Donovan Mitchell Takes Accountability After Cavaliers’ Fourth Straight Loss
Donovan Mitchell takes the blame amid a disastrous stretch for the Cavaliers.
It’s been a rough stretch of the season for the Cleveland Cavaliers. After dominating the NBA for months (going 56-10), they’ve fallen on hard times, and star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell took all of the blame after his team lost their fourth straight on Friday.
“I’m gonna put this on me. When your leader ain’t doing shit, this is what happens,” said Mitchell. “Yeah we have to guard better and rebound and sh*t like that but If I’m not being who I need to be, then we not gonna get to where we want to get to. I will be better.”
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Many players would be satisfied with 56 wins and the top seed in the East but Mitchell has accepted the blame and has vowed to turn his team around.
“It’s just one of those moments, it builds character,” said Mitchell. “As much as it sucks, I’d rather it happen today. But I work too damn hard to just give in to this but we gotta keep pushing and keep plugging. I’ll be better I have no doubt I will but until I am, here we are.”
Coming from the Utah Jazz, Donovan Mitchell was a bonafide All-Star but he had a limited track record of success in the postseason. With just a few playoff series wins under his belt, Mitchell joined the Cavaliers with hopes of leading them to the ultimate prize.
Last season, his first with the franchise, Mitchell led the Cavs to the fourth-best record in the East but it was followed by a brutal defeat to the Knicks in the second round of the playoffs.
Throughout this season, despite the record, there have been major doubts about the Cavs and how their success will translate to the playoffs. Now, as losers of four straight games, it seems like the Cavaliers are falling apart at the worst time and all eyes are on Mitchell to see how he responds.
No. 45 denied any lingering issues from his groin injury last week but he hasn’t been himself over the last five games. Since March 9 against the Bucks, Donovan Mitchell is averaging 17.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game on 29.2% shooting.
The Cavaliers have been the best offense in the league all year but Mitchell’s struggles have bogged the team’s scoring. With losses to the Magic, Clippers, Kings, and Suns over the last four games, the Cavs are almost unrecognizable from their stretch earlier in the season when they won 15 straight.
Tomorrow, Mitchell will have another chance to break the streak against the Utah Jazz on the road and he’ll be determined not to waste it. With the Celtics lurking in the standings, more losses at this point could jeopardize the Cavs’ place at the top of the East.
