2018 NBA Playoffs: Houston Rockets vs. Utah Jazz preview

1. Will Donovan Mitchell ever look like a rookie?

After averaging 20.5 points per game during the regular season, many believed Donovan Mitchell’s lack of postseason experience, coupled with the defense of Corey Brewer and Paul George, would show the 21-year-old the difference between regular and postseason basketball.

During the six-game first round series, it was Mitchell who did the schooling, showing the world that he’s well on his way to becoming one of the best the NBA has to offer, averaging 28.5 points per game on 46.2 percent shooting, including 38 in the series-clinching Game 6 victory.

With Harden, Paul and Gordon, the Rockets have a trio of weapons that can create offensive looks for both themselves and others at an elite level.

The Jazz don’t have the same luxury, as the rest of their roster is better playing off a singular star rather than carrying the team on their own.

The key to a competitive series for the Jazz will be Mitchell, because if he can score at the rate he did against OKC, not only will it give them a go-to scorer in crunch-time, it’ll force Houston to send double-teams to get the ball out of his hands, thereby opening the game up for guys like Rubio and Ingles to do their thing.