After the final whistle that echoed in the stadium, and while the dust settled on a regular season of 64 victories for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who didn’t even manage an appearance in the conference finals, Donovan Mitchell returned to the bench.
Mitchell, with his phone in his hand, wasn’t looking at him. He remained seated, with his lips pressed together, his gaze fixed, and an immutable expression.
I just couldn’t believe it. I didn’t want to believe it. I still don’t want to believe it.
Donovan Mitchell
That’s what Mitchell said after the Cavs’ 114-105 loss in Game 5 of the series on Tuesday night.
The Cavaliers led the Eastern Conference throughout the season, starting with a 15-0 record and accumulating three 10-win streaks, to finish with the second-best record in franchise history. However, they were surprised by the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, who won the series 4-1.
Indiana will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals to face the Celtics or the Knicks after winning 3-0 in Cleveland during the series. The Cavs had not lost consecutive home games at any point in the regular season before the series and squandered a 19-point lead in the first half on Tuesday.
I love playing in that damn stadium. That energy, that fanbase. We lost 0-3 at home, we disappointed the city. This place is special; this place is really special and we didn’t make it.
Donovan Mitchell
The Cavaliers became the fourth team in NBA history to win at least 64 games in the regular season and not advance past the second round.
Mitchell was the Cavs’ best offensive player throughout the series, averaging 34.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, despite playing with a left ankle injury, which he aggravated at halftime of Game 4. Even so, Mitchell had a 35-point performance in Game 5 despite shooting 8 of 25 from the field (4 of 13 from three-pointers).
In his career, Mitchell averages 28.3 points per game in the playoffs, the seventh-most in NBA playoff history. He has participated in the postseason in all eight years of his career, finishing on a team with the best conference record twice, but has yet to advance past the second round.
We’ve had a lot of positives. But we didn’t capitalize. Now we have to use this motivation. Everyone’s going to count us out.
Donovan Mitchell
The injuries of several key players in the Cavs’ rotation changed the dynamic of the series.
Darius Garland missed the first two games of the series (and four playoff games in total) due to a sprained left big toe and returned to average 14.0 points on 34% shooting (16.7% on three-pointers) in three games. Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter missed Game 2 after getting injured in Game 1. Mobley averaged 18.0 points and 9.8 rebounds on 58% shooting, but also scored a total of 11 points in three final quarters of the series.
You just want to be complete, but I don’t think that’s an excuse. I don’t want to say ‘oh, that’s the reason, that’s not the reason’. They were the better team.
Cavs Coach
The coach acknowledged some positive strides from the team this season, but also noted how the Cavs struggled to match the physicality and intensity of the Pacers throughout the series.
I feel like we improved. From the look of the team and then we had a lot of individuals stepping up, so I just want to make that clear. But the truth of the matter is that we didn’t reach the level we wanted to reach. So I’m not happy with that. And we’re not celebrating the season, if that makes sense. But I think we took steps. I think we took a leap.
Cavs Coach
Despite the disappointment of the loss, Mitchell agreed with the sentiment. He called Cleveland’s season a step in the right direction, even while absorbing the frustration of not advancing further and reiterated the Cavs’ core, saying “we’ll be back.”
I will defend every man in that locker room. Winning is not easy. Some things have to go right. You have to play well, you have to take advantage of opportunities… we have a window with this group, I believe in everyone here, we believe in each other. That’s what sucks, we’re a good team. And for 5 games… we didn’t show what we’re capable of. And ultimately, that’s what we’re judged on.
Donovan Mitchell
So, let’s train, gym, weight room, nutrition, whatever it takes, and get back to it. Because they’re going to write us off, man. We’ll be back. We disappoint the city, we disappoint each other. But we’ll be back.
