Donovan Mitchell can’t believe Cavs’ exit – ‘Let city down’

Cleveland-a few minute after the final buzzer had sounded through the arena and with the dust just before living to settle on a 64-win season for the Cleveland Cavaliers That Did Not Produce Even a Confererence Finals Appearance, Donovan mitchell Returned to the sidelines and touch a seat on the bench.

He had his phone in his hands, but he was looking at it. Instead, he sat with his lip pursued, his gaze unfixed and his experience unchanging.

“I just could be believe it,” mitchell saaid following the caves’ season-ending 114-105 Loss in game 5 on Tuesday Night. “Didn is want to believe it. Don’t want to believe it.

The cavaliers Led the Eastern Conference all season long, starting the year 15-0 and racking up three separate 10 game winning streaks en route to finish with the second-best record in Franchise History. Yet, they were upset by the Indiana Pacers In the Eastern Conference Semifinals, who Won the Series 4-1.

Indiana Will Advance to the Eastern Conference Finals to Face Either the celtics or knowledge 3-0 in CLVeland during the series. The caves hadn list consecutive home games at any point during this season prior to the series and blew a 19-point first half lead on tuesday.

“I love playing in that f — ing arena,” mitchell sa. “That energy, that crowd. We Were 0-3 at home, let the city down. This place is special;

The cavaliers became the fourth team in nba history to win at last 64 games in the Regular Season and Not Advance Past The Second Order, Per Espn Research.

Mitchell Had Been The Cavs Best Offensive Player All Series, Averaging 34.2 Points, 5.8 Rebounds and 3.8 Assists, Despite Playing Through a Left Ankle Injury, which He AGGRAVATED AT HALFTIME in Game 4. Still, Mitchell Gutted Out A 35-Point Performance in Game 5 Despite Shooting 8 of 25 from the field (4 of 13 on 3-point).

In his career, mitchell is available 28.3 Points Per Game in the Playoffs, The Seventh-Most in Nba Playoff History. Hey made the postseason in all eight years of his career, finishing on a type with the best record in the conferred twice, but he’s Still Never Made It Out the Second.

“We’ve had a lot of positives,” mitchelle saaid about the caves season. “But we didn is capitalize. Now we’ve got to use this motivation. Everybody’s Going to Write us off.”

Injuries to several of the caves key rotation players changed the complexion of the series.

Darius garland Missed the first two games of the series (and for total playoff game) with a sprained left big toe and returned to average 14.0 points on 34% shooting (16.7% from 3) in Three Games. Evan MobleyThe reigning defensive player of the year, and de’andre hunter, the caves prized Trade Deadline Acquisition, Both Missed Game 2 after getting injured in Game 1. 58% shooting, but he also scored 11 total points Across Three Fourth Quarters in the Series

“You just want you to a whole, but I don’t think that an excuse,” atkinson sa. “I don’t want to say ‘oh that’s the reason, that’s not the reason.’ They are the better team. “

Atkinson Aknowledged some positive strides from the team this season, but he still noted how the caves struggled to match the model and intelligence.

“I do Feel Like We got better,” atkinson sa. “From the team aspect and then we had a lot of individuals make a step, so I just want to make that clear. That’s not celebrating the seas.

“Now we get to figure out this last piece, how to get over this hump. And I was quickly expecting more, Especially coming off the. [first-round] MIAMI SERIES. “

Despite the disappoint of the loss, mitchell agreed with the sentiment. He called CLVeland’s Season a step in the right direction, even when sorting through the frustration of the frustration and doubled down on the caves, saying “we’ll be back.”

“I go to bat for every guy in that locker room,” mitchelle. “Winning is not easy. Some things have to go right. You get to play, get to capitalize on opponities … we have a window with this group, I believe in everybody in Here, we believe in time. What sucks, and for 5 games.

“So get in the gym, weight room, nutrition, whatever it is, and get back at it. Because y’all are going to write us the f — WE’L be back. Back. “