Donovan Mitchell on what lesson the Cavs can learn from this series if they make the Conference Finals again: “Don’t lose Game 1 after being up by 22.”
He knows they lost their shot. That loss was debilitating, too brutal for them to come back from. Game 4 is a formality.
Can’t say enough how much the momentum swings if they stole one in the Garden.
A lot of people were initially saying how this was gonna be a tough ECF before the comeback. As soon as it ended, it was pretty much a hounding that this would be a sweep or a 5-game series if Cleveland couldn’t turn it around fast, and here we are.
That loss is gonna haunt Cavaliers fans for a bit.
I’ve seen sports writers/journalist say momentum in sports isn’t real. And I could not disagree more.
This series in particular I think it was huge. Cavs went to game 7 in two series, Knicks had a ton of rest. I think it played to the cavs advantage in game 1 to be sharper, but it was always gonna be tougher moving forward stamina wise.
Blowing game 1 after having it won was truly a death sentence. Knicks found their game again and the Cavs were destroyed physically and psychologically after that
It’s not even just that they blew game one, it’s HOW they blew game one. Harden getting hunted, not taking a time out on an 18-0 run, historic collapse that was preventable, etc
How Atkinson didnt call a timeout b4 a 7-0 run is beyond me. That has to be some of the worst coaching ive seen in n nba game, even the knicks players were looking confused, “like ok ur just gonna let us continue this”.
I just wish we could talk less about momentum and more about those “adjustments” we all love to mention. Mike Brown and company deserve some real credit here and that’s the biggest story of the series, not momentum. That momentum was created because of the adjustments the coaching staff made and if the Cavs could’ve figured that out, maybe momentum would’ve been there’s.
Yep. “Momentum” does exist, any of us who’ve played team sports knows that. But it doesn’t exist in the way many people think it does, because at any moment, for any number of reasons, planned by coaches/players or otherwise, the momentum can swing. Believing in momentum in sports as some kind of oversimplified “they take game one and everything is different” kinda thing is like saying that if the stock market had collapsed last month due to the AI bubble bursting, things would be different now. It doesn’t mean anything.
Mike Brown definitely deserves his flowers. When the Knicks went down 2-1 to the Hawks he made incredible adjustments. Especially with KAT.
Right and I’m happy for him on that. I was wondering how he was gonna solve the Josh Hart problem presented throughout much of game 1 and he absolutely did. Not only that, but he didn’t even have to remove Hart from his rotation afterwards (credit to Hart and the guys on the floor, too, of course).
It is real, we experienced it watching Hali and Nesmith going on a heater in game 1.
It’s real but not does not occur as frequently as claimed
Fucking sucks. Watching the Cavs the past 2 series, it really felt like they had exercised their demons. There’s just something about the Knicks being Cleveland kryptonite.
Prolly my favorite iteration of the Cavs since 2016, and this is likely the last time we’ll see this configuration.
If OKC comes out of the West, I think the Knicks are the only other team that can beat them. And I’d sooner enjoy the absolute collapse of society stemming from the Knicks winning it all, than see OKC win again.
Exorcized. Unless they were taking the demons out for a run or something.
Thanks, homie. Guess it’s not just the Cavs that are falling short.
As long as we’re correcting you, it would be “who are falling short”*. You’re still a person in my eyes <3
Getting to the conference finals and getting rocked feels brutal. I feel ya.
Ahhhh. The first correction was mainly me being led astray by autocorrect on my phone. However, for “who are falling short”…I’ll take full blame on that one. Couldn’t figure out why my sentence felt so wonky to read.
Thanks, my g.
Mostly messing with ya either way lol who gives that much of a shit about perfect grammar and style on Reddit. You aren’t falling half as short as your squad… or Julius Randle :(
These motherfuckers are doing jumping jacks now
The exercist
Cavs pretty much are doing glorified exercise out there, ammirite??
I doubt it. Dort and Caruso can lock up Brunson in clutch time.
