The Cleveland Cavaliers‘ season is officially over.
The team couldn’t get the job done when it mattered the most, and their once-promising 64-win season had the same disappointing ending as years past.
That’s why Donovan Mitchell couldn’t even believe what happened.
More than that, he claimed to be hurt for disappointing the fans at home.
“Just couldn’t believe it. Didn’t want to believe it. Don’t want to believe it. Still don’t want to believe it,” Mitchell said. “It’s tough. It’s tough to win this league. Give them credit. We didn’t do the things necessary. I love playing in that (expletive) arena, man. That energy. That crowd. We were 0-3 at home. This place is special. This place is really special. And we didn’t get it done, especially at home. That’s what hurts.”
Mitchell said that he loved adversity and that it brought the best in him and his team.
Then, when it was time to prove it, they failed to take care of business.
Granted, Mitchell was dealing with an ankle injury, and he still managed to put up big points more often than not.
Nevertheless, at one point, the fans will have to start holding him accountable.
We’re talking about a player who has had some great players around him and has put up big numbers, yet he hasn’t been able to move past the second round of the playoffs.
Great things are to be expected from great players, and if he wants to be a part of that conversation, he has to take over when the season is on the line.
Winning in the regular season is great and all, but getting homecourt advantage in the playoffs only works if you win at home.
The Cavs went 30-5 at home against all teams not named the Indiana Pacers this season, and 0-5 against them.
Perhaps the matchup wasn’t great, or they just had their number, but at the end of the day, excuses are meaningless.
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