Oklahoma City Thunder were supposed to be the team that can challenge the defending champs, the Golden State Warriors, in the West and the seemly unstoppable Houston Rockets. Now, flash forward to today, and not many people would've guessed that the Thunder would be down 3-1 against a Utah Jazz team lead by the rookie sensation, Donovan Mitchell.
Donovan Mitchell is probably the main reason why this basketball team is so good. This rookie is one of two contenders for rookie of the year and, before all of this, he fell as the 13th pick in the NBA 2017 draft. General Managers of each team that picked before Utah must be shaking their heads.
In an article for TheUndefeated, Mitchell's success is nothing special, but it's so great to hear, “I am just focused on the task at hand,” Mitchell said. “The biggest thing with me is if I start thinking about the individual stuff and all the stuff that really matters to the team, that’s when you kind of lose your head. You’ve got to give your all for your teammates. I’m just trying to give my all any way I can. It’s definitely an honor.”
The NBA playoffs are a different level and usually rookies fall under pressure because of the intensity it brings. Mitchell has been the best player on the floor in this first-round series. This rookie has no fear even against a Thunder team with three future Hall of Famers: 2017 NBA MVP Russell Westbrook, five-time All-Star Paul George and 10-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony.
Some people are still in shock that the Utah Jazz are up 3-1 against the star studded Thunder, however Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant said otherwise. According to the JNotes Durant's exact words were, “I don’t look at that as a surprise.” Then, he went on to say, “I know from personal experience how good that Utah team is. We got our asses kicked by them twice." GSW lost by 30 + 40 in Salt Lake, two worst losses of season.
It certainly showed against the Thunder last game. Tensions were high and fights erupted, Joe Ingles made Paul George's time on the court hard and it didn't help when Rudy Gobert kept being a defensive presence. At the end of day the Jazz dominated the Thunder; the score 96-113 in Jazz's favor and puts OKC in a do or die situation after Game Four. Now the NBA is seeing how this Thunder team will respond.
Once again the West is looking to have yet another team that's on the rise and it's in a small market team. The future of Utah looks bright, especially when you got Mitt Romney attending your games and taunting the opposing players.
