Utah Jazz ready to move up in Western Conference hierarchy

Storyline 1: Can Donovan Mitchell take that ‘next step’?

Reading that question may confuse some readers. Some may not understand what that next step is and how he could even achieve it.

The key to reaching the next level for Donovan Mitchell is to learn from Mike Conley. Mitchell has never had a point guard that can shoot and pass (sorry, Ricky Rubio). Therefore, Mitchell will need to adapt his game to fit alongside Conley and the rest of his teammates that want their fair share of the ball.

The goal for the Utah Jazz should be for Mitchell and Conley to both share ball-handling duties while on the floor together. When Conley has the ball, Donovan Mitchell should work to get open off-ball (similar to Klay Thompson). If Mitchell can elevate his game, the team can elevate their style of play.

It’s no question that Mitchell is the best player on the team. He’s been around for the last two years and has led them to the playoffs while being the primary scorer and having teams game plan around him. He still put up more than 20 points per game on a nightly basis and that was with the next best scoring option being Joe Ingles.

Donovan now has Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic and Ingles running with him, along with Rudy Gobert who needs his touches down low. He hasn’t had a team this talented in his two short years in the league. It’ll be up to him to adjust and learn how to play with players nearly as skilled as him.

The team is in his hands and while his numbers may not improve drastically, the real improvement will come away from the statistics and numbers.