“ It’s… quite different! » A journalist has just asked Donovan Mitchell what it felt like to play with the mask. The hesitant response from the Cavs guard provokes the laughter of the other representatives of the press around him.
After missing six games, “Spida” played again last night in the narrow victory obtained at the expense of the Sixers. Rusty, he was content with 12 points (4/13 on shots including 1/7 from distance), 8 assists and 3 rebounds in 32 minutes.
It was only his third match played in his team's last 16 games due to a knee injury, followed by a broken nose. Hence the mask last night.
“ You have to try to breathe. But now is the time (to wear it), so I can't do anything about it. So the idea is to go there and get used to it. This is my first time wearing a mask. I threw it away during the first practice. We received a new one, so this is the final version », Details the man who still converted two important free throws 13 seconds from time.
The playoffs have already started for him
This victory, coupled with the Knicks' defeat against the Spurs, allows Cleveland to regain 3rd place in the East. A great feat when we know that the Cavs had just lost four of their last six outings while being deprived of their best scorer.
“ We've been hurt and affected, but there's no excuse at this point. We have to go out there, continue to find ways to win these matches and be ready at the right time “, says Mitchell, thinking about the playoffs. Final phases which, according to him, have already started.
“ Every game is a playoff game. The energy, the execution on both ends of the floor… It's going to be a playoff atmosphere for the next seven or eight games remaining. It's not like we're playing against teams whose season is over. We play as teams fight for first and second place. The Lakers, the Clippers, the Suns… All that outside », Lists the rear.
His team begins a dangerous “road trip” to the West on Sunday in Denver, before finishing with three more affordable games at home (Grizzlies, Pacers and Hornets). The idea of finishing as high as possible in the East in the hope of getting through, for the first time since the LeBron James era, a first round of the playoffs.
| 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 | 49 | 35 | 46.8 | 37.3 | 86.2 | 0.9 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 27.4 |
| Total | 462 | 34 | 45.0 | 36.6 | 84.2 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 24.9 | |
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.