Ehhh didna similar thing against the pacers, obviously not up 22, but we grew from it and I think we are a strong team now because of it.. this Cavs team has the pieces to compete for a chip.
I agree they really blew game 1 and the players must have felt that. However, I think game 1 actually represented the Knicks figuring out the Cavs. As much as it hurt emotionally, the Knicks went to some things the Cavs never really seemed to figure out schematically and that was the issue. Even if they win game 1, with that being the case, I don’t think they were going to be in this series.
Welcome to Cleveland sports, lol.
can confirm, am haunted
Yep. These Cavs have been playing Playofffs basketball every other day for 30 days. Not to mention traveling too. They’re physically tired and that game 1 was their best chance to steal a game since the Knicks were so rusty and they blew it. Being up that big then losing is just a huge mental toll.
They gave a good effort in pretending it was just another game but how could that not destroy you??
I still think the Knicks win in 5 or 6, but who knows.
Knicks in 4. Cavs have been playing non stop basketball for almost 40 days. Only a day of rest in between too.
He’s saying if cavs win g1 he still thinks Knicks in 5⁄6
I’ve never seen a team so demoralized that everybody just stopped moving on one play. That was fucking crazy, in the playoffs, in the conference finals. Coach lost that locker room.
I had the same exact feeling after Knicks choked Game 1 last year. I could feel that the series was over.
I mean the fact he’s already giving up before the series is over says a lot about them.
These cavs have given up with a lot less adversity than that. Basically didn’t need to play any other games.
A funeral ;( idk what’s worse cavs home court for it or MSG 😰
Getting swept on their home court fs
Is it a bigger loss than game 1 of the 2018 finals, Cleveland vs GoldenState. The game 1 JR smith fuck up?
I think so. Being up 22 on the road in the 4th and losing is more debilitating. Atkinson knows he’s gonna be out of a job too.
Knicks learned this lesson last year too. You essentially have to now win 5 games in a 7 game series instead of 4.
Yeah it really takes the wind out of a teams sails
But enough about the Clippers.
Nesmith (sometimes) still appear on my nightmares.
Nembhard for me. Dude is so good at d and scores exactly when they need points.
Nembhard bombing a late 3 in 2024 was the difference maker in that series, too. He misses that shot and the Knicks are likely up 3-0.
The Haliburton shot steals so much credit from that game but really it was Neismith turning into prime Steph for 4 minutes that killed us
HE’S A FLAMETHROWER
I have never seen some one hit as many clutch 3s as Neismith did there
Clutch 3s with Knicks playing good D. That’s what killed me.
Guy was unstoppable
For two minutes he was the Larry Bird of Michael Jordan’s. Straight up witchcraft - he never did it again
We’re so lucky the Cavs don’t know that the scariest guy on their roster is Thomas motherfucking Bryant.
Bill Simmons is that you?
My ridiculous GOAT
Plus the mental fuck that comes with it and the confidence high to you’re opponent.
He might have a point but like, it’s clear that game 1 is still in his head. Knicks at least pushed the Pacers to 6 last year. This Cavs team just looks plain defeated
Game 1 completely destroyed them, especially with Merrill being unable to hit a damn thing after the rim out
That’s the only time I can ever remember Breen starting to say “Bang!” and having to cut himself off, that’s how close it was.
It’s rare, but it’s happened before
BAOHH IN AND OUT
Has me dying for some reason this morning
Yea, that’s a refreshing admission, but it shows that it’s been on there mind. It didn’t NEED toto be be. I think the Knicks managed to push it to 6/almost 7 against the pacers after that game 1 nightmare. And we see it in similar circumstances I’m nba and other sports—brutal losses that don’t affect a team the whole series
I feel like it would be easier to come back when it’s like game 2-4…starting off a series like that is soul crushing up2-1 or tied 1-1 and it happens u still feel ok
Maybe, but game 1 is the most meaningless. I remember watching the Yankees become the just team to lose up 3-0, and in that situation, it was kind of reverse, but a game 5 or 6 in think was gone one that crushed them
Baseball is just so different, it’s a different starting pitcher every night, it’s not even comparable.
