FIBA World Cup [USA vs. TUR: 9/3, 8:30 AM EST (ESPN+)]

[Silky]

Donovan really hunts his own shots alot.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Donovan really hunts his own shots alot.

Yes. Yes he does. This is one of the reasons why I'm not as high on him as some other people are. There's a bit of Jordan Clarkson to his mindset. Don't love that.

He did set up a few teammates with some good passes. Every once in a while he let's the game come to him and plays within the system. In those plays you think, "Alright, maybe he could get there. Maybe he could get to D-Wade level." But he has to keep developing that more.

Hopefully Conley will help him with that, but he will need to teachable.

[j804]

Donovan really hunts his own shots alot.

Yes. Yes he does. This is one of the reasons why I'm not as high on him as some other people are. There's a bit of Jordan Clarkson to his mindset. Don't love that.

He did set up a few teammates with some good passes. Every once in a while he let's the game come to him and plays within the system. In those plays you think, "Alright, maybe he could get there. Maybe he could get to D-Wade level." But he has to keep developing that more.

Hopefully Conley will help him with that, but he will need to teachable.

On the flip side I wish Tatum had just a little bit of that mindset. He just floats out there a lot of the times and doesn’t do anything.

[Muzzy66]

Donovan really hunts his own shots alot.

Yes. Yes he does. This is one of the reasons why I'm not as high on him as some other people are. There's a bit of Jordan Clarkson to his mindset. Don't love that.

He did set up a few teammates with some good passes. Every once in a while he let's the game come to him and plays within the system. In those plays you think, "Alright, maybe he could get there. Maybe he could get to D-Wade level." But he has to keep developing that more.

Hopefully Conley will help him with that, but he will need to teachable.

Mitchell also looks smaller then I expected.  I thought he was a reasonably big guard (6'4 or so) but standing next to Kemba he doesnt really look any more then maybe an inch bigger.

[j804]

Did Smart play at all how’d he do? I was watching from an iPhone some guys were hard to make out. Lol

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Did Smart play at all how’d he do? I was watching from an iPhone some guys were hard to make out. Lol

Smart's still recovering. Didn't play.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Donovan really hunts his own shots alot.

Yes. Yes he does. This is one of the reasons why I'm not as high on him as some other people are. There's a bit of Jordan Clarkson to his mindset. Don't love that.

He did set up a few teammates with some good passes. Every once in a while he let's the game come to him and plays within the system. In those plays you think, "Alright, maybe he could get there. Maybe he could get to D-Wade level." But he has to keep developing that more.

Hopefully Conley will help him with that, but he will need to teachable.

On the flip side I wish Tatum had just a little bit of that mindset. He just floats out there a lot of the times and doesn’t do anything.

Sometimes I wish the same thing, but I want Tatum to find his rhythm on offense naturally, where he can dominate within a natural flow of the game.

That's the difference between developing a scorer like Devin Booker and Kawhi Leonard, who both averaged the same ppg last season.

[Who]

Donovan really hunts his own shots alot.

Yes. Yes he does. This is one of the reasons why I'm not as high on him as some other people are. There's a bit of Jordan Clarkson to his mindset. Don't love that.

He did set up a few teammates with some good passes. Every once in a while he let's the game come to him and plays within the system. In those plays you think, "Alright, maybe he could get there. Maybe he could get to D-Wade level." But he has to keep developing that more.

Hopefully Conley will help him with that, but he will need to teachable.

I don't ever see him getting to a D-Wade level.

I see Donovan Mitchell as the third best player on a good team. He can be a leading scorer on limited offensive teams but not on good ones. He just isn't efficient enough. He doesn't create enough high percentage shots (easy shots) like the best scorers do. Instead he takes a of difficult shots and a lot of medium percentage shots (that is why his TS% is only so-so).

And it's not like he adds major value defensively either. Or with his passing. His main value is his scoring. And if he is only a good scorer rather than a great scorer ....

I don't see him ever getting anywhere near D-Wade's level. I see him firmly in that 3rd best player on a good team type of role and he will need mature and adapt offensively to fit into that role because he is too reliant on having the ball in his hands for long periods (struggled next to Rubio at times last year because of this) and taking high numbers of shots (which he will most likely have less of as a 3rd best player).

[saltlover]

Wow, according to ESPN the attendance at the game was over 50,000!

[gouki88]

Wow, according to ESPN the attendance at the game was over 50,000!

Yep, that sounds about right. The max capacity for Marvel Stadium is around 53,000 for AFL games.

If only there was a way to sell out a basketball game at the MCG Would be able to squeeze in around 120,000 or so!

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Donovan really hunts his own shots alot.

Yes. Yes he does. This is one of the reasons why I'm not as high on him as some other people are. There's a bit of Jordan Clarkson to his mindset. Don't love that.

He did set up a few teammates with some good passes. Every once in a while he let's the game come to him and plays within the system. In those plays you think, "Alright, maybe he could get there. Maybe he could get to D-Wade level." But he has to keep developing that more.

Hopefully Conley will help him with that, but he will need to teachable.

I don't ever see him getting to a D-Wade level.

I see Donovan Mitchell as the third best player on a good team. He can be a leading scorer on limited offensive teams but not on good ones. He just isn't efficient enough. He doesn't create enough high percentage shots (easy shots) like the best scorers do. Instead he takes a of difficult shots and a lot of medium percentage shots (that is why his TS% is only so-so).

And it's not like he adds major value defensively either. Or with his passing. His main value is his scoring. And if he is only a good scorer rather than a great scorer ....

I don't see him ever getting anywhere near D-Wade's level. I see him firmly in that 3rd best player on a good team type of role and he will need mature and adapt offensively to fit into that role because he is too reliant on having the ball in his hands for long periods (struggled next to Rubio at times last year because of this) and taking high numbers of shots (which he will most likely have less of as a 3rd best player).

Herein lies the problem with Mitchell. I agree, but do you think he would ever be ok being the third option on a good team? Or do you think he would still take too many shots. Thereby hurting his team.

[Who]

Donovan really hunts his own shots alot.

Yes. Yes he does. This is one of the reasons why I'm not as high on him as some other people are. There's a bit of Jordan Clarkson to his mindset. Don't love that.

He did set up a few teammates with some good passes. Every once in a while he let's the game come to him and plays within the system. In those plays you think, "Alright, maybe he could get there. Maybe he could get to D-Wade level." But he has to keep developing that more.

Hopefully Conley will help him with that, but he will need to teachable.

I don't ever see him getting to a D-Wade level.

I see Donovan Mitchell as the third best player on a good team. He can be a leading scorer on limited offensive teams but not on good ones. He just isn't efficient enough. He doesn't create enough high percentage shots (easy shots) like the best scorers do. Instead he takes a of difficult shots and a lot of medium percentage shots (that is why his TS% is only so-so).

And it's not like he adds major value defensively either. Or with his passing. His main value is his scoring. And if he is only a good scorer rather than a great scorer ....

I don't see him ever getting anywhere near D-Wade's level. I see him firmly in that 3rd best player on a good team type of role and he will need mature and adapt offensively to fit into that role because he is too reliant on having the ball in his hands for long periods (struggled next to Rubio at times last year because of this) and taking high numbers of shots (which he will most likely have less of as a 3rd best player).

Herein lies the problem with Mitchell. I agree, but do you think he would ever be ok being the third option on a good team? Or do you think he would still take too many shots. Thereby hurting his team.

I would bet on him. Not a sure thing but I'd gamble on him because he has good character. Looks like he cares about winning.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Stats are up

https://www.usab.com/usavaus

Kuzma, Middleton, and Lopez were the only minus on the plus-minus. Tatum was a 0, but he led the team in assists.

Mitchell shot 40% on 15 shots, and had 4 turnovers with only 3 assists, but was still +24

[PhoSita]

It's been really good to see Tatum working on his playmaking while on Team USA.  Development in that area will make a big difference for him.


Jaylen looks bad when he tries to go iso.  He's really much better when he just makes simple reads and quick plays.  Jaylen should be like Jae Crowder but with much better size and talent.  He simply needs to cut out the parts of his game where he tries to play more like Caron Butler or Corey Maggette and focus on being a guy who attacks space quickly.


Kemba looks like a guy who knows that nobody on these opposing teams can defend him.

[Silky]

It's been really good to see Tatum working on his playmaking while on Team USA.  Development in that area will make a big difference for him.


Jaylen looks bad when he tries to go iso.  He's really much better when he just makes simple reads and quick plays.  Jaylen should be like Jae Crowder but with much better size and talent.  He simply needs to cut out the parts of his game where he tries to play more like Caron Butler or Corey Maggette and focus on being a guy who attacks space quickly.


Kemba looks like a guy who knows that nobody on these opposing teams can defend him.

Not sure what games you have been watching.

Brown ran point a fair amount and tatum was the recipient of ball movement.

And brown looked much much improved at running plays.

Tatum hit his spot ups and swung the ball when needed.