Cleveland suffered during its stay in Florida, conceding two large losses which allowed the Magic to return to 2-2 in the series. Obviously, Donovan Mitchell had a closed face during his press conference, because of the result of Game 3 (112-89), but also because of his own performance. The former Jazz guard had started well, just like his team, finishing the first half with 18 points and 9 points ahead for the Cavs! But the sequel was much less glorious, since “Spida” ended up with a zero score.
This is the first time in his career that he has completed a half without scoring a single point in the playoffs. However, the person concerned did not shy away from his responsibilities.
“You can’t go through a black hole like that”, he lamented about the 37-10 conceded by Cleveland in the third quarter, before making his mea culpa. “It starts with me. I didn't score in the second half. I started the second halves this way throughout the series. 10 points is scandalous. We have to do better, I have to do better. I’m disappointed in myself, and I promise I’ll be better.”
A recurring illness
Donovan Mitchell did not find an excuse to try to justify his poor performance, regretting that the same problem had been repeated after returning from the locker room since the start of the series. His goal for the future will be to once again become the “Spida” of Game 1, when he scored 30 points to put his team on the right track.
Even if Jalen Suggs hampered him considerably and he finished at 1/6 when the latter defended on him, the Cleveland back felt that no external element could explain his poor performance. His solution: “watch the match again and be better, it’s as simple as that.”
“I told you after Game 1: 'This is who I am, and why I'm here.' And in the two matches that we lost, I was not myself”he replied. “That’s the story of the last two games. Even when we won Game 2, it was like that. So I have to find a solution. That's why I'm here. In the same way that I am praised when I am successful, I also deserve criticism, and I stick to that (…). You can’t score 18 points in the first half and zero in the second with only four shots.”
A “best of three matches” series
The Cavs missed two opportunities to move closer to the conference semifinals. The Cavs still have the home field advantage but the pressure is back on the shoulders of Cleveland and its leader.
“They ran their business from home, and that’s it.”summarized Donovan Mitchell. “It's a shame we didn't respond, but we will find a way to do it at home, like we did in the first two games. Otherwise, we will return home earlier than expected. But they did it for two games. We did it for two games. Now it’s best of three matches.”
| 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 | 55 | 35 | 46.2 | 36.8 | 86.5 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 26.6 |
| Total | 468 | 34 | 45.0 | 36.6 | 84.3 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 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.
