Donovan Mitchell is taking the wrong approach to the NBA season. After a superb rookie year when he averaged 20.5 PPG, 3.7 REB, 3.7 AST, Mitchell had high expectations for the 2018-19 season. Disappointingly, however, Mitchell has started off the season slowly.
In three games so far, Donovan Mitchell has only shot 34.4% from the field, while taking over 20 shots a game. This is a major difference from the 46.4% shooting on only 16 attempts per game in 2017. His shot attempts rank him seventh in the league, too high for the level of efficiency he’s showing.
Mitchell’s response to his shooting woes is not the one Jazz fans should want to hear. After shooting 7-23 against the Warriors in Game 2, Mitchell responded to a report about his shooting woes by saying, “they’re taking away my easy looks, and I’ve just got to be able to hit tougher shots.”
At first, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with this statement. All Mitchell has to do is simply start making more of those shots, right? When reviewing the game tape, however, it’s clear Mitchell isn’t going about his problem the right way.
What’s the Problem?
Instead of focusing on being able to make those “tough shots,” Mitchell should think about not taking them. 49.2% of Mitchell’s current shot attempts come when a defender is within 2-4 feet of him, defined by NBA statisticians as “tight.” Mitchell takes 7.3 pull-up jumpers from the perimeter every game but only connects on 30.8% of them. He’s also chucking up three-pointers left and right, currently taking nearly 10 a game while shooting 27.6%.
For comparison, in Mitchell’s rookie season, only 37.2% of his shots were defended by someone within 2-4 feet. Mitchell wasn’t very good off the bounce last year either, only shooting 35.3% but on fewer attempts per game. He simply hasn’t improved enough to make such a drastic change to his shot selection.
Although in a small sample size, these percentages show that Mitchell is simply not ready to take these tougher shots.
What SHOULD Mitchell Be Doing?
A lot of Mitchell’s baskets come off a high screen-and-roll, into a straight-line drive. This should be his bread and butter, scoring on the pick-and-roll. He has no trouble getting to the rim, with his burst and strength. It also creates free throw opportunities, something Mitchell has struggled with this seasons so far.
The 22-year-old doesn’t lack an array of crafty finishes either, consistently pulling out a scoop-shot or euro-step. He hasn’t been able to convert, however, missing multiple crucial layups against Memphis on Monday. In total thus far, he’s only shooting 40.9% near the basket. These are still the easiest shots in basketball, and Mitchell shouldn’t be discouraged by his current problems at the rim.
All this shows that Mitchell is simply not a good NBA scorer right now. He needs to pass the ball more and stop taking so many contested looks. He clearly views himself as a shot creator, like his peers Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum, but until he can hit those shots, Mitchell has no business taking them.
His efficiency is bound to improve, as it’s hard to believe he’ll simply regress when he’s already proven he can be a good scorer as a rookie. However, his solution to just keep shooting isn’t going to help the Jazz. Mitchell has plenty of teammates ready to pick up the slack.
Who can Help?
One such guy is Joe Ingles, whose shooting is breaking NBA statheads’ minds right now. Ingles is making four three-pointers a game, on only eight attempts. Rookie Grayson Allen is also making 2.6 threes a game in under five attempts a game. These levels of efficiency are obviously unsustainable, but Mitchell has to take advantage while they last.
Mitchell’s only averaging three assists per game while being the primary ball-handler. His teammates are clearly capable of making shots, he’s just not getting them the ball. There has to be a realization that for the Jazz to succeed, Mitchell has to swallow his pride and move the ball
Donovan Mitchell put in a lot of work this offseason, and like any young athlete, is excited to show off all that he’s improved on. If he wants the Jazz to succeed, however, he has to realize when something’s not working. The solution to his problem isn’t to shoot through it but to stop forcing shots.
If Mitchell can play more within the offense, eventually his shots will be easier and more open. Then, after hitting a groove, perhaps the tougher attempts will start to fall. The most important thing is for Donovan Mitchell to realize his limits, and only then will he be able to achieve his goals.