Monson: Let’s say it all plain — the Jazz are asking too much of Donovan Mitchell. He needs more help.

It wasn’t quite an expression of complete devastation that creased Donovan Mitchell’s face as he left the floor late Saturday night, his team having lost to the Rockets by the count of 104-101. It was fractional devastation, about three-quarter’s worth, as the Jazz tasted defeat for the third time in this first-to-four playoff series.

In the previous two defeats, absorbed by a total of 52 points, no Jazz player had taken more responsibility upon himself for the sorry results than Mitchell. His descriptions of his own play had bordered on self-flagellation. To no one’s surprise, the 22-year-old had ducked nothing, had taken on everything, including much of the blame for the Jazz’s backward showings.