CLEVELAND — A subtle but important trend is emerging within the Cleveland Cavaliers, the type of shift that signals legitimate growth that could have deep ramifications well into April and beyond.
There was a time when the Cavs relied heavily on Donovan Mitchell — too heavily. He was brought to Cleveland to show a young team how to compete, which meant he evolved into their entire late-game offense. Get the ball to Donovan and get out of his way. Night after night after night.
It resulted in the two best statistical seasons of his career, but all of that scoring and personal productivity only resulted in one playoff series victory. Mitchell is in his eighth season now. He already has the All-Star appearances and two mammoth contracts. All that’s missing now is the postseason success.
That’s what makes his numbers this year intriguing. Mitchell’s counting stats are down in basically every traditional category: He’s playing fewer minutes, scoring less, grabbing fewer rebounds and passing for fewer assists. Yet this is the best team he’s played on since arriving in Cleveland and quite possibly the best team he’s ever been on.
The Cavs are discovering the sweet spot of managing to improve (drastically?) as a unit while relying on Mitchell less. That isn’t to negate his importance. Quite the opposite. He’s still their leader. He’s still the alpha and their best player on the court.
But they’re learning not to rely on him so heavily in every moment, allowing nights like Sunday’s win against Boston to happen organically and pop a bit more. Mitchell didn’t miss in the fourth quarter, making all six of his shots and scoring 20 of the Cavs’ 43 points in an important win against the defending champs.
DONOVAN MITCHELL HUGE 4Q 😤
🔥 20 PTS (35 overall)
🔥 8 straight in 67 seconds
🔥 6-6 FGM
🔥 4-4 3PM@cavs come back from down 14 in the 2H to stay atop the Eastern Conference! pic.twitter.com/1SC8mKjhCb— NBA (@NBA) December 2, 2024
It’s only December, early December at that, but these games matter. Had the Cavs fallen to 0-2 in the season series against the Celtics, it would make securing the top seed in the East and home court throughout the playoffs feel a bit more daunting. It also would have given the Cavs three consecutive losses against long, athletic teams that can give an undersized team like the Cavs fits.
After they dropped a pair of games to the Atlanta Hawks, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson joked it felt like the East-leading Cavs could lose 15 in a row. That’s the emotional highs and lows of life in the NBA.
The length the Cavs will face from some of the top teams around the league is a real issue that is worth exploring at another time. Dean Wade helps when he’s healthy, but the Cavs often remain undersized at multiple positions despite the presence of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
For now, Mitchell’s eruption in the fourth quarter washed away the brief losing skid, punched the biggest bully in the East in the mouth and reminded the Cavs that their top closer is still here when they need him.
Until then, Darius Garland’s usage rate is up from last season and Evan Mobley’s is the highest of his career. And Mitchell learned a valuable lesson last year about deferring that will only help in the months ahead.
I spoke to Mitchell during his first season here about his approach. Would he ever be willing to punt a game, I asked him, if it taught a valuable lesson?
Maybe it’s giving a younger player a chance to win a game at the buzzer. Maybe it’s standing in the corner and telling his younger teammates, “I’m not bailing you out tonight. Go figure it out for yourself.”
Mitchell said no, he’d never dream of doing that. He has to win every game he plays, he told me, and he’ll do whatever is necessary to make that happen.
By the end of last season, his answer had changed. We spoke about it again and Mitchell conceded he still had things to learn, too. And when a lingering knee issue over the second half of the season sapped some of his stamina and left him winded late in games, he needed to rely on others.
Free, daily sports updates direct to your inbox.
Free, daily sports updates direct to your inbox.
Sign Up
Garland struggled through a miserable season, but the experiences of Mitchell deferring to him late in a few games, winning a playoff series and advancing to the second round were still beneficial.
Now the Cavs have one of the league’s deepest rosters, an emerging star in Mobley and a veteran closer in Mitchell. It’s a good spot to be in.
Garland, Mobley, Mitchell and Caris LeVert are among the league leaders in the NBA’s clutch category — when the game is within five points in the fourth quarter or overtime. Mitchell is tied for fifth in the league in such scenarios with 39 points. Garland isn’t far behind.
It’s another indication of what the Cavs are building this season. They don’t need Mitchell to do it all for them every night anymore. But he’s the hammer they can swing when necessary. The Cavs are growing up and maturing. All of them.
Required reading
- NBA Power Rankings: Spurs rise, Celtics are No. 1 and giving thanks for each team
- Donovan Mitchell, Kenny Atkinson and the low-tech meeting that supercharged the Cavs
(Photo: David Richard / Imagn Images)
