CLEVELAND, Ohio — He cꦺan’t shoot right now, and he can barely walk in certain moments. But Donovan Mitchell is driving to the basket 🉐(and putting his injured knee in danger), anyways. Over, and over and over, until he gets knocked down or knocked out of the playoffs.
I don’t know if Donovan Mitchell wants to sign a long-term extension in Cleveland. But for a couple hours on Sunday, it sure looked like he wants t💝o remain a Cavalier for at least one more postseason series.
Mitchell scored 39 points on 11-of-26 shooting in 46 minutes during Cleveland’s 106-94 Game 7 win, which ESPN previewed in part by debating Mitchell’s next destination during its pregame show. He did all of it on a sore knee that looks more painful with every step. And though the star guard has limped and labored this entire series, he’s♐ refused to use his obvious discomfort as an excuse fo🉐r sub-excellent performances.
Would a player who 🍌has checked out go through all that trouble for a first-round win?
The national narrative hasn’t evolved since the Cavs traded for Mitchell during the summer of 2022. From the moment he landed in Cleveland, his new fans have read reports or watched television segments concerning how soon🎐 he can leave and how many bigger markets might better suit his star qualities. Mitchell didn’t choose Cleveland, which, apparently, he never would.
I’m not saying he will – or, frankly, that he should – now. But Mitchell spoke volumes about his commitment to this Cavs team with his play on Sunday afternoon. On countless occasions, Mitchell attacked the rim on a bad knee like a 🌞player hungry for contact.
And by doing so, he defended his hon❀or against the 🍸people so thirsty to Photoshop him into a different jersey.
Four more takeaways from Cleveland’s Game 7 win on Sunday.:
Stories by Jimmy Watkins
- Don’t overreact: It could just be the future of the Cavs’ core on💝 the line Sunday in Game 7 — Jimmy W🍷atkins
- How Marc🌊us Morris Sr.’s villainous past can help the Cavs win Game 6 vs. the Magic — Jimmy Watkins
- Darius Garland gives Ca♏vs the co-star Donovan Mitchell needs in Game 5 win over𒐪 Magic — Jimmy Watkins
2. Caris LeVert revs back to life at perfect moment
Game 7 vict💫ories🍌 require a lucky bounce or a fortunate whistle or, in Caris LeVert’s case, a resurgence from a struggling role player.
LeVert has outplayed🐽 that title for much of this s🅘eason, during which he posted a career-high in assists (5.1) while Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell missed time with injuries. And when Game 7 required a spark, LeVert reminded Cleveland how valuable a sixth man can be at his best.
He did so by tallying 15 points, five rebounds and three assists during Game 7 on 56% shooting. And he posted those numbers one game after his personal playoff low point. LeVert scored only one point in just eight minutes during Cleveland’s Game 6 loss in Orlando. Perhaps a knee injury hurt his production, but the Cavs needed more from him, 𓂃regardless of the reason.
Two days later, LeVert put excuses (and an excruciating first six games) behind him. He injected energy into a team that desperately needed a jolt during moments of Sunday’s game (as great bench players do). And in the process, he highlighted a timeless Game 7 ad💯age:
Your six-game successes (or struggles) don’t matter unless you maintain (or ♎correct) them in the seventh.
3. Maybe Cavs fans knew something about Sam Merrill
The fan base’s favorite p𒈔layer in a playoff series is the player who could use more minutes when the team is ♏losing. For six games, Cavs fans were convinced Sam Merrill fit the bill. And for six games, Cleveland’s coaching staff disagreed.
Merrill played 37 total minutes and logged two DNPs (including during Game 6) before Game 7, during which he sc𝕴ored eight points and made two 3-pointers in 12 crucial minutes.
Before you say “🐻I told you so,” consider that Merrill only made three 3-pointers during his first four games of this series, all of which came during Cleveland’s blowout loss in Game 3. And consider that Cleveland was outscored by six points in Merrill’s limited minutes.
After Sunday, however, Merrill’s supporters can argue with credibility that Merrill’s performance could be attribute🤪d to a lack of opportunities. And the same Cleveland coaching staff that kept Merrill on such a short leash for six games might be willing to give him a longer look in the next round. Theܫy might not have advanced there without him, which means it might be time to give Cavs fans some credit.
Score one for th🧜e armchair associate coaches. Merrill could, in fact,🧜 help Cleveland if he earned more minutes.
4. Spare the Jarrett Allen toughness talk
Let me quiet this chatter ahead of time: Allen’s absence over the last two games says more about his ri🍸b injury than it does about his toughness, grit, etc. And any fan suggesting otherwise is missing the point.
Allen 81 straight games (including playoffs) before missing Games 6 and 7 of this series. He played at least 60 games – at a physical position where most opponents outweigh him – for the sixth time in eight NBA seasons this year. And let’s not forget: Before injured ribs pushed Allen to the bench this postseason, he co༒ntrolled the glass like no soft player ever could.
Entering Sunday’s game, Allen 🔯still led all players with 55 rebounds (15 offensive) with one fewer game played. He finished the series third 🐬behind Evan Mobley and Paolo Banchero.
Cleveland could’ve used that presence ꧂during Game 7, and they’ll certainly need it against the Celtics. But trust me, Allen feels the same way. And trust me, he tried every remedy Cavs fans were shouting – “take a painkiller, rub some dirt on it!” -- from their couches Sunday.
If Allen𝔉 co✨uld’ve played, he would’ve. End of conversation. No need to waste words questioning a player who has already proven himself.
5. Celtics Stage Setter
This win feels 🧸good, and the Cavs feel like they have taken a tangible step forward from last year’s playoff failure. But🌊 the next step is even steeper, and the next opponent will test, and stretch, and push challenge Cleveland even further than the gutsy Magic.
The Boston Celtics have Orlando’s same strangling defense, hold the anemic offense. Boston shoots and makes more 3-pointers than any team in theꦇ league, which will force the Cavs to defend more honestly than the brick-throwing Magic. The Celtics offer few (if any) places to hide a subpar defender or attack a weak spot in their defense.
They can point to 64 regular-season wins (seven more than any other team) as proof. And they can point 📖to 83.2 playoffs games played on average among their top six minute-earners. So while Cleveland should celebrate its first playoff series win this century without LeBron James, it should also prepare itself for a LeBron-sized challenge in the next round.
Cleveland’s next series begins Tues💧day at T.D. Garden in Boston.
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