It may not have been during game 2 but after a night like this? Yeah it’s in their heads. They know they should’ve been down 1-2 which is feasible.
Yeah I noticed that too. The way he brought that up kinda shows they’re still feeling that ghost. And honestly they look gassed out there compared to the Celtics, not just outplayed.
compared to the Celtics
I mean they’re all resting in Cancun, of course they look tired compared to those guys…
There must be some animosity towards Kenny Atkinson. A single timeout to switch out harden for mobley in game 1 changes the outcome (biased obviously)
kinda like what Game 1 Finals between Cavs and KD-led Warriors. Cavs never recovered from that Game 1 mistake.
Oh they are completely done.
Changes to the Cavs are coming as soon as this series is finished.
Kenny is already done. Game 4 is just a formality
How do you not call a timeout and take Harden out. smh
after seeing games 2 and 3 I don’t think we were winning the series anyways
Yeah if we took game 1 I think we lose in 6 but now its gunna be a sweep
I think y’all are just way too tired compared to us. Playing like 16 games before last night has got to wear you guys down.
theyre just a worse team lmao this doesnt change anything.
The fact that Kenny completely did not adjust or time out is so egregious that it really is worthy of a firing.
It’s such a blatant bad move that you almost wonder if he did it on purpose.
Donovan is basically becoming James Harden light in terms of playoff choking. Even though he was younger, his time in Utah was kind of a warning.
There are some subtle leadership issues and intangibles that he’s missing that seem to affect his teams from getting into that extra gear. Much like Harden I simply don’t think he’s capable of being a #1 option that will win you a chip.
Certainly on the leadership issue. He can be the #1 player in terms of skills and all NBA selection and #1 option in crunch time, but he cannot be the #1 guy your guys look to in the locker room. And the Cavs lack that. LeBron would be a godsend, pay him the max.
People play up his failures so much. He’s hardly Harden levels of postseason badness. Mitchell has a 30-30-26ppg in last 3 postseasons, shooting 47%, 44%, 45%, with under 3TOs. The only thing consistently down from the regular season is his asts, but the stable fg% and TOs show it’s his teammates’ shooting that’s the problem.
He’s played hurt this series after game 1 4th quarter, and it’s really hurt his versatility, but generally he’s a playoff riser in individual performance, not the other way around.
You’re right perhaps it’s not the best comparison stats wise or on the surface. I’ve just always felt something was “off”.
I don’t think you can always blame the teammates though, when this is happening over and over again with different rosters.
It’s a different vein of Chris Paul. He always had a really brass, disciplined approach that was great for raising the floor of any team, and to eliminate a lot of stupid or sloppy mistakes. But when deep in the playoffs and you need that extra “umph”, his cold, stern approach and poor body language didn’t help give his teammates the morale boost they needed to close out games. A lot of his ex-teammates have pointed this out.
Chris Paul was much better on this though. Don is not a natural leader and his style of play is too focused on his individual shot and poor defense.
Cp3 was at least a real, major defensive value add, he helped his teammates, you could say a lot of things about his leadership style wearing out but he was certainly a leader on both ends and got teammates involved. His issue was his own body.
James Harden looks every bit of 36 right now. They hung him out to dry with Brunson. He just quit on that quick steal transition defense in game 3. Beyond not being effective in the playoffs in general, watching him now his legs look like they’re gone.
Yeah, they’ve been such a disappointing team. I’ve always thought on paper they’re wayyyy better than how they perform together. Especially when it comes to the playoffs, they seem to fold every single time.
Why? They made the conference finals. What more are the non-Lebron fucking Cavs expecting?
They did so in a year where the Pistons choked like mofos, and the Pacers(who made the finals last year) were intentionally tanking. The Knicks were the first serious team they faced and they are getting swept. If they just keep everything the same next year i doubt they are even making the ECF.
