By Kelsey Russo
Apr 11, 2023
5
Save Article
CLEVELAND — As Josh Hart sat in the visiting team locker room in Cleveland and listened to a question about why Donovan Mitchell is difficult to guard, he paused before answering.
“Nothing. He’s the easiest one to guard. Put that in there, right before the playoffs,” Hart told The Athletic. And then he started to laugh.
That was about a week and a half ago when the Cavs fell to the New York Knicks at home 130-116. Now, the No. 4-seeded Cavs have a date with the No. 5-seeded Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.
New York can throw a number of different coverages at Mitchell, from showing on pick-and-rolls to blitzing him. The Knicks could use guys like Hart, Quentin Grimes or Immanuel Quickley. And because their best perimeter players are 6-foot-5 and under, more than likely, New York won’t put a ton of length on Mitchell. In that March 31 game, Hart matched up with Mitchell, who was taken 17 spots earlier than him in the 2017 NBA Draft.
“He’s a really good scorer at all three levels,” Hart said. “He’s efficient at all three levels. A lot of times, you want guys to try to force them to do something that they’re not comfortable with. And he’s someone who’s obviously athletic, is able to finish above the rim, finish through contact. He’s strong, has an explosive first step. He has that, but then he’s shooting 38 percent from 3 on, like, nine to 10 3s a game.”
It’ll be a difficult assignment for whoever gets matched up with the four-time NBA All-Star. What makes it so tough? This is what opposing coaches, players and Mitchell’s teammates had to say:
About three years ago, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau noticed Mitchell letting the 3-ball fly more often.
Over his first three seasons in the league with the Utah Jazz, Mitchell averaged 6.8 3-point attempts per game. Then, during the 2020-21 season, there was an uptick. He averaged 8.7 3-point attempts per game that season, and it has continued to increase. Last season with the Jazz, he averaged 9.8 attempts per game. And in his first season in Cleveland, Mitchell averaged 9.3 3-point attempts per game through the regular season. That shift has also opened up Mitchell’s driving game. It makes him a threat from all three levels.
“I thought he’s always been dynamic; he has that part down,” Thibodeau said. “He’s very difficult and shifty. And so you can cross over away on pick-and-rolls. You can split pick-and-rolls. But I think him adding that to his game really changed his game. And he’s great off the dribble. He’s versatile in the sense you can play him with the ball, you can play him off the ball, so you have to be ready for both. And he’s not afraid. He’s a great competitor.”
“He’s as explosive as any guard in this league,” Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He can go off at any time. He’s going to make you pay attention.”
Mitchell’s first season in a Cavaliers jersey has been a decorated one, and the 26-year-old has already broken a number of records in the team’s history book. Mitchell has 13 40-point games, the most in a single season in Cavs history. He posted four consecutive 40-plus point games, another franchise first.
He’s shooting 38.6 percent from 3, which ties his career high. He’s also shooting 48.4 percent from the field, which is a career high, and averaging 28.3 points per game. Mitchell also scored 71 points in a game against the Chicago Bulls in January, becoming the seventh player in NBA history to record 70-plus points in a game.
“It’s legendary,” Darius Garland said after the Cavs’ 115-105 win over the Pacers on April 2. “It’s a bucket. I mean, it just shows the work that he puts in and the ability to go out and do it at a high level for a stretch like that; I mean, that’s really good to see. And then as just a teammate, I mean, I’m super proud of him.”
According to Second Spectrum, over the last three seasons, Mitchell is fifth in off-the-dribble 3s — which include pullup, behind the screen and stepback. He ranks ninth among 32 total players with at least 500 off-the-dribble shots. He is also seventh in drives to the basket — which includes layups or floaters — among guards. He’s shooting 55.5 percent on drives to the basket, which ranks 13th among guards with 500 field goals attempted. Mitchell is also 24th in direct isolations among all players and ranks 13th in direct points per iso with 1.07.
Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder, who coached Mitchell during his first five seasons in Utah, has seen Mitchell add different elements to his game.
Early in his career, Mitchell started finishing off of one foot, instead of two. It was one of the ways Snyder watched Mitchell evolve his game early in his career. As Mitchell began demanding different coverages, he improved his ability to read and adjust on the court.
“I’ve seen his range improve. Just his understanding about what are the most efficient ways for him,” Snyder said. “Shooting behind with a dribble handoff, like you start to see situations where you can impact the game. Sometimes subtle, sometimes not so subtle. He’s getting to the rim, getting fouled, things like that again, make you more and more efficient as well.”
The two still have a close relationship, and Mitchell frequently has credited Snyder as one of the people who have helped him be successful in the league.
Hart said he had to be physical and tough when guarding Mitchell, who scored 42 points in the last Knicks-Cavs meeting, and couldn’t get discouraged if Mitchell hit shots. Sometimes, that’s just what great players do.
“He just has the ability to be effective and efficient, which is the most important part, at all three levels,” Hart said. “I think that’s something that’s special. It’s not something that you see from everybody. You only see it from the great offensive players in the league.”
Even some younger players in the league who draw Mitchell as their defensive assignment look forward to the challenge of limiting him. Or trying to, at least.
Take the Magic’s Jalen Suggs, who faced off against Mitchell last week in the Cavs’ 117-113 win over Orlando. Mitchell scored 43 points. Suggs, who takes pride in his defense, took special notice of Mitchell’s lower body strength. Suggs matched up with Mitchell on different possessions throughout the game and tried to make his shots tough; but late in the fourth quarter, Suggs guarded Mitchell as he hit a stepback jumper and saw firsthand just what he can do.
Suggs also had the chance to talk with Mitchell after the first game in Orlando and again on Thursday.
“He’s always on balance. He’s always explosive,” Suggs said. “And he’s always a threat to pull-up because he’s strong in his lower body. So just trying to speed him up as much as I can and make shots tough for him. You play great players, they are going to make it tough on you; you can play amazing defense, hand in face, and pretty much foul, and sometimes they’re just gonna hit their stuff.”
The Cavs officially wrapped up the regular season with a 51-31 record, the most wins since 2016-17 when they won 51 regular-season games. They also claimed home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs, where they will see the Knicks. Game 1 will take place at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on April 15.
As the Cavs prepare, Mitchell will be one of the top guys on the Knicks’ scouting report.
“He’s a top talent in this league. Unbelievable offensive player,” Pacers guard T.J. McConnell said. “As an offensive talent, there aren’t many better. […] He’s just pretty damn good.”