Absent during the first two weeks of March due to a left knee injury, Donovan Mitchell made his return against the Pelicans, then against the Rockets, with limited playing time.
But his level of play was also limited, since the five-time All-Star only averaged 13.5 points at 31% success. It is obvious that the player was not in full possession of his physical means.
“I will give you news. To tell the truth, I'm probably not going to play the next match.” he announced after the match against Houston. “I'm going to take some time to rest and get things back on track. I thought I was ready, I'm not. It's crystal clear. I can't lie to myself. »
A collective effort to compensate for the absence of the All-Star
The PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection carried out two weeks ago was therefore not enough. The Cavaliers' difficulties without him (four defeats in seven matches) pushed Donovan Mitchell to return as quickly as possible. No doubt prematurely. Here he is back at square one.
“We don’t have time to rest, but it’s necessary,” he summarizes. “I sat down and took the right approach because we will have to be ready for April. I tried to hide as much as possible but it is blatant and obvious. It's boring and it annoys me but I have confidence in my guys. It'll be OK. I'll be ready. »
The playoffs start in a month and finding yourself in the infirmary at this stage of the season is therefore frustrating. “I want to be on the pitch. I'm fighting against myself”slips the former Jazz player.
Can the Cavaliers maintain their third place in the Eastern Conference without him? Because the schedule for the week is not easy: match at Indiana then reception at Miami, before trips to Minnesota and Miami.
“Everyone is going to have to step it up a notch. This is what we have done in the past. We proved that we can do it, because we do it together”warns JB Bickerstaff, who remembers that his troops shone earlier in the season despite the absences of Darius Garland and Evan Mobley.
| 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.
