were ridiculous. He was the only player I worked with that would start at 5 a.m. We'd go at 5 a.m. and go again at 2 p.m. And they were the most strenuous workouts. The guy pushes like no other. He's still really young, but he's had some injuries this past season, so it's important to get his body right. He's doing a good job with [DBC Fitness owner] David Alexander down in Miami, getting his body where he wants to get it."&nbsp;
Among the many ways in which Mitchell has improved his game since entering the league, what aspect has impressed you the most?&nbsp;
Brickley: "His efficiency and his professionalism. The guy almost got Rookie of the Year, won the dunk contest and became like a star after his first year. Yet going into his workouts, he would still be 15 minutes early; he'd be super punctual, super professional. Then, he became an All-Star and came back the same way. He hasn't changed. That alone is a skill, for any human &mdash; being humble. On the court, every year, he's averaged more points, and he's been more efficient. I'm proud of him for that."&nbsp;
This past season, Mitchell averaged over 5 assists per game for the first time in his career. Are there specific drills you can work on to improve a player's passing ability, court vision or basketball IQ? Or are those innate skills players are born with?&nbsp;
Brickley: "I think watching film is such a big trend in the NBA because that's one way you can improve your IQ. I think the best way you can improve your IQ is by watching yourself play games so that you can see, 'Ah, this worked. This didn't work.' I know Donovan is huge on film study. Whenever he's traveling, he's watching film. He watches film almost every night. He's a giant film guy."&nbsp;
Mitchell has been a remarkably productive player during the regular season, but has somehow managed to take his game to an even higher level during the playoffs throughout his career. It's exceptionally uncommon for a player to increase his scoring average and efficiency substantially during the postseason. What do you attribute that to?&nbsp;
Brickley: "I think taking care of his body and, literally, staying hydrated. He has a BODYARMOR partnership [too]. He is doing the recovery stuff, and it shows he's not messing around. He plays in his games, and then he uses his recovery tools&hellip; Stuff like that is really important. And that's why he is able to last so long into the season."

Tommy Beer speaks with NBA skills coach Chris Brickley about Donovan Mitchell's focus this summer, their relationship and more.

Chris Brickley Q&A: Preparing Donovan Mitchell for the NBA grind

Donovan Mitchell left Saturday's Game 4 loss to the Clippers due to pain in his ankle, but the Utah Jazz star sounds optimistic about the injury.
""It's when I land," Mitchell said postgame. "It's been just trying to manage it. I don't really know what else to tell you; I don't want to say too much. It was just the landing, but I'm good. I'll be ready for Game 4."
Source: <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31622165/utah-jazz-donovan-mitchell-exits-ankle-pain-says-ready-game-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tim MacMahon/ESPN</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;According to the story, Mitchell was held out of the game as a precautionary measure due to the already one-sided contest. The Clippers took home a 132-106 win to move the series score to 2-1, still in favor of Utah. Mitchell missed the last 16 regular season games, as well as the first game of the playoffs, with a right ankle sprain.
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Mitchell left Saturday's loss to the Clippers due to pain in his ankle.

Donovan

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