For Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers are now in the hunt
Difficulties, yes, defeats, no. It’s a bit like a vision Donovan Mitchell so far this season. If the Cleveland guard recently said he was preferred this imperfect start to the historic 15-0 financial year 2024/25, the three failures in a row that followed this declaration pushed the envelope a little too far for his taste.
So on Sunday night, the day before the match against the Pacers, he decided to speak in front of his teammates. To sound a rebellion.
“We have to wake up. If we want to be big, we’re not there.”, generally speaking former jazz. “We have 20 games and we were wondering what we are doing. It is not last season anymore. I said it at the beginning of the season: we will come for us, as we should. We have come to pay for the defender of the year, the player of the All-NBA first team, the coach of the year. We are no longer outsiders, we are prey. »
Even if the playoffs didn’t confirm it, the 64 wins last season remained in the memory. The Cavaliers are a strong seed in the Eastern Conference, among the favorites, with New York, to be in the conference finals next May. Which is basically Donovan Mitchell’s goal.
Lyrics, 40 points and Superman
Facing the Pacers and a number of absentees (Darius Garland, Sam Merrill, Jarrett Allen, Larry Nance Jr., Lonzo Ball and Max Struss), the All-Star backed up his words with actions: 43 points9 rebounds and 6 assists. That was also the wish of his coach.
“We had a little text exchange before the game and I told him I needed him to score 40 points”recognized by Kenny Atkinson. “I’ve never said that to a player or to him before. I had a feeling that we needed it. We have an honest relationship, which allows me to tell him what I need. I don’t know if he needed my approval, I’m really not sure, so I don’t take any credit for it. I just wanted him to know.”
With the team relaxed, the pressure and responsibilities are on Donovan Mitchell’s shoulders. Too sure. “We ask a lot from him. He’s Superman for us. Without him, how many matches would we get? We have to ask ourselves. I don’t like the idea of relying on him so much, it’s not helpful, but it is what it is.”notes the Cavaliers coach.
| Donovan Mitchell | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | UTA | 79 | 33:24 | 43.7 | 34.0 | 80.5 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 20.5 |
| 2018-19 | UTA | 77 | 33:44 | 43.2 | 36.2 | 80.6 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 23.8 |
| 2019-20 | UTA | 69 | 34:16 | 44.9 | 36.6 | 86.3 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 24.0 |
| 2020-21 | UTA | 53 | 33:25 | 43.8 | 38.6 | 84.5 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 26.4 |
| 2021-22 | UTA | 67 | 33:49 | 44.8 | 35.5 | 85.3 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 25.9 |
| 2022-23 | CLE | 68 | 35:46 | 48.4 | 38.6 | 86.7 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 28.3 |
| 2023-24 | CLE | 55 | 35:19 | 46.2 | 36.8 | 86.5 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 26.6 |
| 2024-25 | CLE | 71 | 31:26 | 44.3 | 36.8 | 82.3 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 24.0 |
| 2025-26 | CLE | 20 | 34:18 | 50.8 | 39.1 | 82.9 | 0.9 | 4.1 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 3.4 | 0.3 | 30.6 |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2025-12-02 12:04:00