It was funny watching everyone have to pretend that losing that lead didn’t really matter bc it’s just one game. Of course it mattered.
Well it didn’t have to if they responded the right way lol
Yeah warriors lost very similarly to the celtics in game 1 22 finals. Up 20 in the 3rd.
They responded how they should though
Championship pedigree. Like when other teams said the raptors didn’t have “IT”. And fk were they right, until we got kawhi that one year.
Yeah, you have to take that mentality going forward. But reflecting after, it’s the one glaring thing you’re left with.
Even if Cavs continued to play out of their minds that loss would sting just as much when they make it to 7 and lose. This Knicks team has their number and Cavs don’t win after blowing game 1. It’s like 2018. When you don’t even steal that first 1 you basically done.
But 2015 was a bit different. Lebron did manage to win 2 games after game 1 loss. I guess the teams were closer than I thought. If that game 1 went Cavs way NBA history might have turned out different for the past decade.
Even if they lost g2 but won g3, we’d still have a series on our hands
This is just over
Yep. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond.
I think it’s less important than people are making it out to be because they have been thoroughly outplayed the next 2 games.
And Kenny Atkinson has been so badly outcoached it’s almost painful
I really only think it was notable in the 4th and OT of game 1.
Basically all of the Cavs haven’t been good enough. They got a literal shitload of really good looks for good shooters (Merrill + Strus) and they couldn’t hit anything. That has nothing to do with coaching.
Yeah I think the Cavs offense overall has been good enough to win two or three of these games in terms of the looks it’s generating. But someone has to make those shots, and nobody is. Atkinson does deserve some of the blame for his tactical game management and some of his lineup decisions, but in terms of overall offensive scheme I think he’s been pretty good. The players have to make shots.
When even FTs aren’t dropping what can a coach do?
The Kenny Atkinson stuff kills me as someone who has watched him coach since his days in Brooklyn. We kind of just act like all these dudes are idiots just standing around twiddling their thumbs which ends up saying more about us than them.
The 2 things are definitely related.
When you are running on fumes you need to keep the momentum and adrenaline going
I mean, that’s the reason why it wasn’t just one game. Has a carry over effect.
“Series doesn’t start until the road team wins” is the dumbest shit ever. The Knicks both started and ended the series tonight by that logic
If the Knicks win the Finals, that 22-point comeback is gonna be another haunting memory in Cleveland sports history.
Nah man, there’s no chance in hell the Cavs were winning the finals regardless of what happened in a rust game for the knicks. The Cavs have played a couple of good games all playoffs but otherwise have looked like the less physical, less fundamental, and less well-coached team. Honestly that collapse may help Kenny get canned faster
Not.. really? Knicks were only down in the first place cause of the rust caused by the previous sweep. Even if they didn’t comeback they woulda won in 5.
Not at all lmao. Cavs are not even that good, it was a surprise to see them even have that lead.
It’ll hang in the museum of pain, but it won’t be in the main exhibit. This team didn’t actually have real finals aspirations.
If
It’s not really haunting when it’s obvious your team wasn’t winning the finals the whole time.
I don’t know about that.
The man has a point
He knows ball
Cavs get swept 4-0 after a brutal game one loss after looking like they could for sure win the east…just setting up the SECOND greatest LeBron - Cleveland reunion
This is a whack ass answer, honestly.
The Knicks thoroughly outplayed them the next 2 games. Like sure, they should have won game 1. But Mitchell was wholly ineffective offensively tonight (like he has been for basically 1⁄2 of the Cavs’ playoff run) and got absolutely torched defensively by Brunson.
Just a shitty copout answer that he probably won’t be clowned for because he’s Donovan Mitchell and for whatever reason people treat him with kids gloves.
Every post game has been “were just missing shots/they are just making shots” nonchalant answer. Mixed with him completely halfassing most defensive posessions and a third of the offensive posessions, its been super dissappointing showing.
