cooldude32
Well-Known Member
I just hope he is loyal unlike Hayward.
What are Donovan's weaknesses?
- Thread starter str8line
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I hate Hayward too but fans expecting loyalty from players is so cringy to me.
Jack Strop
Well-Known Member
Waterbottling. Rookies need to respect their elders.
Too much friendship with Favors. Does he resent the FO if Favors is traded or the Jazz don't offer Derrick a decent contract and he leaves?
Seriously, Donovan's weaknesses are just typical rookie errors. His defense can still improve a lot. He can get better at finishing at the rim. He still forces some bad shots.
Mitchell is doing EVERYTHING we wanted Exum to do. He's using his speed to penetrate. He's not afraid to put up shots. Or if the defense collapses on him, he's looking for a big underneath or throwing it back out to the corners. And he's become deadly from the 3PT arc after struggling early on.
I think the biggest danger is he becomes a Russell Westbrook. Or even a DWill. Hope he remains humble and doesn't go chasing after more 30/40 pt games. If they come naturally, and he has the hot hand, like he did in the 2nd half, that's great. But sometimes he takes some very ill-advised long 3's. And if he's struggling, will he have the maturity to look to facilitate more instead of shoot? I also worry about the ability to sustain his frenetic pace over 82 games. He may need to pace himself a bit.
Too much friendship with Favors. Does he resent the FO if Favors is traded or the Jazz don't offer Derrick a decent contract and he leaves?
Seriously, Donovan's weaknesses are just typical rookie errors. His defense can still improve a lot. He can get better at finishing at the rim. He still forces some bad shots.
Mitchell is doing EVERYTHING we wanted Exum to do. He's using his speed to penetrate. He's not afraid to put up shots. Or if the defense collapses on him, he's looking for a big underneath or throwing it back out to the corners. And he's become deadly from the 3PT arc after struggling early on.
I think the biggest danger is he becomes a Russell Westbrook. Or even a DWill. Hope he remains humble and doesn't go chasing after more 30/40 pt games. If they come naturally, and he has the hot hand, like he did in the 2nd half, that's great. But sometimes he takes some very ill-advised long 3's. And if he's struggling, will he have the maturity to look to facilitate more instead of shoot? I also worry about the ability to sustain his frenetic pace over 82 games. He may need to pace himself a bit.
Jack Strop
Well-Known Member
Why? The Jazz and KOC drafted him #9. Not sure anyone had him that high. They invested heavily in him. When he said he wanted to be the leader, they - in part - let a beloved player go (Millsap) so Hayward could be "the man." He had a dedicated player development coach to work with him each off-season. And they were willing to pay him more than any other team could offer. The only 'offense' was letting him shop the market as a RFA. Even that was understandable as he was coming off a bad season and the two sides couldn't agree to terms. I'm sure the numbers were FAR apart. If they had been close, both sides compromise and you get a deal signed.
Utah centered their whole offense around him. They consulted him in personnel decisions. DL said they turned down a minor trade last year because Hayward didn't like it. At the very least, I think Hayward could have been honorable and disclosed to DL that he was leaving. I remember his rumored trade demand before last season. Both sides denied it. And from what was "leaked" it was more in terms of if Utah didn't spend to compete, he wanted out. There were many times Gordon could have even showed some gratitude for the years and money Utah gave him, but he didn't. And that's sad.
cooldude32
Well-Known Member
What's wrong with wanting a player to play their whole career in one uniform?
gregbroncs
Well-Known Member
Maybe, they don't seem to be able to stop Joe Ingles from doing similar things and passing it off of plays like that. I don't think it matters that he can't jump that high off of one foot while moving. As long as he finds ways to get the shot up, and be good at getting it in, it shouldn't matter that much. Some guys don't have elite athleticism and still flourish going to the paint.
Nothing, but that's not what I was talking about.
gregbroncs
Well-Known Member
he was genuinely excited to come the the Jazz. That gives me hope he wants to be here.
Jack Strop
Well-Known Member
From his pre-draft workout to his fist pump after seeing he had been traded to Utah. It's going to be a very easy discussion in 3 years on extending him. "Here, Donovan, please sign this 5 year agreement at the max. And we've brought in a sculptor to begin preliminary drawings of your statue."
LogGrad98
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The #1 difference between DM and Ex is confidence, but to take it a step further, self-assuredness. Confidence gets thrown around too much in terms that others impact it, like not giving him playing time affects his confidence. But I see it as having that self-assuredness to be able to step in regardless of what "they" do and play your game. Maybe it is mental toughness. But DM has it and Ex just doesn't.
sahlensguy
Well-Known Member
Self-assurenes is something Hayward lacked as well. His selection to the All Star game seemed to be validating to him. Mitchell has it and is why he seems to be such a great teamate and young leader.
