The Eastern Conference’s top seed, the Cavaliers, begin their first-round series tonight. Guard Donovan Mitchell knows that in order to be looked upon as a one of the game’s biggest stars, he has to deliver in the playoffs, he told Marc Spears of Andscape.
“It’s right there. The biggest thing that holds me back is winning. Talent-wise, I don’t think it’s even a discussion,” he said. “It’s more like, ‘Can I win at the highest level?’ That’s been the question for most of my career. So, for me, that’s why you can’t squander these opportunities because that’s what puts you there. I said it [last] summer on the Melo [Carmelo Anthony] podcast, ‘I can use it as fuel, but I can’t get mad.’ I’ve been to the conference finals. I can use it as fuel, but then you got to go out there and produce a win. To shut them [critics] up, you got to go out there and win. So that’s the main goal, and I will do it by any means necessary. It doesn’t mean I have to go out and score 40 points every night. I’ve got to make the guys around me better.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma was a no-show in Game 1 of their series against the Pacers. He had no points, rebounds or assists in 22 minutes. Kuzma banged his thumb in the first quarter but wouldn’t make excuses. “Just understanding what I need to do, can’t wait for the ball, can’t wait for things to happen, kind of just gotta go get it, just find myself and get into actions on my own,” he said, per the Indianapolis Star’s Dustin Dopirak. “Rebound — definitely a stinker for sure. It’s a long series, it’s seven games and I’m excited to play because I understand a little bit of what I need to do to attack the next game.”
- The Pistons gave up 21 unanswered points in the second half of their Game 1 loss to the Knicks. Forward Tobias Harris said the team needs to move on from that disappointment with Game 2 approaching on Monday night, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press writes. “It’s a series,” Harris said. “You can’t get too high, can’t get too low. Each team will make an adjustment, but overall it’s about mentally just staying locked into the moment and being ready for the next game, no matter what. I think for us, obviously for this group, guys having first time playoff experience it’s just understanding it stinks to lose but it’s about how you come back the next night.”
- Bulls guard Coby White is entering the last year of his deal and will make $12.9MM next season. He’s eligible for an extension but would be foolish to sign one, according to the Chicago Sun Times’ Joe Cowley. If he pursued an extension, White would be limited to a 40% raise on his current contract. He could make a lot more by waiting until free agency next summer.
Kuzma lost his way
Could have been a good role player on contending teams but lost himself in a bag and horrible team in Wash . His game has devolved into a Youtube practice video of 1v1 iso moves
He should consult Jerami Grant for a small service fee on “How to pull off the final Grift” I’m sure Grants down
Kuzma was never a good role player, he was a mediocre one at best in 2020 even though he was seen as the Lakers 3rd best player but actually performed like their 5th/6th best player.
Pretty sure this is his final grift lol
Agreed, 100% on this brutal takedown of Kuzma. I will add the whole reason why he got that big contract, was because he participated in the cursed season and won a ring by playing in a playoffs that should have never happened, that no one wanted to happen. Karma repays us by Kuz being viewed as a starter in this league, when the reality is he’s a back end of bench guy.
I thought Kuzma played well with the LAL in the role of a second scoring big off the bench. When in the game, he was playing PF with AD at C in some lineups, or with a big defensive C in others. Not going to be exposed there. Somehow (maybe a good agent), he got cast as a SF/combo F. Once that happened, the rest was predictable. Playing for a multi-year tanker (WSH) camoflagued all his shortcomings, as it does with countless players.
Vogel was the only coach to ever get thru to him, actively coached him up daily and rode him to his best season ever. Not too many coaches have the patience (or even authority) for that now, once the leash was off he spiraled
If there was one coach today that could probably turn him around id say it be Daigneault who seems to thrive 1 on 1 with weaving players back into team ball
Vogel minimized his game
Run the floor
Rebound
Hustle
Don’t think (not a great trait of his)
Your god given body will take care of the rest naturally