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

[KG Leonard]

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

Locked up? Maybe in important sequence late in game 5 but 80+ points in two finals games is hardly locked up. They lost simply because Giannis ran through Ayton like he wasn't in the paint game 3-6 while Jru,Middleton could defend Booker, Paul.
Hard for a guard to stop 7 foot big man posting,dunking all over their frontcourt who were too small for him.

[spanishninja]

Here's another part of the discussion too.

Mitchell Shot Chart

https://ibb.co/hHTFkqS

Booker Shot Chart

https://ibb.co/nm43D7V

Isn't it obvious who is the better and more versatile 3-level scorer? this is what TS doesn't show you.

[Woodsanity]

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

You mean the guy that even KD considers to be a great defender?

[Patches Perry]

Very very close for me but I went with Booker.

[Blaze4G]

Here's another part of the discussion too.

Mitchell Shot Chart

https://ibb.co/hHTFkqS

Booker Shot Chart

https://ibb.co/nm43D7V

Isn't it obvious who is the better and more versatile 3-level scorer? this is what TS doesn't show you.

so Mitchell shoots the most efficient shots (in the paint and 3 point line) and that is a knock on mitchell? I am not going to knock a player for going to rim vs shooting a long 2.

[spanishninja]

Here's another part of the discussion too.

Mitchell Shot Chart

https://ibb.co/hHTFkqS

Booker Shot Chart

https://ibb.co/nm43D7V

Isn't it obvious who is the better and more versatile 3-level scorer? this is what TS doesn't show you.

so Mitchell shoots the most efficient shots (in the paint and 3 point line) and that is a knock on mitchell? I am not going to knock a player for going to rim vs shooting a long 2.

what's been the downfall of the Utah Jazz the last couple of seasons, and the Rockets before that? they go solely by analytics when it comes to their offense and get burned on it in the playoffs. shooting nothing but 3s in the regular season is fine but it's not a playoff move. Being able to generate offense in more ways is clearly advantageous in the playoffs, because it means the defense has a harder time taking options away from you.

that's the whole point of a 3-level scorer. If you say that Booker didn't succeed with it because the Suns lost in the Finals, Khris Middleton is also a 3-level scorer, and he won a ring.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/khris-middleton-2021-shot-chart

[Blaze4G]

Here's another part of the discussion too.

Mitchell Shot Chart

https://ibb.co/hHTFkqS

Booker Shot Chart

https://ibb.co/nm43D7V

Isn't it obvious who is the better and more versatile 3-level scorer? this is what TS doesn't show you.

so Mitchell shoots the most efficient shots (in the paint and 3 point line) and that is a knock on mitchell? I am not going to knock a player for going to rim vs shooting a long 2.

what's been the downfall of the Utah Jazz the last couple of seasons? they go solely by analytics when it comes to their offense and get burned on it in the playoffs. shooting nothing but 3s in the regular season is fine but it's not a playoff move. Being able to generate offense in more ways is clearly advantageous in the playoffs, because it means the defense has a harder time taking options away from you.

that's the whole point of a 3-level scorer.

strongly disagree. Jazz last 2 playoffs losses downfall was their defense. Mitchell averaged 36 PPG and 35 PPG on great efficiency in the series they lost in 2020 and 2021. Mitchell didn't get locked down or had difficulties on the offensive end. Having the opposing team put up over 110 points in almost every game they lost was and probably will still be the issue.

[Blaze4G]

Here's another part of the discussion too.

Mitchell Shot Chart

https://ibb.co/hHTFkqS

Booker Shot Chart

https://ibb.co/nm43D7V

Isn't it obvious who is the better and more versatile 3-level scorer? this is what TS doesn't show you.

so Mitchell shoots the most efficient shots (in the paint and 3 point line) and that is a knock on mitchell? I am not going to knock a player for going to rim vs shooting a long 2.

what's been the downfall of the Utah Jazz the last couple of seasons, and the Rockets before that? they go solely by analytics when it comes to their offense and get burned on it in the playoffs. shooting nothing but 3s in the regular season is fine but it's not a playoff move. Being able to generate offense in more ways is clearly advantageous in the playoffs, because it means the defense has a harder time taking options away from you.

that's the whole point of a 3-level scorer. If you say that Booker didn't succeed with it because the Suns lost in the Finals, Khris Middleton is also a 3-level scorer, and he won a ring.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/khris-middleton-2021-shot-chart

just saw your Khris Middleton point. A 3 level scorer is great and I would never say Booker didn't succeed because of it. But Mitchell has been able to get it done efficiently on the offensive end (more so than booker) without being a 3 level scorer. So the way I see it he doesn't need to be a 3 level scorer.

