Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz have been an unstoppable force in this year’s NBA playoffs, rolling through the first round in five games and now up 2-0 on the Clippers in the Western Conference semifinals.
Mitchell dropped 37 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds in the Game 2 win and that has just been par for the course for him of late. He is also the first Jazz player to score 35 or more points in back-to-back playoff games. It’s safe to say that in the last two seasons Mitchell has become a full-blown playoff star.
According to Clutch Points, “We saw this phenomenon really begin last year in the bubble. While the Jazz suffered a devastating defeat against the Denver Nuggets, featuring a blown 3-1 lead, Mitchell averaged 36.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists while shooting 52.9% overall and 51.6% from 3-point range and it does not look like a bubble fluke.”
The Jazz continue to roll through the NBA Playoffs
Meanwhile, Mitchell’s performance is all the more impressive due to his recent ankle injury, which caused him to sit out for an extended amount of time.
The outlet reports that Mitchell also wowed in the first round against the Memphis Grizzlines, putting up “28.5 points, 5.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game while shooting 45.0% from the field and 40.0%”
This series, the outlet reveals that the young superstar is also averaging big numbers in the two games against the L.A. Clippers, which include 52.5% shooting and 44.4% from behind the three-point line.
But Mitchell does not do it alone. Beside him, he has the sixth man of the year Jordan Clarkson who scored 24 points in Game 2, and three-time defensive player of the year Rudy Gobert who grabbed 20 rebounds Thursday night.
On the other end of things, the Clippers are going to need their role players to step it up as only three clippers scored in double digits in Game 2. If I am the Clippers I am terrified of what’s going to happen if they lose this series as Kawhi Leonard will most likely be on the move if they do not make a deep playoff push.
Meanwhile, Clippers fans have to be getting worried about the future of the team as far as their superstars are concerned. Although Paul George recently signed an extension Kawhi Leonard may be looking to move if the things play out in a negative way. The Clippers have to step up or their championship hopes will die sooner than later.