From the comments: ESPN's Stephen A. Smith can relate to some Jazz fans

SALT LAKE CITY — The Jazz return to Salt Lake City after splitting the first two games of the series with the Dallas Mavericks. So everyone's pretty optimistic, right?

Well, not exactly.

Let's go to the comments after Utah dropped a very winnable Game 2 to the Mavericks.

"I understand the doom and gloom but really, the Jazz simply need to win the home games in this series to win. I'm sure it doesn't feel like it to many, but the Jazz have won the advantage. Dallas shot lights-out from three tonight. I don't think they can duplicate that shooting." — Darren A.

Utah's first two games in the playoffs can be considered a success. Every lower seed enters the postseason hoping to split the opening games of the series. The Jazz did that — and came within a couple of possessions of coming home with a 2-0 lead. If Dallas hits a couple less 3s, then it's a whole different feeling heading into Game 3.

There's probably been a bit of an overreaction by some fans — no, the series isn't over yet as dire as things seemed on Monday — but it's definitely understandable.

The Mavericks had an insane shooting game (22 for 47 from deep), but that's not anything the Jazz haven't seen before in the playoffs. It was a historic shooting night last year that the Jazz blamed for losing Game 6 to the Los Angeles Clippers; LA went 20 of 39 in that game.

Odds are Dallas won't be able to duplicate Game 2's shooting. Those chances do go up if the Jazz, once again, allow as many uncontested looks as they did on Monday. When a team allows an opponent to make 17(!!) uncontested 3s, it's not shot luck, it's just bad defense.

Remember former Jazz reserve center Tony Bradley? Well, the local media once watched him knock down 13 straight corner 3s after a practice. The lesson: Most NBA players can hit shots when they are wide open.

On one hand, the Jazz accomplished the split; on the other, the same problems that have plagued them for years showed up. How many times do we have to watch the team get spread out, get torched off the dribble and give up open 3s before something changes?

That is why it's not just Jazz fans frustrated. On Tuesday, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith put the Jazz on blast after their failure in Game 2.

"I can't stand this team. They always, always, always wet the bed. They make me sick," Smith said during a long rant against the Jazz.

"Every single time you believe in Utah, they let you down," Smith said. "It's who they are."

Why it feels doom and gloom is that Utah didn't just take a punch, they took the same haymaker that has been their downfall in past playoffs. Donovan Mitchell said it was different this time because the Jazz are healthy. But on Monday, they were still the same — they just didn't have an excuse to fall back on.

"It's the fact we are playing a Dallas team without one of the best players in the world and we haven't dominated them. Without him Dallas is not a playoff team. We should be up 2-0. If he comes back, we are toast." — utahsmitty

The Mavericks were 8-9 without Luka Doncic this season, so not a terrible team but far from the team that won 52 games.

Now, Doncic is reportedly close to getting back from his left calf strain. The Athletic reported on Tuesday that there's "optimism" the Dallas superstar could return by Game 3 on Thursday or Game 4 on Saturday.

According to a report from ESPN, one source said Doncic's status for Thursday's Game 3 was "uncertain," stating the guard was "day-to-day." Another source told ESPN there's hope Doncic could return for Game 3.

That obviously would change the series, though Doncic coming back is one way for the Jazz to get the ball out of the hands of Jalen Brunson. How effective will Doncic be at less than 100%, and will the Jazz be able to take advantage of a potentially banged-up Doncic on the defensive end?

Utah topped the league in the regular season with an average of 40 3-point attempts per game. In Games 1 and 2, the Jazz averaged just 25.5 3s per game.

That was a key component to Utah's No. 1 offense in the regular season. No surprise then that the Jazz have just the 11th best offensive (out of 16 teams) in the playoffs.

"Ever notice how many opponents have their best career game against the Jazz." — 1980relived

Here's a fun list brought to you by ESPN's Tim MacMahon:

Here's a less-than-fun fact (at least for Jazz fans) about that list: four of those have come since 2018; all of them have been against the Jazz.

Chris Paul had 41 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in a closeout win over Utah in 2018 while he was with the Houston Rockets. Jamal Murray put up the stat line twice during the epic Denver-Utah bubble series. Brunson added his name to the list with 41 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Why does it keep happening? Like Monday's loss, you can pretty much blame anyone you want: Quin Snyder for not adjusting, Utah's perimeter defenders not doing near good enough, Rudy Gobert not being in two places at once.

"You have to keep guys in front, we can shift and make it tougher, the driving lanes were wide open," Mitchell said after Game 2. "We've got to guard the ball — we've got to do a better job at that."

And they've needed to do a better job at it for years.

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