SALT LAKE CITY – Rudy Gobert was asked after Saturday scrimmage of the Utah Jazz against the Miami Heat if too much was done for the tiff between him and Donovan Mitchell by the NBA brace.
Although Gobert was wearing a mask, it was clear that he was smiling as he asked the question, as it is an issue that he and Mitchell have had to address many times.
“People didn’t have much to talk about for months, that was the topic of the moment,” Gobert said after laughing. “Now that we got back to playing, I think it’s time to put it behind us. … I hope there are some more interesting topics to talk about. “
Here’s an interesting topic of conversation: Gobert scored 21 points in the Jazz’s win over the Heat, six of which were passes from Mitchell.
The two would have connected for another lob score midway through the third if it hadn’t been for a misplaced pass by Mitchell and a slow reaction from Gobert. On that play, Gobert patted his chest as he looked at Mitchell as if to say, “The bad thing, it should have gone up earlier.”
So if you were concerned about the lingering frustration or tension of off-court drama that affected how Mitchell and Gobert coexisted on hardwood or that their relationship would fracture at the expense of chemistry on the court, then don’t worry.
In fact, a lot of things happened in the Jazz’s second game that should ease fans’ concerns as the team prepares for the restart of the NBA season. After a defensively unstable game against Phoenix on Thursday with Mitchell as the only one with things on the offensive side, Saturday’s game showed exponential improvement.
Just outside the gate was a clearly increased level of defensive intensity that led to a great transition and early shot clock opportunities for the Jazz.
“I think we have touched a level we have not been at, particularly defensively early in the game,” said Jazz head coach Quin Snyder.
Not only that, but they all seemed to have a better feeling for each other and the pace of the game. Although Mitchell and Mike Conley found multiple scoring opportunities in the first half, both were left empty with short or short shots.
Rather than letting that affect their roles as distributors, they became more deliberate and methodical as game creators. Additionally, Gobert said he made a point to get off the screens a little faster against the Heat than against the Suns, giving the guards a better chance of hitting him on the roster.
“Both Mike and Don were very patient in the lane,” said Snyder. “A lot of times, because of their patience in the lane, they would attract people and then they would have Rudy for the balloon or whatever is there. I think our guards need to be aggressive in scoring and then have the patience to let a play unfold … sometimes it’s not as easy as we try to make it sound. Our guards in the lane were good and can make it sound easy at times and it just isn’t. ”
Although Miami played without Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, its great players Meyers Leonard and Kelly Olynyk, who shoot over 41% from deep, are a difficult matchup for the Jazz. In addition to the defensive difficulty presented by the front court, Mitchell and Conley combined for just seven points in the first half.
Despite all that, the Jazz were able to stay involved on the defensive end and with the help of scoring from all walks of life, including 11 points in the first half of Jordan Clarkson, the Jazz were able to build an advantage.
“I think we were all more shut in,” said Gobert. “The first game was kind of weird just being back and going back to basketball, that game was weird. I just think we are mentally sharper. I could feel it from the first moment.
Mitchell and Conley managed to get the shots down in the third quarter and the young guns at the end of the bench came in to close the game.
Like Thursday’s game against Phoenix, the matchup against the Heat was not about who won or lost. The Jazz intended to improve, focusing on themselves and sticking to their principles, all of which they did.
None of this means that there will still be no rust after the third and final scrimmage, or even during the eight start games that begin on July 30 and count towards the playoffs rankings. Chances are, there are still problems to solve. But the change in temperament, effort, and execution on Saturday was a good sign.
The Jazz will take the day off on Sunday and play their final game against the Brooklyn Nets at 3:30 pm MDT on Monday.
