A nod to history, when they were opponents last summer to recover Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers and the Knicks will meet in the playoffs. This is the first known poster of the playoffs, and the rear, precisely, has already won his bet by bringing the playoffs to Cleveland.
This is a first since 2018, and the departure of LeBron James, and it is also the first time, since 1998, that the franchise has qualified without LeBron James in its workforce!
Last night, JB Bickerstaff’s players ended a series of seven straight losses in Orlando, and Donovan Mitchell was still immense with 43 points on 15 of 23 on shots, including 5 of 9 from 3-pointers. It’s his 4th straight game at 40+ points, and he’s the first NBA player to achieve the feat since James Harden in 2018/19. Since 2000, only four players have achieved this performance: James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, but also Westbrook and especially Kobe Bryant six times, including three times in 2006!
“There was no solution against Donovan Mitchell tonight. He dominated the game.” launches his coach. “The defense knew where he was going to receive the ball, but he has this ability to go after the action. When we have a player capable of carrying us in the most important moments, it gives you a chance no matter what. »
“He’s going to be really good all season, but wait until you see him in April…”
For Donovan Mitchell, there is no small victory or small performance. You have to know how to appreciate everything.
“We live in a world, the NBA world, where we tend to forget what happens in the regular season” regrets the former Jazz. “You have to appreciate the little things to realize the magnitude of what we do. This is no small feat. It’s amazing. Now we have to be ready for the playoffs”.
Surrounded by young people who have not necessarily experienced the playoffs, such as Darius Garland, Evan Mobley or Isaac Okoro, Donovan Mitchell assumes his role as leader, and in the past, he has proven that he can still raise his level of play. We remember an epic series against Jamal Murray’s Nuggets in the “bubble” but also his hot shots against the Clippers in 2021. Even if each time it ended in elimination, JB Bickerstaff is waiting a great Mitchell for end-of-season games: “Before Donovan got here, someone said to me, ‘He’s going to be really good all season, but wait until you see him in April…'”
April is Donovan Mitchell’s favorite time as his ongoing streak proves, and he’s ready! “It’s just fun, the lights are brighter… Every possession counts. We play to win. We play to win at the highest level… I don’t want to devalue the previous months, but at this time of year the atmosphere is different” he concludes. “We are aware of what awaits us. That’s why we work all summer. The task will be complicated, whatever the adversary, and we must realize this collectively. I will continue to lead by example, no matter what. I will do whatever I have to do for this group”.
| 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 | 67 | 36 | 48.2 | 38.3 | 86.6 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 28.0 |
| Total | 412 | 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.
