Over the last five seasons, between Utah and Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell has always made the playoffs. The problem was that he stopped four times in the first round…
A bad habit that seemed set to continue, during Game 7 against Orlando, when the Magic took an 18-point lead (47-29) in the second quarter. “Spida” was clumsy, hampered by Jalen Suggs' defense and the physical impact of the interiors in coverage, and no other Cavalier seemed to be able to help him.
But in this bizarre series, everything seemed to be able to turn from one moment to the next, and Rudy Gobert's former friend finally managed to find a little rhythm, to turn the match around.
“I was tired of losing in the first round” explains Donovan Mitchell. “We work too hard. We work too hard. That was my mindset…just being in attack mode. I'm struggling with what I have to battle (a bruised knee) but I can deal with it, and heal it for the next three or four months. »
Not now, seemed to say the guard, who will finish with 39 points (11/27), 9 rebounds and 5 assists.
“He’s a fighter, a winner, that’s all he talks about. He wants us to take this step. He will do everything in his power to help us get through this milestone.”
“He’s a competitor” recalls Darius Garland. “He’s a fighter, a winner, that’s all he talks about. He wants us to take this step. He will do everything in his power to help us get over this milestone.”
It was difficult but the Cavaliers succeeded, as we saw Donovan Mitchell haranguing, encouraging and hugging his teammates throughout the second half, and they will therefore face the Celtics in the conference semi-finals. Even without Kristaps Porzingis, the latter will start as clear favorites.
But while ESPN and company were already beginning to discuss Donovan Mitchell's next destination in the event of his exit in the first round, this accession to the conference semi-finals is a first step.
“We didn’t form this group to just get through the first round”concludes Donovan Mitchell. “We accomplished a goal, now we have to do it again.” That's our mindset… When they put together this trade to get me, it wasn't just to win a first-round series, it was to keep pushing and moving forward. And I think that’s what we all have in mind.”
| 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.
