Donovan Mitchell or Devin Booker, who would you rather have 5 years from now

YourCellarDoor · Post #41 » by **YourCellarDoor** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 12:38 am

it's interesting how many people say mitchell based on defense - just shows you how much of that conversation is based on reputation. the lynchpin of the jazz defense said himself that the improved defensive effort on the perimeter from guys like booker is what sets apart the suns defense from the jazz. mitchell was projected to be a good defender but never has been. booker started out awful and probably worse than mitchell, but the last two years has made very obvious strides in that department and this year has been at least above average. same can not be said for donovan, he is still bad.

to be clear i don't think there is an obvious answer here and i've been tired of this comparison for a while. they are 1A 1B. i just think the conversation around defense is funny.

Up-And-Coming · Post #42 » by **Up-And-Coming** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 12:39 am

I chose Booker because of his size, recent success and doesn't rely as much on explosive athleticism. With that said, in hindsight I wouldn't be shocked if Mitchell ends up better. He's the better defender and has had great individual playoff performances but I don't know how to feel if he's your #1 ball handling/shooting option as he's only 6'1"/6'2" and relies more on his athleticism.

threethehardway · Post #43 » by **threethehardway** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 12:41 am

Donovan Mitchell is a better offensive player than Booker. He can get anywhere on the floor unlike Devin.

Also he's a better passer than Devin.

Defensively, they both not making any 1st 2nd or 3rd team.

DirtyDez · Post #44 » by **DirtyDez** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 12:45 am

Mitchell right now. Booker is the correct answer to OP’s scenario.

Catchall · Post #45 » by **Catchall** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 12:46 am

Mitchell is more versatile playing on the ball. He's better at breaking the paint and making a play off the dribble. To me that gives him a modicum more value. However, Booker has also looked pretty proficient as a lead guard with CP out, so who knows...

Post #46 » by **jazzfan1971** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 12:50 am

Such a weird question. Why 5 years???

I think Mitchell needs to transition to PG to reach his final form. Not sure the Jazz agree tho.

vxmike · Post #47 » by **vxmike** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 1:24 am

Asian Celtic wrote:Booker. I believe Booker's game will age better than Mitchell's when they are 30.

Agree. You take the better shooter and pure scorer as they age.

Jables · Post #48 » by **Jables** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 2:41 am

YourCellarDoor wrote:it's interesting how many people say mitchell based on defense - just shows you how much of that conversation is based on reputation. the lynchpin of the jazz defense said himself that the improved defensive effort on the perimeter from guys like booker is what sets apart the suns defense from the jazz. mitchell was projected to be a good defender but never has been. booker started out awful and probably worse than mitchell, but the last two years has made very obvious strides in that department and this year has been at least above average. same can not be said for donovan, he is still bad.

to be clear i don't think there is an obvious answer here and i've been tired of this comparison for a while. they are 1A 1B. i just think the conversation around defense is funny.

Agreed I used to watch the Jazz a lot, Mitchell was never a good defender IMO, can get a steal at a key point but the whole stopping people from scoring and driving past him thing was an issue. People really going off reputation or something.

There's something off about Mitchell sometimes, like when he goes into hero mode he doesn't really lift his team into anything special. If you have a playoff series scoring like Jordan and you lose with a very good team, something is up, but people blame the Jazz defense for losing in the playoffs. Well guess who doesn't play a lick of D?

Antinomy · Post #49 » by **Antinomy** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 4:27 am

Blaze4G wrote:Easily Mitchell imo. He has another gear in thr playoffs.

Besides the bubble, what has Mitchell done?

Dispatching the ragtag Russ-PG-Melo Thunder is about it.

Booker co-led his team to the finals & had 2 40 point games in the series vs the Bucks.

LukaTheGOAT · Post #50 » by **LukaTheGOAT** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 5:12 am

KingFox wrote:Booker for me. He seems to be a lot more efficient

If you meant in regards to scoring.
Donovan has a 58 TS% this year. Devin Booker has a 57 TS% this year.

Crizzle · Post #51 » by **Crizzle** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 8:30 am

undersized guards who arent great playmakers tend to not have the biggest impact on winning

KG Leonard · Post #52 » by **KG Leonard** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 9:54 am

Statlanta wrote:Mitchell because he has more playoff experience.

More experience of losing bad to Rockets in first round couple of times?
He wasnt scoring well,efficient in his playoffs history except the one series vs Nuggets him and Murray had 50 point games, averaging 35-36 points. Mitchell couldn't do anything to Clippers lacking Kawhi at home game 6 last year.