Mitchell the last 2 series lost in 2020 and 2021 shot 53% and 46% from 3. I don't see any reason I would not want him continue shooting 3s vs long 2s. For comparison, Booker shot 23% from 3 in the finals and 29% from 3 in the WCF. I wouldn't want him shooting more 3s at that rate.

[Qwigglez]

Here's another part of the discussion too.

Mitchell Shot Chart

https://ibb.co/hHTFkqS

Booker Shot Chart

https://ibb.co/nm43D7V

Isn't it obvious who is the better and more versatile 3-level scorer? this is what TS doesn't show you.

so Mitchell shoots the most efficient shots (in the paint and 3 point line) and that is a knock on mitchell? I am not going to knock a player for going to rim vs shooting a long 2.

what's been the downfall of the Utah Jazz the last couple of seasons, and the Rockets before that? they go solely by analytics when it comes to their offense and get burned on it in the playoffs. shooting nothing but 3s in the regular season is fine but it's not a playoff move. Being able to generate offense in more ways is clearly advantageous in the playoffs, because it means the defense has a harder time taking options away from you.

that's the whole point of a 3-level scorer. If you say that Booker didn't succeed with it because the Suns lost in the Finals, Khris Middleton is also a 3-level scorer, and he won a ring.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/khris-middleton-2021-shot-chart

This is why I pick Book over many, many others players too. TS doesn't tell you everything. The mid-range shot opens the floor so much for others on the team, and when you got a player like Booker who can score from virtually anywhere it's tough to beat in a 7 game series, especially when you combine that with another elite midrange shooter in CP3.

[lonea]

What?

Have you seen the Suns plays for years prior to the bubble?

Mitchell pretty easily. Booker would flounder if in Mitchell's position.

[spanishninja]

so Mitchell shoots the most efficient shots (in the paint and 3 point line) and that is a knock on mitchell? I am not going to knock a player for going to rim vs shooting a long 2.

what's been the downfall of the Utah Jazz the last couple of seasons, and the Rockets before that? they go solely by analytics when it comes to their offense and get burned on it in the playoffs. shooting nothing but 3s in the regular season is fine but it's not a playoff move. Being able to generate offense in more ways is clearly advantageous in the playoffs, because it means the defense has a harder time taking options away from you.

that's the whole point of a 3-level scorer. If you say that Booker didn't succeed with it because the Suns lost in the Finals, Khris Middleton is also a 3-level scorer, and he won a ring.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/khris-middleton-2021-shot-chart

just saw your Khris Middleton point. A 3 level scorer is great and I would never say Booker didn't succeed because of it. But Mitchell has been able to get it done efficiently on the offensive end (more so than booker) without being a 3 level scorer. So the way I see it he doesn't need to be a 3 level scorer.

Mitchell the last 2 series lost in 2020 and 2021 shot 53% and 46% from 3. I don't see any reason I would not want him continue shooting 3s vs long 2s. For comparison, Booker shot 23% from 3 in the finals and 29% from 3 in the WCF. I wouldn't want him shooting more 3s at that rate.

have you also considered that having a midrange game opens up more options for others as well? I personally think the analytics are not able to gauge the true impact of this type of shot, even when we know teams guard the 3 way more actively in the playoffs.

https://theathletic.com/2703972/2021/07/14/the-return-of-the-midrange-it-is-back-on-the-biggest-stage-and-could-decide-these-nba-finals-between-the-suns-and-bucks/

[Blaze4G]

what's been the downfall of the Utah Jazz the last couple of seasons, and the Rockets before that? they go solely by analytics when it comes to their offense and get burned on it in the playoffs. shooting nothing but 3s in the regular season is fine but it's not a playoff move. Being able to generate offense in more ways is clearly advantageous in the playoffs, because it means the defense has a harder time taking options away from you.

that's the whole point of a 3-level scorer. If you say that Booker didn't succeed with it because the Suns lost in the Finals, Khris Middleton is also a 3-level scorer, and he won a ring.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/khris-middleton-2021-shot-chart

just saw your Khris Middleton point. A 3 level scorer is great and I would never say Booker didn't succeed because of it. But Mitchell has been able to get it done efficiently on the offensive end (more so than booker) without being a 3 level scorer. So the way I see it he doesn't need to be a 3 level scorer.

Mitchell the last 2 series lost in 2020 and 2021 shot 53% and 46% from 3. I don't see any reason I would not want him continue shooting 3s vs long 2s. For comparison, Booker shot 23% from 3 in the finals and 29% from 3 in the WCF. I wouldn't want him shooting more 3s at that rate.

have you also considered that having a midrange game opens up more options for others as well? I personally think the analytics are not able to gauge the true impact of this type of shot, even when we know teams guard it way more actively in the playoffs.

https://theathletic.com/2703972/2021/07/14/the-return-of-the-midrange-it-is-back-on-the-biggest-stage-and-could-decide-these-nba-finals-between-the-suns-and-bucks/

I don't think its a big advantage when comparing both booker and Mitchell. Is not like defenders are sagging off mitchell inside the 3 point line, more so than Booker....so I am not exactly sure how it will open up more options for others?