This Cavs team has been a torturous watch all season. There’s clearly enough talent on the roster to be a legitimate threat to win the conference but they just haven’t been able to put it together, and now they’re going out sad with everyone watching. I don’t think they’re gonna blow this up because I genuinely don’t think they have a way to get better, and it’s too early to go for a full rebuild. But it’s hard to imagine they can run this roster back and magically put it together.
He was so happy when a reporter asked if they got effected by playing every other day for a couple weeks
Weak. It’s telling that Mitchell’s response isn’t about being a better leader or building better mental resilience as a team; his solution is don’t blow the game in the first place, as if it’s a foregone conclusion you’ll lose the series if you do.
If you don’t have the mental resilience to bounce back and compete after that, you don’t deserve to win the title. Shit happens; it’s the NBA. OKC lost two game ones last year that they controlled for the vast majority of game time and that were stolen in the final seconds. You fucking put that shit behind you, and you get ready for game two.
Exactly. What a terrible response and shows the team lacks leadership. Shit happens but playoffs are series for a reason. Incredibly weak.
Mitchell has not shown up since the first half of game 1. His lesson should be that you need to rise to the playoffs.
He has been a no-show for 85% of the postseason this year. Dude should get blamed for so much more. Superstar my ass
Aight-star
Superstar for one quarter of one playoff game, hell be good for it. Anything else, nah
Yeah this team is done, game 1 loss was devastating and hard to come back from that mentally
Wow is this guy trying to become a Knick next year or
Us talking about trying to afford Robinson would become way more complicated
Nets should trade for him unironically
Nets are looking for a franchise star this draft/off-season. They’re done tanking
Please take him
Do we honestly need him? I think we need a backup 4 for OG.
Backup 4 and resign Mitch.
Who you trading for him?
Knicks in 3. This series is already over
NEVER expect harden to be able to help your team in the postseason. Save your salary cap on role players instead
“its just business”
Insane question. Series isn’t officially over
No team has ever come back down 0-3 and no offense to the Cavs they won’t be the first. Once you go down 0-3 it just comes down to how much pride do you have not to be embarrassed and get swept at home. I think the reporter sees this team is done after how long the playoffs have been for the Cavs and seeing how the Knicks have played they will come out to put the Cavs out of their misery by halftime.
Ain’t gonna stop them from getting quotes for the obituary
Damn it’s insane that you can’t seem to fathom or grasp the fact that the cavs are in a deep hole and is not even like they are losing by 1 or 2 points… These games at best are not close to competitive
Thought the same thing. Mad disrespect here
I mean if in the entire history of the league, nobody has ever done it, it’s pretty telling that this series is all but ovdr
Is there a bigger quitter when down in the NBA? He did the same last year against the Pacers.
Also dont piss off Danhausen
trying to figure out how to blame gobert.
Idk why people are bitching at Mitchell or Harden about “toughness”
If my “boss” (coach) cant fucking plan for the other team targeting a single player, and “likes to hold time outs” to lose a vital 22 lead game I would also be done.
Like, honestly, you think they have a chance with these decisions? Look at Atkinson’s play-off record. Nothing about it tells you he can coach the important part.
Shift his ass to NY. We don’t want him Cleveland. Cavs were such as fun team when we had garland, Lauri, sexton and all those picks.
This season has been so unexciting as a Cavs fan. While it’s been objectively our most successful in a while by reaching the ECF, we just play such a disappointing brand of basketball in too many big games. The team needs a major shake-up, we’ve hit our ceiling with this roster construction.
I wrote a post in the cavs sub saying exactly this. such an unlikeable team
You are 100% correct.
That Garland, Lauri, Sexton team lost in the play-in. That team was never sniffing an ECF.
This iteration made the ECF for the first time since LeBron left. They made a good decision with the direction they went for their roster, but chose the wrong guy to trade Garland for.
Doesn’t matter, they were fun to watch. All these Mitchell teams are fraudulent, and anyone with a brain knew that back in 2023 after getting thrashed by the Knicks. I am so tired of fraudulent, soft teams that win 60 games and then get dog walked.
