CLEVELAND — A couple of minutes after the ultimate buzzer had sounded all through the sector and with the mud simply starting to decide on a 64-win season for the Cleveland Cavaliers that didn’t produce even a convention finals look, Donovan Mitchell returned to the sidelines and took a seat on the bench.
He held his cellphone in his palms, however he wasn’t it. As a substitute, he sat along with his lip pursued, his gaze unfixed and his expression unchanging.
“I simply could not imagine it,” Mitchell stated following the Cavs’ season-ending 114-105 loss in Sport 5 on Tuesday evening. “Did not need to imagine it. Do not need to imagine it. Nonetheless do not need to imagine it.”
The Cavaliers led the Japanese Convention all season lengthy, beginning the yr 15-0 and racking up three separate 10 sport successful streaks en path to ending with the second-best document in franchise historical past. But, they had been upset by the Indiana Pacers within the Japanese Convention Semifinals, who received the collection 4-1.
Indiana will advance to the Japanese Convention Finals to face both the Celtics or Knicks after going 3-0 in Cleveland in the course of the collection. The Cavs hadn’t misplaced consecutive dwelling video games at any level throughout this season previous to the collection and blew a 19-point first half lead on Tuesday.
“I like taking part in in that f—ing area,” Mitchell stated. “That vitality, that crowd. We had been 0-3 at dwelling, let town down. This place is particular; this place is admittedly particular and we did not get it completed.”
The Cavaliers turned the fourth staff in NBA historical past to win a minimum of 64 video games within the common season and never advance previous the second spherical, per ESPN Analysis.
Mitchell had been the Cavs finest offensive participant all collection, averaging 34.2 factors, 5.8 rebounds and three.8 assists, regardless of taking part in by a left ankle damage, which he aggravated at halftime in Sport 4. Nonetheless, Mitchell gutted out a 35-point efficiency in Sport 5 regardless of capturing 8 of 25 from the sphere (4 of 13 on 3-pointers).
In his profession, Mitchell is averaging 28.3 factors per sport within the playoffs, the seventh-most in NBA playoff historical past. He is made the postseason in all eight years of his profession, ending on a staff with the very best document within the convention twice, however he is nonetheless by no means made it out the second spherical.
“We have had a number of positives,” Mitchell stated concerning the Cavs season. “However we did not capitalize. Now we have to make use of this motivation. Everyone’s going to put in writing us off.”
Accidents to a number of of the Cavs key rotation gamers modified the complexion of the collection.
Darius Garland missed the primary two video games of the collection (and 4 whole playoff video games) with a sprained left massive toe and returned to common 14.0 factors on 34% capturing (16.7% from 3) in three video games. Evan Mobley, the reigning Defensive Participant of the 12 months, and De’Andre Hunter, the Cavs prized commerce deadline acquisition, each missed Sport 2 after getting injured in Sport 1. Mobley averaged 18.0 factors and 9.8 rebounds on 58% capturing, however he additionally scored 11 whole factors throughout three fourth quarters within the collection
“You simply want you had been an entire, however I do not suppose that is an excuse,” Atkinson stated. “I do not need to say ‘oh that is the rationale, that is not the rationale.’ They had been the higher staff.”
Atkinson acknowledged some optimistic strides from the staff this season, however he nonetheless famous how the Cavs struggled to match the Pacers physicality and depth all through the collection.
“I do really feel like we obtained higher,” Atkinson stated. “From the staff side after which we had a number of people make a step, so I simply need to make that clear. However the reality of the matter is we did not get to the extent we needed to get to. So, I am not happy with that. And we’re not celebrating the season, if that each one is smart. However I do suppose we made strides. I believe we took a leap.
“Now we obtained to determine this final piece, find out how to recover from this hump. And I used to be fairly actually anticipating extra, particularly coming off the [first-round] Miami collection.”
Regardless of the frustration of the loss, Mitchell agreed with the sentiment. He known as Cleveland’s season a step in the suitable route, even whereas sorting by the frustration of it not advancing additional and doubled down on the Cavs core, saying “we’ll be again.”
“I am going to go to bat for each man in that locker room,” Mitchell stated. “Successful will not be simple. Some issues need to go proper. You bought to play effectively, obtained to capitalize on alternatives…now we have a window with this group, I imagine in all people in right here, we imagine in one another. That is what sucks, we’re an excellent staff. And for five video games…we did not present what we’re able to. And in the end that is what we’re judged on.
“So get within the health club, weight room, diet, no matter it’s, and get again at it. As a result of y’all are going to put in writing us the f— off man. We’ll be again. Let town down, let one another down. However we’ll be again.”
