Donovan Mitchell And Rudy Gobert Break Silence On Utah Jazz Fourth Quarter Struggles: “It Can Be A Mental Thing, It Can Be.”

2 Min Read

Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Utah Jazz self-destructed in the fourth quarter once again during their game against the Phoenix Suns two nights ago. While the Suns are easily the best team in the NBA through the regular season, the Jazz had them relegated to almost-certain defeat at the end of the third quarter when they led the game 92-75.

However, another historic fourth-quarter collapse saw the Suns outscore the Jazz 36-13 in the fourth quarter and pick up their 64th win of the season. The Jazz meanwhile could fall to 6th in the Conference on the final day of the season, as they lead the Nuggets via tiebreaker despite identical records.

The star duo of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert spoke about the issues the team is facing in the fourth quarter and discussed how they will tackle this going into the NBA Playoffs next week. 

“It can be a mental thing, it can be. I’m not gonna speak for everybody else when I say [this] — I don’t feel like it’s that way for us. We just play tense,” he said. “… You can sit here and say, ‘Oh, it’s mental’ — it may feel that way, it damn sure feels that way in the arena. But if we go there, then we’ve already lost the game at that point,” said Mitchell.

“I think we do overthink a little bit in the fourth, in crunch time, when we’re up 17 and they creep back to 10, and then to four, and then they tie the game,” said Gobert.

Both players have addressed the issue and put it out into the open heading into the playoffs. However, is there enough time left for the team to rectify these issues and be competitive in the Playoffs? 

Their first-round matchup will be against either the Dallas Mavericks or the Golden State Warriors, with there being no room for error against either opponent. 

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Share This Article
Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *