Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell is owning responsibility for Cleveland’s current losing streak, which extended to four games on Friday in Phoenix, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes (subscription required).
“Put this on me,” Mitchell said. “When your leader ain’t doing [expletive], this is what happens. If I’m not being who I need to be then we’re not going to get to where we want to get to. So, until that happens — and it will — yeah, if you’re looking for where to point, it’s right here.”
Since the beginning of March, Mitchell is shooting 32.9% from the field and 17.9% on three-pointers, compared to 44.1% and 37.0% on the season, Fedor adds. In their four straight losses, he’s down to 18.5 PPG on 29.6% shooting.
“I’ve been like this for the past four games, and we’ve lost four straight,” Mitchell said. “I have to be better. Simple as that. We have to guard better. We have to rebound. [Expletive] all that. It’s on me. I have to be better for the group. I’ve been good for the group all year. But this is on me. There really is nowhere else to look. I will be better.“
We have more from the Central Division:
- The Cavaliers‘ Friday loss represents their lowest point of the season, Fedor writes in another story (subscription required). Cleveland has given up at least 120 points three times in its last four losses and ranks in the bottom half of the league defensively this month. Meanwhile, the scorching-hot offense that overshadowed any defensive shortcomings earlier in the year has faltered as of late. Of course, the Cavaliers still hold a five-game lead over the second-place Celtics in the East, but they’ll want to right the ship in the coming weeks to regain some momentum entering the postseason.
- Wednesday’s performance against the Heat was the pinnacle of Pistons star Cade Cunningham‘s young career, Hunter Patterson of The Athletic opines. Cunningham recorded team highs in points (25), rebounds (12) and assists (11) as he notched a triple-double and knocked down his first career game-winning three-pointer. The former No. 1 overall pick felt the game was a culmination of everything he has been through, including the 28 straight losses the Pistons endured last season and the injury that limited him to 12 games in his sophomore season. “It’s still early though, I feel like,” Cunningham said. “I still feel like there’s so much to do. There’s still so much that I haven’t experienced.“
- Bucks star Damian Lillard missed Thursday’s game against the Lakers due to calf soreness, per NBA insider Chris Haynes, and he’ll also miss Saturday’s tilt in Sacramento, according to Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee (Twitter links). It’s the first time since late December that Lillard had to miss consecutive games. He’s averaging 24.9 points and 7.1 assists per game in his age-34 season. Guard Ryan Rollins drew the start on Thursday in Lillard’s absence.
Cavs are looking very top heavy. They have a great starting 5, decent 6-7 that are defenders. I don’t think they have a guy on the bench that will explode for big games. Strus is decent but not going to be like a Pritchard/Hauser on Boston or Wiggins/Joe can for OKC even Wallace.
Uh, Ty Jerome is the favorite for 6MOY, and not for his defense
He isn’t the favorite…it is Pritchard and Beasley is 2nd.
Do you watch the games? I mean that seriously? Jerome and Hunter can give you an easy 25 to 35 off the bench. Hunter is a defenders assets. Guys like Merrell can give you 15 one day and 3 the next. I like Green Bernstein he always send to be in the middle of siding good in the floor but he didn’t get enough play. it’s really the starters that are the problem.
it shows how the past team of the Bulls and Warriors were so great to win as many games as they did. Now the Cavs has that bullseye on their back and every team even young teams will try much harder against them. When you are the top dog in the NBA every dog wants to beat you.
@arc
We’re 60 games in. they’ve been had the target on them. They just had their 3rd 12+ game streak and they’ve beaten Endy good team at least once. But I am worried about this 4 in a row. maybe it’ll wake them up and they can go into the playoffs hotter?
They are without Garland so he is the QB of the team. When you are the #1 team every team plays harder against you. Celtics even know that from being champs last year.
It is not a matter of how you start the season; it is how you finish. Teams that start out strong at the beginning can be ripe for the pickings in the playoffs. Upset time.
Regular season success and postseason success are not directly related. The Cavs are not coming out of the East.
Hats off to Donovan Mitchell for owning it. He’s right tho, he will be better.
Was about to say the same. It’s a great quality when the leader of a team owns it like that.
It is a great quality. DM seems like a helluva player and leader. Too bad their twig towers are gonna get snapped