The Cleveland Cavaliers have done extremely well this season to secure the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. They have now set up a first-round matchup against the fifth-placed Orlando Magic in what should be a tough test for the Cavs and their postseason aspirations this season.
Cleveland’s surge in 2023-24 has come behind another tremendous campaign for Donovan Mitchell, who has been on quite a tear in his second season with the Cavs. At this point, all the hard work he’s put in throughout the year will be put to the ultimate test.
Cleveland Cavaliers News: Donovan Mitchell Sounds Off on Playoff Objectives
Speaking in a recent interview, Mitchell got brutally honest about what he hopes to achieve this season with the Cavs. According to the five-time All-Star, he will consider anything less than a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals as a disappointment:
“Obviously, you’re judged by conference finals and finals. That’s my mindset. That’s kind of where I’m at and where my head is at,” Mitchell told Chris Fedor of cleveland.com. “First round, second round is cool. I’m taking it one round at a time. But my goal is to make the conference finals and get to the NBA Finals, you know what I mean? That’s what I’m judged on.”
Last season, Mitchell and the Cavs fell in the first round. In five seasons with the Utah Jazz, Mitchell has not gone past the second round of the playoffs.
At this point, it’s no wonder as to why the 27-year-old has set an extremely high standard for himself and his squad in this year’s iteration of the NBA Playoffs.
“It definitely is something that fuels me,” Mitchell said.
“This is what I want to be. This is why I work hard. I take the scrutiny. I take the praise. But in order for me to be considered one of the best to play this game, I’ve got to do something when it matters most. Individual performances are great. But team success has to come with it. That’s where I’m at in my career.
“By any means necessary, we’ve got to get there. We’ve got to do it.”
Making the Most of the Criticism
Mitchell is well aware of the criticism and the negativity that has been thrown in his direction through the years. To a certain extent, he understands that some of this is warranted considering how he has failed to lead his team to a trip to the Conference Finals in his six seasons in the NBA.
The 6-foot-3 guard is hoping that it’s going to be lucky No. 7 for him this year.
“I think I’ve turned it eating at me into fuel,” Mitchell said of the criticism. “I think what I mean by that is, if it eats at you, it consumes you, and then it puts a lot more pressure on you.
“I think using it as fuel is kind of like, ‘All right, this is what you’re striving for.’ I think it’s really big how you talk to yourself in that regard. But I wouldn’t have told you that two years ago.”
Mitchell will have a point to prove in the postseason, and what happens from here on out could significantly impact his future with the Cavs.
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