SALT LAKE CITY — Donovan Mitchell doesn't let opponents dribble past him on purpose. But sometimes, the Utah Jazz rookie doesn't mind when they do.
Even when the likes of Russell Westbrook get past Mitchell, he's not too concerned. “I'm like, ‘OK, try it,'” Mitchell thinks to himself. “I've tried it, and it doesn't work.”
Utah's 7-foot-1 Rudy Gobert protects the basket like few players in NBA history. It's not just his shot-blocking or the threat of shot blocking. It's his quick reactions and 7-foot-9 wingspan, which makes Gobert a horizontal enforcer as much as a vertical enforcer.