[ad_1]
More discreet in scoring this season, Donovan Mitchell Also experienced its lowest career playing time, with 31 minutes on average, but the spearhead remains of this team of riders who addresses the 2025 playoffs with the number 1 status of the East Conference.
With 24 points, 5 passes and 4 rebounds on average, the former jazz leader agreed to see his averages drop, in order to leave room for Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and the rest of the Ohio cavalry, which ends up at 64 victories for 18 defeats, the second best of the franchise (after the 66 success of 2008-09)!
“Everyone talks about making sacrifices. I have heard about it for years: everyone must agree to make sacrifices … until it is in turn (to make sacrifices). Are you ready to do it for the good of the team? »»explains Donovan Mitchell in The Athletic. “Statistically, it's a decline for me, if you can say it like that. But it helps the team to win, so that means that I do something good. It is the best season of my career in terms of collective results. This is what matters to the bottom: winning. »»
Johnnie Bryant to shake him
Aware that it was necessary to let go of the ballast to his young lieutenants, Darius Garland in the back and Evan Mobley inside, Donovan Mitchell was more leader than ever this season in Cleveland (his third in Ohio). “He was very altruistic throughout the season. He helped me a lot, and (Darius) too ”, Thus recognizes the interior neo-all star which has increased to 18 points and 9 rebounds this year.
Just after his appointment last June, when he was already with the Blues to prepare for the Paris Olympic Games, Kenny Atkinson immediately went to Los Angeles, where Donovan Mitchell held a basketball camp sponsored by Adidas with young people. It was there, during a lunch, that the two men began to sketch the plans of a season that will remain among the most impressive in the history of the Cavs.
“What always comes out with him is that he empowers others, in a subtle way, not in the eyes of everyone”add Kenny Atkinson.
Another skillful decision of the former assistant of Vincent Collet: to debauch the assistant of the KNICKS, Johnnie BRANDER. Former jazz assistant where Donovan Mitchell is landed Frais Rookie, the technician has a privileged relationship with the former winner of the Slam Dunk Contest. In early April, Johnnie Bryant did not hesitate to enter the bacon of Donovan Mitchell, asking him “If he was going to remove his cool jacket to really play basketball”?! Before a match that had to be won to validate the first place in the East on the Celtics.
“I know him well enough to know which buttons I can press to push him into his entrenchments”, Smiles Johnnie Bryant. “It is very often psychological. He loves being challenged. He will answer that. »»
Stay flexible and adapt
With his experience, and his setbacks in playoffs as in 2020 against Denver in the first round with a Dantesque duel against Jamal Murray, Donovan Mitchell knows better to choose his moments to take out the big game. As for example his revenge, consumed cold with 35 points and 9 rebounds facing the Pacers who ate hot from the start, with a busty of 19 from the first quarter!
“It is very linked to his career situation. He is in his eighth year, and he has already played a lot of minutes. Now, at this stage, he knows that he must continue to change and evolve ”, Analysis Johnnie Bryant. “He came out of an offseason where he had started late. He doesn't like change so much, he's a monster of habits. With him, the discussion mainly focused on adapting and remaining flexible. And he did it pretty well. »»
Aside from this ankle alert as the playoff approach, there is nothing that seems to be able to wave this Donovan Mitchell more mature and more leader than ever. The scorer obsessed with the statistical and sometimes solo feat that he was at the start of a career gave way to a leader, also capable of scoring. A major difference …
“For years, I always thought I had to score. That's all I knew ”, he concludes. “But now, for the first time in my career, I am in conversation for the title of MVP. But it is with a different approach. It is a different view of certain things. »»
| Donovan Mitchell | Percentage | Rebound | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | To | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | UTH | 79 | 33 | 43.7 | 34.0 | 80.5 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 20.5 |
| 2018-19 | UTH | 77 | 34 | 43.2 | 36.2 | 80.6 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 23.8 |
| 2019-20 ☆ | UTH | 69 | 34 | 44.9 | 36.6 | 86.3 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 24.0 |
| 2020-21 ☆ | UTH | 53 | 33 | 43.8 | 38.6 | 84.5 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 26.4 |
| 2021-22 ☆ | UTH | 67 | 34 | 44.8 | 35.5 | 85.3 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 25.9 |
| 2022-23 ☆ | CLE | 68 | 36 | 48.4 | 38.6 | 86.7 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 28.3 |
| 2023-24 ☆ | CLE | 55 | 35 | 46.2 | 36.8 | 86.5 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 26.6 |
| 2024-25 ☆ | CLE | 71 | 31 | 44.3 | 36.8 | 82.3 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 24.0 |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = minutes; Shots = successful shots / tempted shots; 3pts = 3-point / 3-point attempted; LF = Successful free throws / tempted free throws; Off = offensive rebound; Def = defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; PD = assists; FTE: Personal faults; Int = interceptions; BP = lost bullets; CT: against; Pts = points.
[ad_2]
