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Los Angeles Lakers vs Jazz preview: Can Donovan Mitchell be stopped?

By Kevin Germany

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 04: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz drives past Alex Caruso #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 4, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 04: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz drives past Alex Caruso #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 4, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

What should be the Los Angeles Lakers’ defensive gameplan?

The Los Angeles Lakers cannot stop Donovan Mitchell straight up. Utah knows this and will look to get him going early. What can the Lakers do to stop Mitchell early on?

Play like the Toronto Raptors did each time LeBron James and Anthony Davis caught the ball. Just double team Mitchell every single time he catches it, within reason, of course.

The idea behind double-teaming the ball is role players end up deciding the game. Worst case scenario, someone else is throwing lobs to Rudy Gobert. Best case scenario, it takes Mitchell out of the game entirely.

I do not say this lightly. I am NOT a fan of this kind of defense for the Lakers.

Playing like Toronto clearly does NOT fit their personnel. Double-teaming on the perimeter is typically a horrible idea, at least for the Lakers. I have said Dwight Howard and Javale McGee should be in quarantine if they stray away from the paint on pick-and-roll defense.

I change my mind.

Avery Bradley could reliably stay in front of opposing point guards. No one else can now Bradley’s gone. Everyone else used to be able to stay home on their man. Now they cannot.

Over-helping on drives is easier against Utah’s 4-out offense because there will be at least one defender already guarding Rudy Gobert in the paint. Mike Conley and Joe Ingles are going to pass him the ball, arguably more so than Mitchell would lob it up. Gobert will be happy.

Contrast this to Toronto’s five-out offense. Toronto got wide-open layups or threes whenever the Lakers tried to pressure Kyle Lowry up top. Their pristine spacing gave the Lakers zero margin of error in their help defense. Utah can at least afford the Lakers some margin of error due to Gobert occupying the paint already.

Conclusion: Why not try something new? 

I would urge Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel to make this adjustment early on to throw Mitchell out of rhythm. If double-teaming Mitchell does not work, then mothball the strategy for good. If it has some legs, use it as a change-of-pace defense in the playoffs. There will be plenty of guards as good as Mitchell come playoff time.

Next. 3 bold predictions vs. Utah Jazz. dark

Why not try it now in a regular-season game?

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