The Donovan Mitchell Thread

[nuraman00]

No Moral W’s | By Donovan Mitchell

I haven't read the article yet. But it will be cool to read his thoughts.

Thanks for posting.

 

[MHSL82]

At 23.8 points per game, Donovan had the 30th highest points average for a second-year player in NBA history. To stay 30th place for third year players, he would have to average 25.7 points per game. Do you think he will achieve this?

Personally, I only want him to achieve this if he is being efficient in scoring. I mean, I don’t want to lower his points per game average, but if other players are scoring instead of him missing, that’s a good thing.

His 20.5 in his rookie year was 40th place for rookies all time. His 22.1 points per game average for his first two seasons is 33rd.

33rd place for the first three years would be a 23.1 points per game average. He would need to average 25.03 to achieve this in any two games.

30th place would be 23.5 PPG. He would need to average 26.2 points to get here.

For third year players, Karl Malone was 14th at 27.7 PPG. So somewhere between 26 and 27 points per game would be pretty cool.

 

[nuraman00]

No, he won't average 25.7.

20-24 is more reasonable.

 

[MHSL82]

No, he won't average 25.7.

20-24 is more reasonable.

And that is sad because he could do so by making one more shot (he makes 8.58 of the 19.87 he takes per game) and possibly shooting a little bit better from the line, though he is shooting 80.5%.

9.58/19.87 would be 48.2%, which is I think too high to expect, but if he took 21 shots per game, making 9.58 wouldn’t be too crazy. 45.6%. Bulk more 2-pt shots.

 

[nuraman00]

And that is sad because he could do so by making one more shot (he makes 8.58 of the 19.87 he takes per game) and possibly shooting a little bit better from the line, though he is shooting 80.5%.

9.58/19.87 would be 48.2%, which is I think too high to expect, but if he took 21 shots per game, making 9.58 wouldn’t be too crazy. 45.6%. Bulk more 2-pt shots.

It's the difference between good and great.

DeMarcus Cousins and Karl Malone.

 

[nuraman00]

And that is sad

"Sad" means there has been some perspective lost.

If you want sad, watch Keith McLeod again.

 

[MHSL82]

"Sad" means there has been some perspective lost.

If you want sad, watch Keith McLeod again.

I’ve always had a skewed perspective. I hate the University of Utah college football team will never* have an NFL quarterback it seems because their philosophy is through defense and so their recruiting is not for a passing offense and without a passing offense, you were not going to get your quarterback drafted.

For the team, I would just want whatever allows us to win, but I have interest beyond college and now that Alex Smith is broken, or at the very least soon to retire, that is sad for me.

* I know, I know, it’s never really had never. It’s just it seems perpetually. The Utes are in the Pac 12 and that seems to not make a difference.

And when I said I was sad for Mitchell is not because I think he is pathetic or anything. I just want something special. I think 30th place every season would be pretty damn special.

Yes, I know Mitchell is special. He’s no McLeod. I just want better shooting.

 

[nuraman00]

Gobert is special.

 

[MHSL82]

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell joined five NBA greats as the only six guards to score 4,500 points in their first 200 NBA games.

Mitchell surpassed 4,500 career points during Utah’s game against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, January 22.

The Jazz star joined former NBA players Dwyane Wade, Allen Iverson, Mitch Richmond, and Michael Jordan along with current Atlanta Hawks guard Vince Carter and the last six guards to eclipse 4,500 career points during their first 200 career games.

 

[MHSL82]

No, he won't average 25.7.

20-24 is more reasonable.

24.7 so far, so in the middle of good and great. Who is in the middle of DeMarcus Cousins and Karl Malone. Tim Duncan? Kevin Garnett? Yes, I am only kidding.

 

[nuraman00]

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell joined five NBA greats as the only six guards to score 4,500 points in their first 200 NBA games.

Mitchell surpassed 4,500 career points during Utah’s game against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, January 22.

The Jazz star joined former NBA players Dwyane Wade, Allen Iverson, Mitch Richmond, and Michael Jordan along with current Atlanta Hawks guard Vince Carter and the last six guards to eclipse 4,500 career points during their first 200 career games.

Can you list all players, not just guards?

 

[nuraman00]

And what are their FG%, FT%, and steals?

 

[MHSL82]

Can you list all players, not just guards?

I did not compile that stat. I just saw it in a group. I don’t know how to do that other than basketball reference first three years.

 

[nuraman00]

That's good enough. That should work. Make sure you select the cumulative total option.

 

[nuraman00]

At 23.8 points per game, Donovan had the 30th highest points average for a second-year player in NBA history. To stay 30th place for third year players, he would have to average 25.7 points per game. Do you think he will achieve this?

Personally, I only want him to achieve this if he is being efficient in scoring. I mean, I don’t want to lower his points per game average, but if other players are scoring instead of him missing, that’s a good thing.

His 20.5 in his rookie year was 40th place for rookies all time. His 22.1 points per game average for his first two seasons is 33rd.

33rd place for the first three years would be a 23.1 points per game average. He would need to average 25.03 to achieve this in any two games.

30th place would be 23.5 PPG. He would need to average 26.2 points to get here.

