CLEVELAND — As Donovan Mitchell walked off the floor toward the tunnel to the Cavaliers’ locker room, he had his head lowered, looking toward the ground. But fans who were still gathered in their seats near the tunnel applauded and cheered as Mitchell walked by, and he raised his arm in recognition as he disappeared toward the locker room.
Advertisement
Mitchell sat at the podium for his postgame news conference and was struggling to process all that just happened. The Cavs’ 2022-23 season was over. They lost to the Knicks 106-95 Wednesday in Game 5, an elimination game as Cleveland fell 4-1 to the Knicks in the first-round series.
It was an ending that didn’t feel quite right to Mitchell. Not only collectively for the Cavs but also personally.
“I don’t feel like I was the player I needed to be for this group,” Mitchell said. “That’s what’s gonna keep me up at night. I’ve done it all year. You know what I mean? So I just didn’t deliver like I expected myself to, my teammates and everybody expects me to. And like I said, I take that upon myself, man, like I gotta be better. Gotta be better. Everybody hates when I say that in the locker room, but it is what it is. Ultimately, I gotta be better for my guys, man.”
And in a way, he’s right.
Thanks for Letting 'Em Know all season with us, Cavs fans.
We feel your love and support. We can’t wait to do it all again next year. 💛❤️ pic.twitter.com/2A4SSS4vAI
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) April 27, 2023
The Cavs made the blockbuster trade for Mitchell in September, sending Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three first-round picks and two pick swaps to the Utah Jazz. It was a trade that catapulted the Cavs into the conversation at the top of the Eastern Conference entering the season. And while the front office, both following the trade and again on media day, reiterated that this was not a contention-or-bust season, there was an expectation from the Cavs about a playoff appearance. It was the next step of growth for this young group.
Throughout the season, the Cavs fought their way toward the top of the East and ended the regular season at No. 4, winning 51 regular-season games — the first time since the 2016-17 season — made the playoffs and earned home-court advantage. Those were all essential successes.
Advertisement
And Mitchell was everything the Cavs needed him to be during the regular season. He came into a new team and wanted to be a part of the culture the Cavs had built in Cleveland. He adapted and invested in the defensive end. When necessary, he put the Cavs on his back offensively and willed them to wins. He scored 71 points in a game against the Bulls in January to become part of franchise and league history. He was named an All-Star and represented Cleveland in Utah. He was a leader in the locker room for a young, inexperienced team.
But the playoffs — and leading the Cavs through the postseason — was ultimately why Cleveland pulled off the blockbuster trade.
“This one’s tough for me, man,” Mitchell said. “We had such a big year. This is my first time in a new season, new team, new situation. Not knowing where I was gonna be all summer to be here. I’m thankful. I’m grateful. Like I said, I didn’t show up for my guys. That’s what’s gonna hurt. So, take the time, get upset, get angry, but life goes on. You have to learn. That’s ultimately what it is; you have to learn, and it will come. That’s as a group, we’ll be there, and for me, just try to let it go. But it’ll be tough. It’ll be tough. It’s why I’m as competitive as I am, and find ways to be better. That’s all you can do.”
For the second year in a row, Mitchell struggled to provide all that was necessary in the playoffs. Last season, when Mitchell was with the Jazz, they lost in the first round to the Dallas Mavericks — a team that featured Jalen Brunson. Now, a year later, Mitchell and Brunson are on new teams and faced off again in the first round. And again, Brunson and his team won.
And that reality of losing in the first round two consecutive years was weighing on Mitchell as he sat at the podium.
“I think because it happened twice in a row,” Mitchell said. “I think the easy answer, everybody could say, ‘Oh, it’s because it’s the Knicks and because of what happened.’ But I’ve let that go. I’ve let that go a while ago. I think everybody else has made that a bigger deal.
Advertisement
“I think for me, just like I said, I feel like I wasn’t the player I needed to be for the past two years in certain situations. And that’s what hurts me. You know what I mean? Teammates trust me, coaches trust me, everybody trusts me. And I wasn’t there, and I have to own up to that. Like I said, I have to wear that all summer, and I’ll just be better. Take the scrutiny where I deserve it and get better.”
In Game 1, Mitchell put up 38 points, with 14 coming in the fourth quarter, trying to help will the Cavs through their first playoff game to a win, but Cleveland fell short. Then, in Game 2, as the Knicks double-teamed him more, he facilitated instead of being that scorer. He made an adjustment to what the Knicks were throwing at him and dished out 13 assists, along with 17 points. But then, in Game 4, Mitchell had one of his worst games of the season and finished with 11 points, shooting 5 of 18 from the field, 0 of 4 from 3. He also had six turnovers, five assists and four rebounds. Following Sunday’s game, he placed much of the responsibility for Cleveland’s loss on his shoulders.
Throughout the series, Mitchell noted how he struggled to make shots and missed ones that he usually made. The Knicks threw a number of double-teams at him, and if he would drive into the paint, there would be multiple guys in the paint. But he wished he had taken care of the ball better throughout the series.
Much was on the line coming into Wednesday’s game. The Cavs were down 3-1. They were on the brink of being eliminated. And though the Cavs reiterated it wasn’t just on one person but rather a collective effort for the team to win, Mitchell would play a significant role in any success Cleveland would have.
“I expect him to lead us, and I expect him to do and show us whatever’s necessary for us to get a win,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said before the game Wednesday. “Whatever that is for him to do. If they want to be aggressive versus him, I expect him to make his teammates better. I expect him to attack. I expect him to defend and lay it all out there. He will not go out with anything left in his tank.”
Mitchell finished Game 5 with 28 points, shooting 11 of 26 from the field and 3 of 12 from 3. He had seven rebounds and five assists, two steals, three turnovers and a block. He scored 17 points in the second half, trying to close the gap for Cleveland. But his efforts, along with the rest of the Cavs, weren’t quite enough.
It’s a disappointing end to an otherwise successful 2022-23 season. Mitchell said in about a week, he’ll look at the season as a whole and more than likely consider it a success. Mitchell said he’s going to try to take a few weeks off to allow himself to process the season as a whole.
Advertisement
But for right now, this is where it stings for the Cavs, especially for someone like Mitchell, who has been in this situation before in the six years of his NBA career.
“I didn’t do my job,” Mitchell said. “That’s where I’m hurt. You know what I mean? And I deserve the criticism that comes with that. And they’re things that I’ve done well all year. But yeah, I’ll look at that in a few weeks and be like, man, we did a great lot of good things, but right now, I didn’t do my job, and that’s what I’m pissed off about. I wasn’t there for my guys.”
(Photo: Kirk Irwin / Getty Images)
ncG1vNJzZmismJqutbTLnquim16YvK57k21scGliaXxzfJFsZmlsX2eEcK%2FAr6pmnJ%2BjvLetzWakoqyTnbKtuIypo5qxn5uzbrHLoqSippGptrC6jg%3D%3D