What's new
By:

*OFFICIAL* 17 on 26, Donovan Mitchell is the Monta Ellis watch thread

checkbookdoc said:
Let me be clear, I am not saying I don't want DM. I still think he is going to be a very good player, but I think it is CRAZY to say that we should trust that he will work and care as much as Rudy. Rudy has come back hungry and improved every year. He went from D-league, to rotation, to starter, to max player, to DPOY, to now without ever turning it down a notch.

The fact is 99% of everyone in the NBA is an above average worker (relative to normal people), but compared to the other NBA players there is no reason to think that right now, over the summer, or going forward DM was or is above average.

Also, there is a difference between charisma and being genuine, in fact these characteristics are often negatively correlated. When asked a question and a player has to chose between 1) saying the truth or 2) saying what is most beneficial to them, what do you think they will say? Just like everyone else does, DM chooses to say what is most beneficial for himself (true or not). Do I think DM is a good dude? Yes. Do I think every answer he gives is true? No. DM is just more polished than most and so he is better at playing the narrative that is best for him.
Click to expand...

I mention that stuff because DM has said he watched every game and the reports are he is a film room junkie. You can believe him. He says and does the right things. I don't know if he has the fire Rudy does... but I never compared those two or said DM was a better worker.

DM is genuine... I've seen it when there aren't a ton of cameras around. You can trust he will become close to the best player that he can. He will have success on and off the court... just because he does marketing events or travels a lot in the offseason doesn't mean he isn't working or focused.

Also, if you know his back story you'd know he is a worker... chubby kid, worked his *** off, not a highly touted recruit, improves in college, become s a late lotto pick, ROY conversation... he's hit a speed bump... it happens. We don't have all the info, but I have enough to know dude will try like hell to get better... you have your own opinion... that's fine.
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
the quick threes late in the fourth were the only ones I didn't want... it was the combo of all 3. He was going for the home run shot that ended the game. 1-2 of those I'd like to run the offense but they weren't terrible and again it was the combination of the three in a cluster on a night when he was not feeling it.

The jump passes are more troublesome. I don't want him taking a ton of shots in the 18 foot range, but I do wonder sometimes if he doesn't think he can get a clean look in the paint if pulling up at 18 is a better option. I want him at PG or as the primary ball handler at some point so I had hoped his vision and passing would get better. he was pretty good last year.

GS defends the paint well and green as a help defender with Klay as the primary (Klay is immune to the freedom of movement changes btw) is tough to deal with.
Click to expand...
They were all WIDE OPEN! They were running in transition for those shots. Why run in transition to get into position for a wide open shot when you are not going to take it when it's in your hands?
 
There are a lot of variables in this.

First, if on July 4, 2017, you were told that a year and a half from then that we'd be starting threads disappointed about him while he was averaging 21 points per game, and averaging more points per 36 minutes than anyone from this franchise since Karl Malone's '99-'00 year, then you'd probably be flabbergasted, even if he's only shooting 41%.

Second, he has absolutely struggled. He doesn't appear as "dominant" as he had been. I think there are a lot of explanations for that. He's scouted, and the end of last year we came together strong. Has anyone seen our offense? It's terrible. Who does the defense have to focus on? Do you let Donovan run into the lane, or do you collapse and roll the dice on a kick out to Rubio? Of course Rubio will be open. I think there's a huge mental component and he's forcing a number of issues and not able to relax. When he went to the line for the last time last night, he looked nervous. It's hyped that he's always talking to guys on how to improve. I think he needs to stop listening to people for a while as I think he's over thinking this. I also think he needs more time on the floor with Korver. I'm not sure what the actual numbers are, but he's spending a lot of time in that starting unit that has only Joe Ingles as a floor spacer. He needs more time with Korver and Crowder lineups.

Also, with a few exceptions, it seems a pretty significant amount of Australians here really seem to be peeved by Donovan. Yeah, he probably gets more slack than a lot of guys. Some of that is earned, though. But yes, he's not above reproach. But I feel some of these Aussies have a two-pronged disgust with Mitchell, with the first being that they view his relationship with Simmons as a zero-sum game, and automatically assume any success for Donovan is a slight to Simmons. In similar fashion, they feel the role Donovan assumed last year is what Exum should have gotten, and they feel Quin and Donovan have somehow robbed Exum -- and Australia? -- from what they feel is rightfully theirs. Look, none of us want to see Exum not succeed, but around here we are Jazz fans first. We don't GAF about what team USA does. We also don't GAF whether the guy helping us win games is a Utah native, an American, or even if he were Dutch -- hell, most of us here would even be happy and supportive if our very own dutch could come in and drop 20! The fact is, you guys coming here only for Exum haven't been here for the Corbin era. You're not familiar with CJ Miles, or Morris Almond, or DeShawn Stevenson, or Curtis Borchardt, or Raul Lopez, or the disappointment that was AK. Nor have you watched two opportunities at a title disappear. So, yeah, you're walking into a historical context where excuse us if we don't see Australian Saer Sene as the next Kobe. It's time to stop associating everything DM with Exum and Simmons.
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
I mention that stuff because DM has said he watched every game and the reports are he is a film room junkie. You can believe him. He says and does the right things. I don't know if he has the fire Rudy does... but I never compared those two or said DM was a better worker.

DM is genuine... I've seen it when there aren't a ton of cameras around. You can trust he will become close to the best player that he can. He will have success on and off the court... just because he does marketing events or travels a lot in the offseason doesn't mean he isn't working or focused.

Also, if you know his back story you'd know he is a worker... chubby kid, worked his *** off, not a highly touted recruit, improves in college, become s a late lotto pick, ROY conversation... he's hit a speed bump... it happens. We don't have all the info, but I have enough to know dude will try like hell to get better... you have your own opinion... that's fine.
Click to expand...
Clearly he has worked like crazy to get where he is and deserves the benefit of the doubt. I am just in a cynical mood today. DM was my favorite player last year and I feel like something is off this year (energy, fire, effort). Maybe its health, or team chemistry, or something besides motivation.
 
Jazz need more players like Mitchell and not less of the one they already have
 
My bigger issue at this point is the coaching. I have no doubt Mitchell is allowed and encouraged to take these shots.
 
checkbookdoc said:
Clearly he has worked like crazy to get where he is and deserves the benefit of the doubt. I am just in a cynical mood today. DM was my favorite player last year and I feel like something is off this year (energy, fire, effort). Maybe its health, or team chemistry, or something besides motivation.
Click to expand...
The scheduling plays a part as well

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using JazzFanz mobile app
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page
Back
Top