We traded our future (4FRPs, 2 swaps, Lauri and sexton) and present away for Mitchell in 2022 and it is about to bite us in the ass this offseason. Just embarrassing ass-whippings every year. What a disappointment.
SOFT AS SHIT
Same vibes.
Bye Kenny (toy story 2 gif)
vibes are bad
Can’t mention that. This team is fried
Chuck was right
Kenny needs to be fired for that. It completely ruined our confidence
lol. This guy is the opposite of “dog” or “leader”.
He’s had this excuse in his back pocket since game 1 ended. Easy way out for a non leader…just make excuses. Game2 and 3?
5-17 on threes(about 0.29% lol)
MORE turnovers than assists
total +/- of -30(lol)
HALF the TRB of his season average
And instead of OWNING his shit play…oh….here’s my easy excuse….we lost a game in a mean way…..wwaaaaahhhhh
Ayo shoutout to hali
Losing game meant they had to *win 5 games. That was never gonna happen. We all knew they were dead after our comeback.
I don’t see how Cleveland brings back both Mobley and Allen. This strength of there’s has not played out.
so you quit after one loss. nice. don’t pay this dude.
It feels like people forget they’re coming off a 7 game series with Detroit which is not Orlando. They did good, it’s just Knicks did better.
I really think game 1 came down to knicks being a little rusty after such an extended break. I think the real lesson for Donovan should be something along the lines of not expecting much out of Harden in the playoffs.
Sounds like a white flag.
You’ve played 7 games vs raptors and pistons, not in the same league as the Knicks
Dont have James Harden on your team…
That’s on you bruh
Thank you Kenny !
6ers could say the same thing about game 2 and to an extent 3. Momentum in sports is very real. The times teams have had a chance to make it a series the Knicks stamped out that light.
That’s what the best teams do.
bruh
Dude, it’s a lot more than that.
The fatigue from R1/R2 affected this ECF game, and that’s kind of on you and your team. Defense is just the worst it’s been and now you are seeing the effects of that. You’re going to need better offense - even with Harden and Mitchell together, something ain’t working! Oh, and maybe it’s time to boot that coach of yours and get someone with new vision.
True leadership attitude. At least they have Harden for that /s
Glad he knows
That game 1 choke job definitely set the tone. Momentum matters and they lost all of it and then some. People are gonna have to answer for that I imagine.
brb I be rewatching 2016 finals
This is the same as the magic in ‘95 lost game 1 in the finals and affect their psyche
I watched the presser he was trying to be cute, gleaming when they said could it be the result of playing this many games in x number of days blah blah
“LeBron James we need you, please.”
There are things you should have known before they happen. You cant learn everything one by one.
That’s a series defining L.
They didnt only gave W to Knicks but most importantly they’ve given them confidence.
Confidence is a hell off a dug
Always refreshing when players are being honest with their self reflection and not just gabbing platitudes but there’s still another game to play.
they are so cooked if this is what he says, “just beat us already” kind of vibe lol
Yeah, some teams have the personnel to brush off such a demoralizing loss. Unfortunately, this Cavs team isn’t one of them.
Yup
Yes, this. But also, if you lose game 1 you gotta not lose game 2. Can’t play game 2 obsessing about what ifs from game 1.
Cavs in 7, fuck it
that’s not just a stop, that’s the defense giving up mentally. when the entire Cavs system breaks down like that you can see exactly why this series is 3-0.
Can someone photoshop LeBron in a Cavs jersey please?
Seems like a good thing to try to remember next time
I’m just happy we beat the Pistons. lol
You lost 3 games. Stop thinking game 1. It hurts but you should think to bounce back. And defend as well
Lol I called it. Cavs about to tear it down because this dude isnt a leader.
They sure as fuck ain’t winning a game in the garden
The two games 7s plus losing after being up 22 was just too much.
I think the lesson they learned is to call timeouts
Dude must be playing at 50% Hobbling and shooting up some hot garbage.. He should have stayed in Utah..