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The Utah Jazz are on a 10-game win streak and the NBA is taking serious note.
Sounds like the @utahjazz are hitting all the right notes on their 9 game winning streak #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/XUZLapNkom
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 12, 2018
.@spidadmitchell with another big performance as the @utahjazz extend their winning streak to 10 with a win over the Spurs!
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 13, 2018
Is he your frontrunner for Rookie of the Year?
Fueled by @Gatorade pic.twitter.com/1Dv94pGO61
Look at the production going into videos from the NBA just for the Jazz! This is uncharted territory, what is going on?! Two words, Donovan Mitchell.
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Donovan Mitchell is making a serious case for Rookie of the Year. Don’t believe me? Ask people with more knowledge!
One of the first big names to jump on the Donovan Mitchell bandwagon from the beginning was Michael Rapaport.
Yo @utahjazz has won 10 Straight.@spidadmitchell is ROY.
— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) February 13, 2018
Rookie of the Year
The Jazz are cooking for realz!@JonasJerebko @rickyrubio9 @rudygobert27 pic.twitter.com/wiYM0SRjiX
The @utahjazz have won 8 straight &
— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) February 10, 2018
Donovan Mitchell is cooking.@NBA ROY @spidadmitchell pic.twitter.com/WNrMBMcCYy
Donovan Mitchell is the @NBA ROY
— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) February 12, 2018
Sorry Ben Simmons the award is earned not given.@spidadmitchell #ROY@utahjazz pic.twitter.com/EPHf1IC4U7
This, Mr. Rapaport, is how you gain allies amongst Jazz Nation. In case you missed it, Donovan Mitchell was on Michael Rapaport’s podcast a couple months ago. Give it a listen if you haven’t already.
But Michael Rapaport isn’t the only one talking about Donovan Mitchell for Rookie of the Year, NBA players are giving their opinion on it as well.
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 13, 2018
According to Demarcus Cousins and Demar DeRozan, Donovan Mitchell is the rookie of the year.
How does Damian Lillard feel?
Damian Lillard on Donovan Mitchell: "I think he should be rookie of the year, for sure. Not just because of his numbers, but his impact on their team. He's basically leading them. It's special to see a rookie be able to do what he's doing out there."
— Joe Freeman (@BlazerFreeman) February 12, 2018
Seems to be pretty clear how some of the best players in the league feel. But sure, let’s listen to national columnists and bloggers, most of them based out of the North East, claiming that it’s close.
Interesting side note about the Rookie of the Year conversation, it’s not close.
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It’s time to start talking about the impact of Royce O’neale. With Ricky Rubio out the last couple of games, O’neale has stepped up in a big way. In the big win in Portland against the Trail Blazers, O’neale led the team in plus/minus with a +28. Against the Spurs he was a +8 and made this defensive play to seal the win.
How about that @BucketsONeale00 defense on the last possession pic.twitter.com/JyyFc8Ohvu
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 13, 2018
It is clear that Quin Snyder was a fan of the play.
The undrafted rookie ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VyyLFf28Js
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 13, 2018
O’neale is quietly turning into one of the biggest pickups this offseason. It won’t be long until you hear his name more and more among NBA circles. It helps when you’re making plays like this.
Royce O’Neale drops Tony Parker pic.twitter.com/mRrwFqdd3z
— Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) February 13, 2018
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Another part of the Jazz winning streak is the amazing chemistry of the team. I loved this tweet from Jae Crowder.
THE LOVE IS REAL.!!! #TAKENOTE
— JAE CROWDER (@CJC9BOSS) February 13, 2018
After only two games, Crowder has fit in seamlessly as a big part of this team. There are going to be players in the league that will see this and want to be a part of it. And who doesn’t want to play with this guy?
Love My Guys Man! 10 in a row!!! pic.twitter.com/bX84Tc4JsU
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) February 13, 2018
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Finally, the Ringer and Sports Illustrated are taking note of the Jazz as well. The ringer NBA show talked about the Jazz and Donovan Mitchell as rookie of the year.
Sports Illustrated had a Q&A with Donovan Mitchell.
"365 days ago I was watching All-Star in my dorm room. Now my teammates are texting me ideas on what to do in the dunk contest."
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 14, 2018
Q&A with Donovan Mitchell: https://t.co/8HR1UKALph
Soak it in, Jazz fans. This is not normal. But Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert are anything but normal players so maybe we shouldn’t be surprised.