All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell's right ankle pain has worsened throughout Western Conference semifinals, destroying his explosiveness and forcing him to attempt to optimize his game with the Utah Jazz on the verge of elimination. Has been done.
"It's something I'll have to deal with," Mitchell told the LA Clippers after the LA Clippers took the lead in Wednesday's Game 5 with a 119-111 road win. "I mean, this f---ing sucks. I'm coming" There's nothing more to say. Like, it's hard when you're trying different things that you normally do and you see spots you can reach, but you can't, so you have to do that. Gotta find a way.
"It's tough, but I've found a way. Otherwise, I'm going home. And I said it last year ... and I said that during the year, we didn't do it all to lose in the second goal , so we have to understand it f---out. Otherwise, that's all. Sorry my language."
Mitchell, 24, missed the final 16 regular-season games and the Jazz's playoff opener on April 16 after spraining his right ankle. Mitchell has aggravated the injury on several occasions during the second round, and his effectiveness has declined drastically since a pairing. Brilliant performance in the Jazz's two wins to start the series, in which he averaged 41 points on 52.5% shooting from the floor.
Mitchell finished with the latter 21 points on 19 of 6 in Game 5, breaking a streak of six consecutive 30-plus-point appearances. In the last three games - Utah's first three-game losing streak of the season - Mitchell has averaged 29.3 points but shot only 37.7% off the floor.
"For most of my life, I've been able to push, explode, and jump through people or people, and for the first time in my career, I've had to play on the floor," Mitchell said. "Knowing when to attack, choosing my spots, finding my teammates, I think the biggest thing is, being able to hit them when they're doubling me up and engaging in blitz And I think I did a solid job of that. I can do better. It's a learning process and it sucks that I'm just learning it through the playoffs, but it's what it is and there's no excuse. "
Mitchell is carrying an even more aggressive load than usual in the absence of All-Star point guard Mike Connelly Jr., who has missed the entire series due to a hamstring strain. Conley said Wednesday that he had recently suffered a setback.
The Clippers have occasionally double-teamed Mitchell in the past three matches in an attempt to get the ball out of their hands. He averages 4.6 assists in the series and 3.0 turnovers per game.
"He's trying to create offense not only for himself, but for the group, he's carrying a huge load," said Jazz coach Quinn Snyder. "[Jazz medical staff] will continue to evaluate him and see where he is after tonight and continue to monitor that [ankle] and make decisions going forward that are clearly in the best interests of Donovan." First and foremost."