For the moment, Cleveland (46 wins – 32 losses) is still in 3rd place in the East but at the rate at which the Cavaliers are losing a series of losses, they could well slip out of the Top 4 before long…
Last night, against the Lakers, JB Bickerstaff's team conceded its 15th defeat in 25 outings since the All-Star Break. With Donovan Mitchell limited to 10 points (4/13 shooting, 5 turnovers) and an attack without ideas.
“We are at our best when we attack the racket” explains JB Bickerstaff at the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “That’s how we trigger things. This is how we force rotations. Whether through individual penetrations, pick-and-roll, big men who receive the ball in the “pocket” (after the pick-and-roll). Once we go to the paint and put a few baskets in there, we start a chain reaction, with the defense chasing us. When the ball only moves on the periphery, or it sticks to the players' fingers and we don't attack the basket, that's when our offense slows down and we suffer. »
It’s impossible not to make the link with Donovan Mitchell’s current difficulties. Cleveland's main weapon for breaking the first opposing defensive curtain and attacking the circle, the back is slowed down by his left knee.
A little more time, but not too much
Limited on his first step, he has difficulty finishing in the circle, his basket attack rate having dropped, as has his success rate when he still ventures into the racket…
“He’s used to being Donovan and he wants more from himself.” agrees JB Bickerstaff, well aware that his leader is the first to be frustrated by this situation. “He’s working to try to get back there. You can't take away his competitive spirit and he gives his all to give us everything he has. Right now he's having a bit of trouble. But he's competitive and he's trying to help us get through this. That’s why he’s on the ground.”
But after the inglorious exit in the first round of the last playoffs, Donovan Mitchell knows that he will probably not be 100% by the start of the postseason. And he must therefore find solutions, and quickly.
“It starts with me”he concludes. “We don't have time, but we still have some time. If it was Game 2 (of a playoff series), it would be a different story. So there are conversations, we have to get through these moments. We've been through a lot this year. We have had our ups and downs. This can only build our character. As long as we stick together, and I feel like we do. »
| Donovan Mitchell | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | UTH | 79 | 33 | 43.7 | 34.0 | 80.5 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 20.5 |
| 2018-19 | UTH | 77 | 34 | 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 | UTH | 69 | 34 | 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 | UTH | 53 | 33 | 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 | UTH | 67 | 34 | 44.8 | 35.5 | 85.3 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 25.9 |
| 2022-23 | KEY | 68 | 36 | 48.4 | 38.6 | 86.7 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 28.3 |
| 2023-24 | KEY | 52 | 35 | 46.3 | 36.8 | 86.8 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 6.0 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 26.8 |
| Total | 465 | 34 | 45.0 | 36.6 | 84.3 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 24.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
