If with Giannis Antetokounmpo we now know that we should not systematically speak of failure when an ambitious team is eliminated, for the Cavaliers, we can still speak of a big disappointment. The Cleveland team had indeed the advantage of the field against New York and came out of a good regular season, with 51 victories. But five matches later, Donovan Mitchell and his teammates are already taking the door.
“This one hurts” admits Cleveland fullback for The Athletic. “We had such a good season. This is my first year with this new team, in a new situation. I’m grateful to be here. You have to take a step back, deal with surprise, anger, and life goes on. Basically, it’s about learning. Although it will be hard. »
Already critical of his failed performance after Game 4, Mitchell does not hesitate to say that he also missed his Game 5 despite his 28 points, including 17 in the second half, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
The Knicks defense took over
“I don’t think I was the player this group needed. It’s gonna keep me awake. I did it all season and there I failed to do it like me, my teammates and everyone expected. It’s my fault, and I have to be better. Everyone in the locker room hates when I say that, but that’s the way it is. I haven’t been there for them and I haven’t done my job. I deserve the reviews that go with it. »
What is frustrating for the former Jazz is above all the gap between his regular season and the playoffs. He had never been so prolific and dominant, turning to 28.3 points on average with 48% success in shooting, with in particular his match at 71 points. As the All-Star had established himself as the undisputed leader of the Cavaliers, he was therefore eagerly awaited in the playoffs.
And after his Game 1 to 38 points, he got stuck in bad choices against the two-man and the defense of the Knicks, multiplying the missed shots. So much so that he averaged 19.5 points at 42% shooting success, 24% at 3-pts and 4.3 lost balls in these last four games of the series.
Already disappointing in 2022
This drop in tension was already visible last season, with the Jazz, against Dallas. Still facing Jalen Brunson, who was playing in Texas, Mitchell sank in Game 5 capital before being eliminated after the sixth round.
“It’s because it’s been two in a row, when the easy answer would be to say it’s because it’s the Knicks in front, given what happened,” specifies the player on his dejection, neglecting his failed transfer to New York last summer. “I left that behind me for a while. Me, it touches me because I have not been the player I was supposed to be for two years in the playoffs. That’s what hurts me. My teammates, my coaches, everyone trusts me and I didn’t respond. I owe that to this band. I’m going to wear this all summer. »
| Donovan Mitchell | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 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 |
| Total | 413 | 34 | 44.8 | 36.5 | 83.9 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 24.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
