Donovan Mitchell takes responsibility for Cavaliers Game 4 loss: I played like s

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NEW YORK As Donovan Mitchell sat at his locker still in his uniform after Sunday’s loss, he stared straight ahead, looking dejected.

The Cavs were coming off a 102-93 loss to the Knicks to fall behind 3-1 in their first-round series. And Mitchell couldn’t advance him offensively in the morning on Sunday.

I played like shit,” Mitchell said. I am the leader of this group. Everyone did their job and I didn’t. As simple as that.

Mitchell had one of his worst games of the season on Sunday. He finished with 11 points, shooting 5 of 18 from the field, 0 of 4 of 3 and 1 of 2 from the free throw line. He also had six turnovers in the second straight game in which he had six turnovers, five assists and four rebounds.

In the end, like I said, I probably had the second or third worst playoff game of my career, Mitchell said. Believe it or not, I’ve had worse playoff games. So I’ve been here before. It’s just a matter of going out there to try to be better for our teammates. As I said, you can ask them to do a lot. They did a great job, but I didn’t show up. It’s on me.

The Knicks threw more double teams on Mitchell at various points in the game, trying to get Mitchell out of the Cavs’ offense and force the ball into someone else’s hand. Reflecting on the game, Mitchell said, as he worked through the various covers the Knicks used against him, that he needed to keep the game simple and trust his teammates more.

In the first three games of this series, Mitchell found ways to contribute in a variety of ways. In Game 1, he scored, finishing with 38 points including 14 in the fourth quarter. In Game 2, Mitchell facilitated more, delivering 13 assists with his 17 points. He acknowledged that what the Cavs needed from him might differ from game to game, but he was able to read the game and adapt accordingly.

Until game 4.

For me to be who I am, I have to find a way to impact the game, Mitchell said. If it’s not scoring, there were games where I still had an impact on the game even if the shots didn’t come in. I didn’t do that either. So you have to choose one. So ultimately, like I said, I’m going to take this. It’s on me, and I can be better for Game 5.

Mitchell’s teammates, however, did not want him to take full responsibility for the loss. Jarrett Allen said that from a leadership perspective, he understood why this would be the case, but he felt the loss was a collective team effort. And Darius Garland agreed.

I think he gets too much on himself, Garland said. That’s what the All-Stars do. Just trying to blame it all on himself, but it’s not on him. It’s a group effort. It’s Cleveland basketball. It’s not just about him. So whatever he says he puts on himself, don’t listen to him. I mean, everyone has nights like this. I think he looks very nice. He was aggressive tonight so we need that from him to move forward. I mean, he’s been one of the leaders of this group all year. So when he leaves, we leave. He will therefore move on to the next one. Were going to hold their heads up high; were going to have his back no matter what. So were just going to move on to the next one.

Without Mitchell’s ability to put the Cavs on his back in scoring, they struggled to produce. They shot 36 of 77 from the field and 6 of 23 of 3 as a team. They were held to under 100 points for the second straight game, as well as in all three of their losses this series.

You have to put the ball in the basket, Bickerstaff said. We need to do a better job of creating opportunities for each other, and when we have them, we need to take advantage of them.

Mitchell remembers coming to Madison Square Garden for a playoff game as a kid. He also remembers the noise and the atmosphere that brought the mecca of basketball. As a kid growing up in Elmsford, NY, about 25 miles from the arena, stepping into the garden for those two games was a dream.

But despite that excitement, Mitchell and his Cavs won’t come home with wins. Now they return to Cleveland for Game 5 on Wednesday, a must win to keep the series afloat.

I believe in myself; I believe in this group, Mitchell said. We believe in each other. If you drop 3-1, you’re not cut out for these moments. [] We had our flaws as a band, but in the end, I didn’t do what I was supposed to. I’ll take that. I just have to be better.

(Photo by Donovan Mitchell: Wendell Cruz/USA Today)

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