Longtime Ray Donovan showrunner David Hollander co-wrote the script (with Schreiber) and will also direct. The franchise is reaping those rewards now.A post shared by Liev Schreiber two-hour continuation will be set in the immediate aftermath of the Season 7 finale, with Mickey on the run and Ray determined to find and stop him before he can cause any more carnage. Utah identified his potential early in the scouting process and kept things quiet before making the big move on draft night. At 24, he’s going to get better and has yet to hit his prime. Several teams that passed on him will be watching his playoff performances with a wry smile. 13 in the 2017 draft to the Nuggets, but was traded to the Jazz on draft night. Mitchell is +450 to win Finals MVP behind Kevin Durant. The Jazz are +250 to win the title behind the Brooklyn Nets. Utah is currently the favorite to win the West at -167, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. That was also the last time the Jazz made the NBA Finals. Utah is up 2-0 on the Clippers and still needs to win two more games to get to the conference finals, a place the franchise hasn’t been since 1997-98. The Jazz were never going to let Mitchell walk, but he’s made good on that contract with this postseason performance.
This is coming after he agreed to a five-year, $163 million extension worth up to $195 million with incentives. In his fourth postseason, Mitchell is breaking out and attempting to join the conversation as one of the best players in the league. It’s another to top a two-time Finals MVP who is considered by some to be the best player in the league. It’s one thing to outproduce a second-year player like Morant. Kawhi Leonard points in second round: 23, 21 That has continued in the second round against Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers.ĭonovan Mitchell points in second round: 45, 37 Morant won Games 1 and 2, but Mitchell outscored him in the rest of the series. Ja Morant points in first round: 26, 47, 28, 23, 27
That’s what closely contested playoff series often come down to.ĭonovan Mitchell points in first round: DNP, 25, 29, 30, 30 More importantly, he’s outperforming the opponent’s star player. He’s playing less minutes than in the bubble, but maintaining similar production and efficiency. It’s not quite his effort in the Orlando bubble, but Mitchell has filled up the stat sheet this postseason. The question was whether Mitchell could take his game to another level as the stakes got higher.ĭonovan Mitchell 2021 playoffs so far: 32.7 points, 5.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 48.2 FG%, 41.9 3P% With a Defensive Player of the Year in Gobert, Sixth Man of the Year in Jordan Clarkson and Mike Conley in the backcourt, the Jazz were ready to contend for a title. Mitchell wasn’t in the MVP conversation, but he was widely regarded as one of the league’s top players. Utah stormed to the league’s best record and secured home-court advantage throughout the postseason with a 52-20 record. Instead of breaking apart, the Jazz went on an incredible tear during the 2020-21 season. Despite going up 3-1 in the series, that dynamic seemed to linger over the team. More reports surfaced about Mitchell and Gobert’s relationship and tension among the group, especially after Mitchell tested positive for COVID. Utah was reportedly experiencing some turmoil at the end of last season due to Rudy Gobert’s casual attitude towards the pandemic before testing positive for COVID himself, resulting in the NBA suspending the season. He went 9-22 from the floor in the 80-78 loss. The guard was an absolute beast in the series, but failed to deliver in Game 7. Here’s how Mitchell performed against the Nuggets in seven games.ĭonovan Mitchell 2020 playoffs: 36.3 points, 4.9 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 52.9 FG%, 51.6 3P% Mitchell’s ascension into the league’s elite started in last season’s Orlando bubble, where he played seven tough games in Utah’s opening round loss to the Denver Nuggets. The Utah Jazz have yet to lose a playoff game in 2021 with Donovan Mitchell on the floor.Īfter missing the first game of the playoffs, in which the Jazz lost to the Memphis Grizzlies, Mitchell returned to the floor amid controversy about how the team managed his injury.