Curry shot chart looks almost exactly like Mitchell, not saying mitchell is the caliber of player as Curry. However, in the last 2 playoffs Mitchell has shot as good as anyone from 3. I'm sure we are not going to knock curry for not being a 3 level scorer. Calling Booker a 3 level scorer based on last playoffs might even be a stretch. Shooting 32% from 3 from last playoffs is not good. Hopefully he improves upon that for this playoff run because he has shown the ability to shoot the 3 efficiently. Not sure if it was the defense in the playoffs or because he sometimes seems to go on long streaks of shooting below avg from 3.

[Madhouse]

Booker.

[spanishninja]

just saw your Khris Middleton point. A 3 level scorer is great and I would never say Booker didn't succeed because of it. But Mitchell has been able to get it done efficiently on the offensive end (more so than booker) without being a 3 level scorer. So the way I see it he doesn't need to be a 3 level scorer.

Mitchell the last 2 series lost in 2020 and 2021 shot 53% and 46% from 3. I don't see any reason I would not want him continue shooting 3s vs long 2s. For comparison, Booker shot 23% from 3 in the finals and 29% from 3 in the WCF. I wouldn't want him shooting more 3s at that rate.

have you also considered that having a midrange game opens up more options for others as well? I personally think the analytics are not able to gauge the true impact of this type of shot, even when we know teams guard it way more actively in the playoffs.

https://theathletic.com/2703972/2021/07/14/the-return-of-the-midrange-it-is-back-on-the-biggest-stage-and-could-decide-these-nba-finals-between-the-suns-and-bucks/

I don't think its a big advantage when comparing both booker and Mitchell. Is not like defenders are sagging off mitchell inside the 3 point line, more so than Booker....so I am not exactly sure how it will open up more options for others?

Curry shot chart looks almost exactly like Mitchell, not saying mitchell is the caliber of player as Curry. However, in the last 2 playoffs Mitchell has shot as good as anyone from 3. I'm sure we are not going to knock curry for not being a 3 level scorer. Calling Booker a 3 level scorer based on last playoffs might even be a stretch. Shooting 32% from 3 from last playoffs is not good. Hopefully he improves upon that for this playoff run because he has shown the ability to shoot the 3 efficiently. Not sure if it was the defense in the playoffs or because he sometimes seems to go on long streaks of shooting below avg from 3.

Last year was his first playoffs. Mitchell shot 31% from 3 in his first playoffs. As for Curry, I see him as an exception to the rule when it comes to 3-level scoring, the successful Warriors teams in the mid-2010s were indeed 3-level shooting teams. GSW's shot chart in 2014-15:

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask?q=2014-2015+gsw+shot+chart

Compare that with Utah's shot chart last year

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/2021-utah-jazz-shot-chart

Milwaukee's

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/2021-milwaukee-bucks-shot-chart

17-18 Rockets

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/2018-houston-rockets-shot-chart

Anyway, I don't think we need to drag on this conversation because we both know that having more options on offense is always a good thing, especially in the playoffs. Maybe not a huge advantage but every little bit counts in the postseason. How do you think Mitchell would have handled being guarded by Holiday?

[Drakeem]

I can't believe how many people are lauding Mitchell for his defence. He's terrible on that end of the floor now, what?

[Woodsanity]

Here's another part of the discussion too.

Mitchell Shot Chart

https://ibb.co/hHTFkqS

Booker Shot Chart

https://ibb.co/nm43D7V

Isn't it obvious who is the better and more versatile 3-level scorer? this is what TS doesn't show you.

so Mitchell shoots the most efficient shots (in the paint and 3 point line) and that is a knock on mitchell? I am not going to knock a player for going to rim vs shooting a long 2.

what's been the downfall of the Utah Jazz the last couple of seasons, and the Rockets before that? they go solely by analytics when it comes to their offense and get burned on it in the playoffs. shooting nothing but 3s in the regular season is fine but it's not a playoff move. Being able to generate offense in more ways is clearly advantageous in the playoffs, because it means the defense has a harder time taking options away from you.

that's the whole point of a 3-level scorer. If you say that Booker didn't succeed with it because the Suns lost in the Finals, Khris Middleton is also a 3-level scorer, and he won a ring.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/khris-middleton-2021-shot-chart

Actually the primary problem is Jazz players including Mitchell cannot guard a garbage can. Gobert cannot cover for the trash can defense of 4 people so thats why he gets "exposed".

At best I consider Mitchell marginally better than Booker offensively or around par but on defense Booker is better by a good margin so its Booker for me.