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What is Wrong with Donovan?

UtahJazz32 said:
all y'all are reading too much into this.
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He's not on the same trajectory as he was on in his rookie year though and definitely not since the Kobe video.

Alot has went to his head imo.

But he's only what 24?

It's still early, but man he's not turning into D Wade yet.
 
I think the difference between his rookie year and now is 2 things. 1) his rookie year had zero expectations and he was just playing loose and free, doing what came naturally. His drives were dynamic, not forced, and fluid. Witness the spin move that's now basically nonexistent. He was a master of the euro-step, I would even say pioneer, and now it's basically gone. He's playing more methodically now, and as a result more woodenly, almost as if the dynamic nature has been coached out of him. We don't see his athleticism as much either. Used to have several jaw-dropping moves and plays each half if not each quarter. Now it's maybe a few times a game. Where did that go? Did he work to hard on getting strong and lose the dynamic nature of his play along the way?

And 2) he was playing like he was having fun. I don't see that in him much any more. He's more serious, seems to be forcing the issue more and more, and more often than not showing tightness in his face rather than the trademark grin.

I don't know how you fix these things. But I think both of them are holding him back.
 
Another thing was in his rookie year he had an almost uncanny ability to finish at the rim around and over much bigger and more defenders with English off the backboard at impossible angles. He was a master of using English and angles to get the ball to drop. Now as often as not it will clang off the backboard and rim. Not sure what happened with this either.


I'm sure part of the change is teams game planning more effectively around him, but I also think part of it is him trying to force things rather than playing loose and taking what they give him, part of it is probably coaching, and part of it might be the pressure to be the top guy getting to him.

I don't know but his stats are moderately better but I'd say his play is not really any better.
 
My guess is some sort of injury. He looked this way at the beginning of last season too with a bad foot and hand. Sadly he won't have time to heal during the all-star break.
 
LogGrad98 said:
Another thing was in his rookie year he had an almost uncanny ability to finish at the rim around and over much bigger and more defenders with English off the backboard at impossible angles. He was a master of using English and angles to get the ball to drop. Now as often as not it will clang off the backboard and rim. Not sure what happened with this either.


I'm sure part of the change is teams game planning more effectively around him, but I also think part of it is him trying to force things rather than playing loose and taking what they give him, part of it is probably coaching, and part of it might be the pressure to be the top guy getting to him.

I don't know but his stats are moderately better but I'd say his play is not really any better.
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Well said.

He kind of came out of nowhere to be a darling his rookie year. Post game hugs from the leagues best and on and on.

And then the shoes and his brand.

A little too much success too soon.

I don't know what the answers are but I hope life slows down for him a bit.
 
I think Don is just in a little slump. A few things have contributed to this. One is, he's been sick twice in the last month. He had a cold the first couple weeks of January, and about a week or so ago he was going to the locker room multiple times a game that was said to be restroom breaks. He probably should have sat a couple games and just got feeling better in both instances. His struggling has lead to more struggling because he wants it so much. He just needs to relax and enjoy playing again. There's been a lot of times lately he doesn't really even look to be having fun anymore. He also is 23 and in his 3rd season. Donovan will be fine.
 
Mitchell's a scorer. He's got to focus on it. He's not Wade, Iverson, Lilliard. He might belong in the same breath 3 or 4 tears from now, but he does not belong now. May be if everyone (including himself) stop trying yo force him in, he could finally get a chance to develop his game.
I insist, take de basketball out off his hands a bit, reduce his usage, let him focus on move and score and be a better 3 point shooter.
And, Quin, it starts with you. Just sayin'.
 
Those three guys you mentioned were/are far superior ball handlers and got to the line. He needs to work on the first more than anything else imo. I’m not sure he can improve much so far as the second.
 
Pastramiking said:
He is probably deferring in order to integrate Conley into the offense.
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I mean, it's more than that. Of late he's really pressing. At times looks disinterested, is making really bad decisions, and just doing things that aren't the Donovan we know. Not great defense either. Making mistakes like running at and jumping full speed at pump fakes which Quin absolutely hates. Idk if hes a bit sick still, has some small injury, or has something on his mind with his personal life at the moment but somethings off. All players go through slumps though. He'll be fine.
 
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