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Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell has a clunky knee and it could cost him some hardware at the end of the season.
Because of the NBA’s new injury/rest policy, Mitchell can only miss one more game after his scheduled three-game absence this week to be eligible for postseason awards.
The new role stipulates that you must play in at least 65 games to qualify for honors such as league MVP, Sixth Man of the Year, or any of the three All-NBA teams, as well other major awards.
If Mitchell misses two more games beyond the next three (which again, he’s already been ruled out), then he won’t be eligible for anything. That would be quite a blow since he’s expected to at least make one of the All-NBA squads. At worst, Mitchell would be a third-teamer by most accounts.
The Cavs (39-21) have 22 games left ahead of Tuesday’s home date with the East-leading Boston Celtics.
Mitchell received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection to treat a left knee bone bruise on Monday. He will miss the Celtics game, as well as Wednesday’s road game vs. the Atlanta Hawks and Friday’s home game with t he Minnesota Timberwolves, currently the best in the West.
After that, Mitchell is scheduled to be re-evaluated.
So that will leave the Cavs with 19 to go. Mitchell has played 47 of 60 games this season. In order to get to the magic number of 65, he must play in 18 of those final 19.
Now, for Mitchell and the Cavs, team accomplishments have the edge over individual honors. So you can be sure Mitchell won’t rush back just to make second or third-team all-league. Maybe he has a shot at first team, but most people doubt it. This is a league with an amazing amount of deserving guards.
You could make a case for Mitchell, though. The Cavs won 17 of 18 to kick off 2024 and they did it without starters Darius Garland and Evan Mobley. Guess why?
Nor are the Cavs the same without Mitchell, as they have struggled mightily since the All-Star break. Mitchell, 27, has been out for the last two.
Clearly, the Cavs will miss his 28.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.8 steals. And he too is dangerously close to missing out on some things himself.
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