Even if the Cavaliers remain on three consecutive defeats (Clippers, Kings, Warriors), the troupe from Ohio is in the Top 3 in the East (8 wins – 4 losses) and is making a very good start to the season. The same cannot be said for Wolves, who have also been beaten three times in a row but are in the Bottom 3 of the West (5 wins – 8 losses).
The meeting of the night, between Cleveland and Minnesota, opposes two teams with opposite dynamics. It also marks the reunion between Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. A reunion without tension.
“You know, we gave Utah a lot of special moments” explains the full-back to The Athletic. “But hey, we couldn’t finish the job. He and I have a great relationship, despite what people may think. On the ground, it didn’t work. I don’t hate Rudy. He doesn’t hate me. It’s just something that didn’t work out, and I feel like we live in a world where everyone has to hate each other and there has to be something negative, but that’s not the case. When I see him on Sunday, we’ll kiss, I’ll smile and laugh with him. And when we’re on the pitch, it’s time to go. It really is like that. »
Same speech for Rudy Gobert. Even if it didn’t work on the field, where the two All-Stars no longer trusted each other, as Danny Ainge implied, that doesn’t mean they hated each other.
“I watched him, and I’m happy for him” explains the French about his former teammate’s stellar start to the season. ” He plays very well. It’s going to be weird, for sure, because we spent five years together, but it’s going to be fun. We talked a bit when the exchanges took place. I always wish him the best, and I’m sure he does the same for me. Regardless of all the noise around us, we were still pretty good. We were pretty good with Utah. Maybe not as much as [il lève la main]… »
Because the pivot reminds us that the two men still won a lot of games together in Salt Lake City.
We were close to overtaking that, to going to the final. When you look back, you realize how difficult it is to win in this league. But we realize that having the best record, having the best winning percentage over four years, is not easy to do. »
To be precise, the Mitchell/Gobert duo Jazz haven’t had the best winning percentage over four seasons. But it’s true that over the past four seasons, between 2018 and 2022, only Milwaukee (213) has won more regular-season games than Utah (195), which was tied with Denver for second place.
