What happened: Mario Hezonja stated that he told Donovan Mitchell not to bring the ball up against defensive pressure during the possession. Instead of having Mitchell initiate against the press, Hezonja called for space to isolate his defender.

Why it matters: The decision reflects how Hezonja punishes smaller guard defenders on interior switches when opponents cross-match. Relieving Mitchell of backcourt ball-handling duties against pressure also conserves the guard's energy while immediately targeting a size advantage.

What to watch: How frequently Hezonja takes over play-initiation duties to hunt mismatches will be a tactical wrinkle to monitor as the 2026-27 regular season unfolds.