For third year players, Karl Malone was 14th at 27.7 PPG. So somewhere between 26 and 27 points per game would be pretty cool.

And that is sad because he could do so by making one more shot (he makes 8.58 of the 19.87 he takes per game) and possibly shooting a little bit better from the line, though he is shooting 80.5%.

9.58/19.87 would be 48.2%, which is I think too high to expect, but if he took 21 shots per game, making 9.58 wouldn’t be too crazy. 45.6%. Bulk more 2-pt shots.

And when I said I was sad for Mitchell is not because I think he is pathetic or anything. I just want something special. I think 30th place every season would be pretty damn special.

Yes, I know Mitchell is special. He’s no McLeod. I just want better shooting.

Gobert is special.

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell joined five NBA greats as the only six guards to score 4,500 points in their first 200 NBA games.

Mitchell surpassed 4,500 career points during Utah’s game against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, January 22.

The Jazz star joined former NBA players Dwyane Wade, Allen Iverson, Mitch Richmond, and Michael Jordan along with current Atlanta Hawks guard Vince Carter and the last six guards to eclipse 4,500 career points during their first 200 career games.

24.7 so far, so in the middle of good and great. Who is in the middle of DeMarcus Cousins and Karl Malone. Tim Duncan? Kevin Garnett? Yes, I am only kidding.

Can you list all players, not just guards?

And what are their FG%, FT%, and steals?

Re-visiting this.

1) Where does Mitchell rank in scoring average for 3rd year players? Previously, I think you were filtering only guards. You can do that again. But I'm also interested in all players, so remove the position filter.

2) Based on what we've seen right now, including this year's playoffs, do YOU think Mitchell is special?

Ok, I see how you did the search. When you did 2nd year players, you were only including the 2nd year, not first and 2nd combined.

Player Season Finder | Basketball-Reference.com

Mitchell is 32nd when all positions are considered, for his 2nd season.

Trae Young and Doncic's 2nd year bumped him down 2 spots, from when you made your post in May 2019.

If I do 3rd year players, he is 46th.

Player Season Finder | Basketball-Reference.com

Now I'll rank by FG%, FT%, and steals.

I took the results from the previous query, then just sorted those.

He is 76th, .449.

FT%, he is 9th, .863!!!!!!!

Steals, he is 49th at 1.0.

BTW, I tried to go back to the query page, and sort all players points per game, with a minimum of 20 mpg. But I couldn't do it. It wouldn't allow such a query.

If you can figure that out, then can you see how to rank all 3rd year players by FG%?

Because what I did above, was take the results of top scoring 3rd year players, then sort those results by FG%.

So players who didn't score as much, like Stockton, were already excluded.

And can you do all of this before the stats page is moved?

 

[MHSL82]

Re-visiting this.

1) Where does Mitchell rank in scoring average for 3rd year players? Previously, I think you were filtering only guards. You can do that again. But I'm also interested in all players, so remove the position filter.

2) Based on what we've seen right now, including this year's playoffs, do YOU think Mitchell is special?

Ok, I see how you did the search. When you did 2nd year players, you were only including the 2nd year, not first and 2nd combined.

Player Season Finder | Basketball-Reference.com

Mitchell is 32nd when all positions are considered, for his 2nd season.

Trae Young and Doncic's 2nd year bumped him down 2 spots, from when you made your post in May 2019.

If I do 3rd year players, he is 46th.

Player Season Finder | Basketball-Reference.com

Now I'll rank by FG%, FT%, and steals.

I took the results from the previous query, then just sorted those.

He is 76th, .449.

FT%, he is 9th, .863!!!!!!!

Steals, he is 49th at 1.0.

BTW, I tried to go back to the query page, and sort all players points per game, with a minimum of 20 mpg. But I couldn't do it. It wouldn't allow such a query.

If you can figure that out, then can you see how to rank all 3rd year players by FG%?

Because what I did above, was take the results of top scoring 3rd year players, then sort those results by FG%.

So players who didn't score as much, like Stockton, were already excluded.

And can you do all of this before the stats page is moved?

I thought you had to subscribe?

 

[nuraman00]

I thought you had to subscribe?

Some parts of the play index have already moved to the paid subscription.

(I think the team game finder, for example).

The player one seems to still be available, but who knows for how much longer. It is in the process of moving.)

 

[nuraman00]

I look forward to your answers to my questions in post #55, whenever you can.

 

[nuraman00]

I would suggest getting league pass or something. This kid is pretty exciting. I'm sitting here in disbelief half the time. I've been watching the team a long time and he has the makings of a superstar.

You called Gobert before he broke out.

So if you say he's good, you're probably right.

@Sackataters has some of the greatest eyes in sports fan history!

 

[nuraman00]

Donovan is about as uncanny of a scorer as I've ever seen. He can drive. He can come off a screen square up and hit the deep 3 in motion. And, he can hit the deep 3. I've never seen someone evolve so fast. He looks like Lillard. Or, possibly even D Wade. He had 5 steals last night, and I think 7 deflections. And, he scored 31 with George and Roberson guarding him. At 6'2" scoring against that height is impressive.

The Thunders defense was damn impressive last night overall as well.

I'll be watching tomorrow but might be delayed off DVR. I don't get off work until 7 pacific.

Another great post.