The no. 1 difference between DM and Ex is NOT confidence IMO. You get confidence when you have the skill to do things on an NBA floor... skills like shooting both on the catch and off the dribble, skills like splitting a double team, skills like eurosteps in the lane, skills like hang dribbles and hesitations, skills like step backs, etc. Exum was making progress, but his skill level was never anywhere close to what Mitchell is showing.
Even the NBAs most unlikeable players are praising Mitchell:
"“Utah got a star, man, for real,” All-Star opponent DeMarcus Cousins told reportersafter witnessing Donovan Mitchell’s 41 points first hand.
2 days ago – via Basketball Insiders"
"Jovan Buha: Austin Rivers called Donovan Mitchell the “best rookie in the NBA” after tonight’s game: Austin Rivers on Donovan Mitchell: “That little m*****f***** is good. That dude’s a rookie. He’s crazy. He’s the best rookie in the NBA…. If you don’t count Ben Simmons — if you’re not counting Ben Simmons — excluding Ben Simmons, he’s the best rookie in the NBA. Him and [Jayson] Tatum. … Donovan Mitchell is the best rookie in the NBA, bottom line. That m*****f***** is out there leading a team as a rookie. You know what I mean? He’s got way more on his shoulders than a lot of the other guys, excluding Ben Simmons. Him and Tatum are impressive.”
3 days ago – via"
"“Utah got a star, man, for real,” All-Star opponent DeMarcus Cousins told reportersafter witnessing Donovan Mitchell’s 41 points first hand.
2 days ago – via Basketball Insiders"
"Jovan Buha: Austin Rivers called Donovan Mitchell the “best rookie in the NBA” after tonight’s game: Austin Rivers on Donovan Mitchell: “That little m*****f***** is good. That dude’s a rookie. He’s crazy. He’s the best rookie in the NBA…. If you don’t count Ben Simmons — if you’re not counting Ben Simmons — excluding Ben Simmons, he’s the best rookie in the NBA. Him and [Jayson] Tatum. … Donovan Mitchell is the best rookie in the NBA, bottom line. That m*****f***** is out there leading a team as a rookie. You know what I mean? He’s got way more on his shoulders than a lot of the other guys, excluding Ben Simmons. Him and Tatum are impressive.”
3 days ago – via"
Quin's Murderface
Well-Known Member
Do people think this DM/Favors thing is being a bit overblown? I don't think these guys are best buddies or anything. From what I've seen DM hangs out with some of the other younger guys and is just friendly with everyone. I've been seeing this bromance thing pop up but it feels like a media construction without a lot of substance. I'm sure Mitchell likes Favs and everything, but I'm just not seeing anything more than that.
A couple of water-bottle squirts caught on camera. It could mean anything. It could mean nothing. It does show people are getting along, in some regard, at least superficially.
Joe Bagadonuts
Well-Known Member
Nice hack, Hotnickkk.
Douchebag K
Well-Known Member
yeah Donovan's level of skills are just unreal for this stage, way more than what Exum has shown. I am still thinking they could be awesome together if Exum kicks on
MDAV28
Well-Known Member
Completely agree. If there's any silver lining to this Exum situation is that we may be able to leverage a very team friendly deal in RFA and have a cheap backcourt oozing with potential.
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Coming up empty on "weaknesses."
Seems clear to me that he's going to be a PG (runs the show when Ricky is on the bench), and as a PG prospect, he's pretty much ideal.
Great size, phenomenal length, elite athleticism.
Already a plus perimeter defender.
Jumpshot is pure butter. Could be a high-volume, 40% 3-point shooter. Flawless mechanics.
APG numbers aren't anything to write home about, but he's an excellent and willing passer.
Doesn't turn the ball over.
Clutch.
Alpha personality.
Loves Utah.
Great teammate.
Fun fact, I was a student manager at Texas when Kevin Durant was a freshman there, and NBA scouts would come to practices and games and basically giggle when they watched him play because he was so good. I feel that same way about #45.
Seems clear to me that he's going to be a PG (runs the show when Ricky is on the bench), and as a PG prospect, he's pretty much ideal.
Great size, phenomenal length, elite athleticism.
Already a plus perimeter defender.
Jumpshot is pure butter. Could be a high-volume, 40% 3-point shooter. Flawless mechanics.
APG numbers aren't anything to write home about, but he's an excellent and willing passer.
Doesn't turn the ball over.
Clutch.
Alpha personality.
Loves Utah.
Great teammate.
Fun fact, I was a student manager at Texas when Kevin Durant was a freshman there, and NBA scouts would come to practices and games and basically giggle when they watched him play because he was so good. I feel that same way about #45.