The Jazz have made the playoffs in each of the four years since Donovan Mitchell entered the NBA and are on track to do so again in 2022. However, Mitchell has yet to make it beyond the second round of the postseason and is feeling more urgency to make a deeper run this spring, as he tells Tony Jones of The Athletic.
“I think I’m really at a point now where we’ve made the second round, and we want more,” Mitchell said. “We crave it. I watched Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp in the Super Bowl; they just found ways to win. So, for me, that’s the biggest thing. The ultimate goal is for us to be the last team standing. That’s the sign of the ultimate winner.”
In addition to voicing his desire for the Jazz to “take another leap,” Mitchell once again brushed off the notion that there’s any tension between him and teammate Rudy Gobert, echoing comments he made to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports earlier this month.
“I’m at a point now where it’s the NBA, this is what it is,” Mitchell told Jones. “People are going to write things. If I have to respond every five minutes to a story, then I’m taking away from my teammates, and I’m taking away from my happiness. I love this team, and we want to find a way to win as a group. I’m focused on my team. As long as my teammates and my coaches know my intentions, then that’s what it is. But I’m not going to allow articles to deter me from my main goal. I love this group. So, let’s find a way to do it.”
Here’s more on the Jazz:
- Rudy Gobert, who watched 19-year veteran LeBron James hit the game-winning shot against his team in Sunday’s All-Star Game, said he’d love to be able to replicate LeBron’s longevity, as Sarah Todd of The Deseret News writes. “I’m taking great care of myself, just to trying to see how far I can go,” said Gobert, who is in his ninth season. “Whenever I feel like I either can’t play anymore or I lose that competitive edge, then I’ll probably stop it, but for sure I would love to play for 19 years.”
- In the wake of 2022 All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune looks ahead to the 2023 event, which will be hosted by the Jazz, and considers what it will mean for the Salt Lake City market. It’s the first time the All-Star Game will be played in Utah since 1993.
- Juan Hernangomez, acquired by the Jazz at the trade deadline, is under contract through 2022/23, but his salary for next season is non-guaranteed, so he’ll likely become a free agent this summer, if not sooner. As Antigoni Zachari of Eurohoops relays, Hernangomez would like to finish this season in the NBA and could remain stateside beyond that, but he’s also expected to draw significant interest from teams in Spain, including Barcelona, according to international reports. Hernangomez played in his home country for Estudiantes for two seasons from 2014-16 before entering the NBA.
Stockton & Malone had to go thru A LOT of playoff disappointment (esp on the road) before they broke thru with Stockton’s huge trey in Houston in 97. Rudy & Spida will get there, maybe even this yr. Winning 4 vs Phoenix would be extremely tough for them but they could beat anybody else in the West. If they can get the 3 or even the 6 seed I think they’d have a pretty good shot at beating both Memphis & G-State. If Phoenix gets upset before the WCF this could definitely be their yr
Never winning a Chip
You sound pretty certain about that but I don’t see anything to back it up
UTA can’t win as they are now, Mitchell is a good player but basically just a volume scorer that doesn’t shoot that well, right now maybe a top 40 player at best… & Gobert is a very limited center that his strength is meant to be defence, but usually the opposing center tends to have a great game against him, so the reality is that UTA will have a sensational season if they reach the R2WC, no potential now or in the near future with the roster as it is constructed right now!
Top40 at best lol man y’all are something else
Unlike prior seasons I feel there is still quite a few teams that can win it. The defending champion Bucks, the Nets if Kyrie’s availability changes,The Suns, Warriors yes the Jazz and maybe but still not sure about the 76ers with the Celtics as a dark horse.
The playoffs are about coaching, matchups and attrition you never know who might go down with an injury or if a team just gets hot.
Phoenix seems like the best team by far this season but G-State has potential to be extremely tough to beat. As far as the East it’s gonna be a dogfight. Brooklyn got the most talent but they could legit miss the playoffs if certain things don’t go their way, specifically KD’s health & Kyrie’s availability. People are sleeping on Denver & Utah tho. I actually wouldn’t be surprised to see them meet in the WCF bc Denver with MPJ & Jamal can definitely beat Phoenix & will have a chip on their shoulder bc of last year. Also Utah will dominate GSW on the boards if they play & I promise that’s gonna matter
I’d like Denver better if there was more time to ramp up MPJ, and Murray and get the team reacclimated to them and vice versa.
Their defensive timing is gonna be a lil funky but offensively they can be (one of) the most explosive team in the league, especially if they keep Boogie
Even if they somehow make it past Phoenix ans Golden State I don’t see the Jazz beating any of the top 4 east teams. Ingles was a big loss for them
Have you seen him play this season? It’s a youngman’s league. Too late for Ingles and the likes, make space for the new generation.
In the last 6 years, team with best record won it all only twice. Match ups and available personnel play a larger role than winning % over 82 games.
What are you referring to, the Suns being the favorites?
Respectfully, the ‘only twice’ constitutes to more than a third of the ‘last six years’ period.
Great, ten more years of Gobert basketball :D
Injuries and playing with nagging injuries are a big part of the playoff marathon. The Bucks last year had injuries but still found a way to win.
The Jazz need to exploit their depth a lot more than they have. Snyder is really missing out on an opportunity to wear other teams out. Especially now since the entire roster has had playing time through these last few weeks. They’re ready to keep that depth going. Don’t waste it!
My main critcism, if I’m entitled to one, is the stubborness and unwillingness to give the jounger generation a better chance and more meaningfull minutes. Recently they more than proved they’re worthy.