NBA first round takeaways: Donovan Mitchell has arrived

With all teams playing at the same venue and no fans present, the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs has a decidedly different feel. While normally a marathon session of viewing feels like a trans-national trek from east coast to west coast, the AAU-tournament feel of this format and circumstance is undeniable. Here are my five first round takeaways.

The officiating has been really good

The NBA arguably the hardest league in the world to officiate, with tremendous athletes in close quarters all interacting dynamically in every direction. And while the Kristaps Porzingis ejection in Game 1 against the Clippers wasn’t a bright spot, for the most part the game-to-game work being done has been fair and consistent.

Fouls have been up in the bubble, with 45 being called on average per game compared to 41 in the regular season, but the lack of pressure that inevitably comes from thousands of screaming fans in home arenas seems to have allowed refs to focus more accurately on what’s happening on the court.

Donovan Mitchell has arrived

While Donovan Mitchell was impressive at Louisville, I don’t think anyone predicted the kind of success he’s having right now. The third-year pro dropped 57 points in Game 1 and is now averaging an incredible 43.5 points per game while nailing 54.5% of his threes. The Jazz have to be excited about their young star.

So has Jayson Tatum 

Jayson Tatum already had elite post-up and slashing ability last season, but has somehow become one of the most lethal three-point shooters in the entire league now as well. He has shot 58.8% (10 for 17)  from three through the first two games, contributing to a player efficiency rating (PER) that comes in at 36.0, a full 4.1 points higher than Giannis Antetokounmp had for his MVP regular season.

Tatum almost certainly won’t continue to play at this high of a level, but even a regression to more normalized numbers will probably have him playing at a truly elite level.

Trust a new process

The Sixers franchise and fanbase are disappointed. They have to be. This is a team that, at least a few years ago, seemed absolutely loaded with the talent and pieces to become legitimate contenders right about now. They had Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, and first overall pick Markelle Fultz as their core, with useful veterans like JJ Redick, Tobias Harris, and Wilson Chandler available to lend a hand.

Fast forward to today, and they are on the verge of getting swept as a No. 6 seed. Some will point to Ben Simmons’ injury as the asterisk notation that warrants them grace, but even if he returns do we think the Sixers are contenders? Are an aging Harris and Al Horford and an uninspiring Shake Milton really the answers for this roster? The process has failed, and it’s time to try a new one in Philly.

The bubble has worked

It has been wonderful to have competitively-contested top-level basketball back on TV every day, and for all the stats both simple and advanced to digest and analyze, there is one key number that stands above the rest. 0. 0 positive cases of COVID-19 for any of the players or participants in the bubble.

Unlike its peers in say the NFL, the NBA can’t plug and play stars and hope for equivalent interest in its product. This is a star-driven game, and without them the interest and intensity wanes. We have been very fortunate to have a virus-free environment which has provided these stars the opportunity to continue playing without interruption. Major kudos to the NBA and all involved for keeping the product on the right track.