I will take the playoffs of the guy scoring 40 point games twice vs Bucks in NBA finals,going against historical dominance of Giannis. Defended by the best perimeter defender in Jru. Mitchell made his playoffs hype rep first round loss to Nuggets,"great" defenders like Murray,Jokic and Nuggets that had worst defensive rating of all 16 teams.

somerandomdude · Post #53 » by **somerandomdude** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 10:52 am

I'll never forget this play from Donovan Mitchell.

I think the Jazz would be better off trading him for an unselfish star who doesn't let a feud affect his play on the court.

Funcrusher · Post #54 » by **Funcrusher** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 10:57 am

SunsWinSunsWin wrote:Book is the better player now and will be in the future. Mitchell is too wild and no way is he a better defender than Book. Maybe in the past but Book has earned himself a reputation of now being one of the better two way players in the game. He also manages the game better than Mitchell and has a killer competitive spirit that is on the same level as MJ and Kobe. Yes, I said it. Competitive spirit wise, he is on their level. The man is proud to call himself a sore loser and he is, in such a great way as a Suns fan.

Am I biased, of course. But I would without hesitation pick Book over the Spida now and from here on out.

He's not, but ok

breezypeezy · Post #55 » by **breezypeezy** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 11:18 am

Booker

pj0tr · Post #56 » by **pj0tr** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 12:57 pm

Up-And-Coming wrote:I chose Booker because of his size, recent success and doesn't rely as much on explosive athleticism. With that said, in hindsight I wouldn't be shocked if Mitchell ends up better. He's the better defender and has had great individual playoff performances but I don't know how to feel if he's your #1 ball handling/shooting option as he's only 6'1"/6'2" and relies more on his athleticism.

Again - someone explain how Mitchell is a better defender than Booker is right now?

My mind is just blown seeing this take over and over again. Anyone who has watched Booker last year, and especially this year knows the leap he has taken on defense.

spanishninja · Post #57 » by **spanishninja** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 1:38 pm

LukaTheGOAT wrote:
KingFox wrote:Booker for me. He seems to be a lot more efficient

If you meant in regards to scoring.
Donovan has a 58 TS% this year. Devin Booker has a 57 TS% this year.

guessing he means turnovers too.

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Statlanta · Post #58 » by **Statlanta** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 1:50 pm

KG Leonard wrote:
Statlanta wrote:Mitchell because he has more playoff experience.
More experience of losing bad to Rockets in first round couple of times?
He wasnt scoring well,efficient in his playoffs history except the one series vs Nuggets him and Murray had 50 point games, averaging 35-36 points. Mitchell couldn't do anything to Clippers lacking Kawhi at home game 6 last year.

I will take the playoffs of the guy scoring 40 point games twice vs Bucks in NBA finals,going against historical dominance of Giannis. Defended by the best perimeter defender in Jru. Mitchell made his playoffs hype rep first round loss to Nuggets,"great" defenders like Murray,Jokic and Nuggets that had worst defensive rating of all 16 teams.

You would take the 6’6’ guy who got locked up by a 6’2’ PG

spanishninja · Post #59 » by **spanishninja** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 1:50 pm

so many takes here are still directly from 2019. especially the ones about defense. when you actually look at how each player has progressed, you obviously take Booker because he is the kind of player who constantly wants to improve, and you dont improve so significantly on defense over several years without that mindset. CP3 calls him "a sicko like me". have we seen anything similar from Mitchell in terms of attitude towards the craft? he's been basically the same guy for four years now, having not really added any new dimensions. that's what separates stars from superstars.

and also, Booker is by far more clutch than Mitchell right now, as well as less injury prone.

35 ntrg/70% TS

vs

5.1 ntrg/43% TS

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spanishninja · Post #60 » by **spanishninja** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 1:51 pm

Statlanta wrote:
KG Leonard wrote:
Statlanta wrote:Mitchell because he has more playoff experience.
More experience of losing bad to Rockets in first round couple of times?
He wasnt scoring well,efficient in his playoffs history except the one series vs Nuggets him and Murray had 50 point games, averaging 35-36 points. Mitchell couldn't do anything to Clippers lacking Kawhi at home game 6 last year.

I will take the playoffs of the guy scoring 40 point games twice vs Bucks in NBA finals,going against historical dominance of Giannis. Defended by the best perimeter defender in Jru. Mitchell made his playoffs hype rep first round loss to Nuggets,"great" defenders like Murray,Jokic and Nuggets that had worst defensive rating of all 16 teams.

You would take the 6’6’ guy who got locked up by a 6’2’ PG

as if Jrue wouldnt have done the same or worse to Mitchell? there is a reason Holiday is all-defense.

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Mitchell or Booker