5 things to watch for on the NBA’s re-Opening Day slate
4. Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell’s Chemistry
This may be reigniting an unnecessary conversation, but it is certainly something to watch closely. Donovan Mitchell was at odds with Rudy Gobert after his negligence with the coronavirus in March. To see how quickly those frustrations mended was a bit surprising, but both players seem to be in a good place in the bubble.
There may be the slightest repercussions, though, from that initial debate and they may manifest on the floor. Utah loves to swing the ball around, and any change in that will raise questions about the team’s chemistry heading into the playoffs.
You also have to consider that Utah is yet to hit their stride this season, as the team sits at 41-23 in the fourth seed but could dip into the seventh. Utah needs to be at their best right now and a months-old disagreement cannot interfere with that.